India in Aus-First test
The most anticipated series of this year, the boxing day test between India and Australia begun on December 26. The anticipation of all people around the world and the bets done by the punters were entirely destructed as Australia emerged as the winners in the first test that too in a most convincing fashion. This article would be a precise discussion of what had happened in the course of the last four days.
Indian Batting:
The star studded Indian batting line up had a dramatic collapse yet another time. The first half of the first innings in the Indian batting was too good that everyone felt that Australia was put at the back foot. Sehwag, Dravid and Sachin was too good in the first innings that made Australian bowlers fear a bit on seeing the experienced batting line up. But once these three fell, it was a matter of time that Indian batting line up collapsed. At one stage, when Sachin and Dravid were batting, India seemed to be in a position of setting up a huge lead. As soon as the gaints fell, Indian batting line up surrendered completely to the Australian pacers and trailed by a margin of 51 runs. The second innings was a completely different story. Needing 292 to win, India was all out to a megre 169.Apart from Sachin, who seemed flamboyant in his stroke play, no one offered any resistance and fell in quick succession. Gambhir, Laxman and Kohli had been greatly disappointing. After promising a lot through his brilliant century in the practise game, Kohli delivered very littlr. He got 11 in his first innings and 0 in the second. So still the no.6 slot in the Indian batting line up is yet to find a proper replacement for Sourav Gangully. Dhoni struggled to score runs which he usually does in test cricket especially when played abroad. Ashwin, a promising bowler delivered some resistance with the bat.
Indian Bowling:
The Indian bowling seemed a lot better when compared to that of the Indian batting . The presence of Zaheer in the team certainly had boosted the morale of the Indian bowling line up. The experience of Zaheer was certainly handy in these conditions. Zaheer and Umesh were the pick of the bowlers. Both of them bowled their hearts out and at times really threatened the Austaralian batsmen.Saying so, doesnt mean either Ishanth or Ashwin were not at their best. They were equally good. But there were lot of loose deliveries which the Australian batsmen made great use of. This bowling unit always seemed like taking wicket but at times wavered a bit. The swing in the pacers was something India missed for a long time, which was well utilised by the quickies. Ashwin bowled a lot better in a track which offered very little for the spinners. But one would have to agree to the fact that Umesh and Zaheer were the pick of the bowlers for India.
Indian Fielding:
After a long time, Indian fielding was really upto the mark. Apart from the straight forward chance of Hussey put down by Dravid at slip, there was no missed opportunities.
Australian Batting:
The inconsistent Australian batting line up was unable to cope up with the swing bowling of the Indian seamers. Early on Cowan played a genuine innings in his debut match. The much talked batting duo of Ponting and hussey lead the Australian batting line up. Ponting was particularly effective in both the innings and Hussey played a match winning knock in the second innings.Apart from Cowan, Ponting and Hussey there was not much of a contibution from any of the Australian batsmen. The lower order offered much resistance in the Australian batting. Siddle and Man of the Match Pattinson played got some useful runs and made sure they dont surrender cheaply. And the batters were mainly responsible for pushing the India to backfoot.
Austalian Bowling:
The inexperienced Australian bowling line up versus the vastly experienced Indian batting line up was a great contast and one would have to agree to the fact that inexperienced Australian bowloing line up had the upper hand at most of the time. The agression with pace by Pattinson, Hilfenhaus and Siddle was too high for the Indian standards. The fabulous display of wing bowling by Hilfenhaus in the first innings made sure India were trailing at the end of the first innings. Pattinson was too good in the second innings for the Indian batsmen . Siddle was consistent in both the innings and maintained constant length and consistentlt troubled the Indian batsmen.
Australian fielding:
The promising fielding line up didnt fail to deliver. Apart the missed catch of Sehwag by Haddin and Warner , the fielding was spot on.
Overall, the Australians delivered at the time when they most needed. Indians, after creating a lot of expectation in the minds of Indian fans failed again and registred their fifth consecutive defeat in test cricket played abroad. The Indian cricket known for their bouncing back skill would believe that they could still be back in the hunt in the second test.
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