Oct 16 2009
Final frontier for ‘famous five’
Pakistan, Indians won the first Test match at Delhi. At Kolkotta and Bangalore Indians were ‘defeated’ because of the firmness of its pitches. More importantly, Indians won the three Test series 1-0 after 27 years. But playing the current Pakistan team at home was like hunting pigeons in your back garden. Pakistan looked below par in an uncompetitive Test series.
Indians under Anil Kumble have embarked in Australia for a four Test series starting on the Boxing Day. The team is on a high and the promise this time round, is more than ever. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman are also on the tour, and probably on their last Test cricket voyage to Australia. With their individual records and their stature in world cricket, they are at their prime and looking for a folklore end to their cricketing career.
This is no cricketing obituary. As we know that the ‘Ganguly guts’ and his inspirational recent batting form has put all of us face down. But as they are all racing in mid-thirties and by the next time India tours Australia, it would be difficult for them to be still playing around, nearing forty. They have all been truly great for Indian cricket, especially in last time’s glory down under. Last time round in 2003-04, they showed us ray of hope in squaring the Test series under one and only diminutive Sourav Ganguly.
Indians first toured Australia in 1947-48. In the first Test match at Brisbane, Don Bradman scored 185 runs and the entire Indian team was bundled out for less than that total of Bradman alone in both innings. Indians have played 32 Tests in Australia since that Bradman era and have won only 4 Tests matches while losing 20 Tests on those bouncy Australian pitches. They have managed to draw 8 Tests.
If we only look for Indian victories in Australia, Indians won 2nd & 3rd Tests matches at Melbourne and Sydney in 1977-78. Under Bishen Singh Bedi’s captaincy, Indian spinners rattled the Australians. Bishen Singh Bedi and B.S. Chandrashekhar in tandem took 59 Australian wickets in five Test matches but Indians still lost the series.
In the 1980-81 Test series under Sunil Gavaskar’s captaincy Indians won the Melbourne Test match with GS Vishwanth (114) scoring century, and Gavaskar (70) himself along with Chetan Chauhan (85) scored half-centuries. But it was the bowling of Karsan Ghavri, Dilip Doshi and Kapil Dev (5 for 28) that resulted in taking 20 wickets to win that Test match.
In the 2003-04 Test match at Adelaide under Sourav Ganguly, it was more convincing performance. Rahul Dravid scored heavily (233 & 72*) and VVS Laxman’s Aussie battering (148) continued. In the crucial bowling department it was Anil Kumble (5 for 154) and Ajit Agarkar (6 for 41), who tormented the almost invincible Australians.
After taking 24 wickets in three Tests matches in 2003-04, Anil Kumble had praised Indian batting for scoring heavily in the series. In the absence of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, Kumble had stressed that if runs were on board, he would deliver. Anil Kumble is now the captain of Indian team on the current tour to Australia. The words from a strong leader mean more than ever.
In the 2003-04 series, Sachin, Sourav, Ganguly and Laxman (two) all four scored centuries. Anil Kumble claimed five-wicket haul twice in the series. But then, common factor was that all five were four years younger. Another common factor this time round would be that Australians are again without McGrath and Warne. And Kumble is at the helm of affairs supported by the four great Indian heavy run getters.
If we look down memory lane, strong Indian batting along with experienced spin bowling and occasional medium-pace swing bowling has helped scent Indian causes down under. Indian batting looks in good mood with Sachin having a well deserved rest and now should be raring to go, Ganguly in ominous form of life, Laxman in good touch and Rahul, well capable of being the best in the world, would certainly have to deliver for the their final frontier. In the spin department, Kumble would be well supported by experienced Harbhajan Singh. Australians are known for weakness against off-spin.
Indian pace bowling would be desirable. With three conventional left-arm bowlers in Zaheer Khan, RP Singh and Irfan Pathan, Indians have taken two talented rookie young men in Ishan Sharma and Pankaj Singh. Medium pacers would have to chip-in but the load of Indian bowling would be lead by captain Anil Kumble.
Anil Kumble is no Shane Warne or a Muralidharan but nonetheless he has an attitude combined with great temperament, which is unique. Sachin, Dravid, Ganguly and Laxman along with Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni would certainly give Australians some hard time. Australian media, players and officials are already bickering and are in some fear psychosis for the current Test series. On the other side, Indians are looking more challenging than ever.
Indian glory or glow is in the next finale stage and burning ever so bright for the future. The five Indian stars are shinning and Indian glory should begin at Melbourne. The undoubted stamp of authority of the ‘famous five’ should surface down under. The final frontier beckons the famous five.
