Jhakas | Sanjay Jha
The cyclone yesterday ensured that Indian cricket would be left in slippery conditions as Australia against conventional forecast won the ODI series 4-2. When we went up 2-1, there were sanguine expectations that it would we an Oz whitewash; after all, even the first match was tantalizing close. On paper, the Indians looked like a warrior-outfit, resolute leadership, experienced hands, aggressive youngsters and playing in familiar neighbourhood as well. By the way, I forgot to add, but the once invincible opponents appeared clearly vulnerable with key players visiting their respective orthopaedic surgeons. In short, India was the bookies' favourite, by far, I assume. India had added incentive, if we won we would be crowned with the numero uno position in ICC rankings. Ultimately, we flattered to deceive.
The Indians were definitely lackadaisical compared to the beleaguered Australians who matched their emaciated strength by quadrupling intensity. Simple law of balancing equations. Continue reading below
The ghost of Johannesburg
Sachin Tendulkar's brilliant century at Hyderabad stood out as a scintillating memory for all Indians. It's end had poetic injustice written all over it, a poignant reminder that a brilliant script may just have a wrong-ending. Most experts saw a damning similarity with that famous Pakistan Test match at Chepauk where Sachin departed in similar style; an unusually phlegmatic shot played with casual insouciance into receptive hands. It seemed almost unreal. You could see the surprised expressions of unambiguous relief on the faces of the Australians. And yet, India remained on high ecstasy momentarily as Praveen Kumar was seen as the heavenly saviour. But the truth is that the Australians won the match even as we debate endlessly the wisdom of those desperate run-outs.
I personally feel more than the haunting Chepauk loss, Tendulkar was trying to obliterate the excruciatingly painful World Cup final defeat in Johannesburg 2003. Australia had mercilessly massacred us to a similar 350-plus score and India made a rapid but futile chase. Albeit Sachin won the Player of the Tournament award he looked visibly disconsolate at the prize distribution, perhaps still traumatized by that first over dismissal. I am sure that defeat rankled hard as it would have been his big moment - world champions as a team, and personally, a milestone contributor in that historic triumph. But Ricky Ponting ruthlessly terminated that dream. At Hyderabad, Sachin was close to avenging that searing hurt until that one slightly slower ball from Shane Watson. For a while I hoped he would cross Saeed Anwar's majestic 194 record against us. Sachin's instant response reflected his still-continuing-anguish, further exacerbated: I will play the 2011 World Cup.
Tough luck for the great maestro.
Dada returns
Sourav Ganguly has returned as a match expert on a TV channel and expectedly looks profusely amused by the cacophonous shrieking that accompanies every event especially if it is Tendulkar - related by one of his co-hosts. For a moment I thought it was a shrieking Mamata Banerjee speech lost in translation. One cardinal principle for every aspiring journalist if you want to build an instant acceptance and a fan base; just keep lionising Tendulkar day in and night out.
Ganguly himself has been typically straightforward, not flinching when it comes to calling a spade a spade or taking a grey-area call, no unnecessarily pussyfooting around. Cool, Dada!
So what? Says Shastri
In a leadership summit of HT, I was hardly surprised to hear Ravi Shastri cockily state that India is rightfully the bragging bully of global cricket because of the weight of moneybags. Sounded like a BCCI mouth-piece (which he is) let loose. Shastri's suggestion to arrest declining Test spectators - "take it to the smaller centres" sounded hollow. At least, it was an honest confession that Test cricket faces a rising crisis. He is fully aware of the rotational policy and commercial stakes for different associations, but in that gullible audience, it sold.
As for Sunil Gavaskar, it was the archetypal Sunil Gavaskar response to the oft-repeated question: Will T20 destroy cricket and cricketers? "There is scope for all three formats to co-exist". He ducked with assiduous ease the crucial aspect; sure they can exist, but will they survive?
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