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| Tuesday, 3 February 2004 |
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Comment by Dr. Elmo Rodrigopulle Cricketers and cricket fans were all agog waiting to know whether Glen McGrath and Shane Warne would be included in the teams that Australia would name to tour here. It was obvious that the Australians were struggling against India without the services of their two champion cricketers. Now comes the news that paceman McGrath would not be available for the one-day series fuelling speculation that he would also be not available for the Test series. Reports have it that McGrath has not fully recovered from ankle surgery. But he is hard at training keen to make it to the Test Squad. The gangling pacie is a known fighter and if he has fully recovered by the time the selectors sit to pick, he is sure to inform them of his availability. However McGrath would not be able to deliver the way he would like. He would be a bit apprehensive and would be at half pace. For a fast bowler the worst thing that could happen is to suffer ankle injury. There is so much pressure exerted on the ankle that it is going to cause a lot of discomfort and it is obvious that McGrath would not be able to run in as he would like and deliver. But then the Aussie physio and medical men would have treated McGrath accordingly and we would not be surprised if he bowls like when he was at his peak. Skipper Ricky Ponting is on record having said that the attack is weak in the absence of McGrath and leg spinner Shane Warne. He has also said that he would like to have them back as soon as possible. McGrath also has the ability to use the new ball as well as the old ball very intelligently. His presence is sure to add the confidence that the Aussie attack is lacking at the moment. McGrath's presence alone would sure inspire Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Andy Bichel and Brad Williams to bowl with a lot of hostility. Of good news to Australia is that Warne is hard at training under the watchful eyes of his coach the former Aussie leg spinner Terry Jenner. Warne would soon be free after serving a sentence for drug use. Having been out of the game for over 12 months, Warne would have been sharpening his skills, concentrating on his fitness, bowling long spells at the nets and there is no doubt that the selectors would rush him in once the ban is lifted. Warne and Muttiah Muralitheran are fighting to go beyond the record held by Courtney Walsh and end up as the bowlers with the most number of victims in the history of Test cricket. The battle between these two in the coming months would be chockful of interest. Cricketers and cricket fans would remember that it was on one of the tours to Sri Lanka that Warne launched his phenomenal rise in the game. In that Test at the SSC he was taken apart, especially by former Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga who hit him to all corners of the field and over it as well in the first innings. But Warne had his revenge in the second innings, bemusing our batsmen with top class leg spin, googly bowling and sent them reeling to defeat in a Test that always looked like going the Lankan way. Memories of that memorable Test would be revived when the Aussies and the Lankans get down to doing their thing at the SSC. Triangular cricket Australia and India have qualified to play in the Victoria Bitter best of three finals. Zimbabwe the other team only just went to help make the numbers. The finals are sure going to be evenly and keenly contested with no quarter asked or given. While the Aussies would want to add to their dominance in this style of game, the Indians would be determined to defeat the Aussies and avenge the thrashing that they received in the World Cup final. Australia and India have cricketers ideally suited for this style of play. Playing at home Australia are fancied to win. But India as they showed in the Test series can upset the Aussies if they play to expectations and form. Sehwag, Laxman, Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly should match Hayden, Gilchrist, Ponting, Martyn, and Clarke stroke for stroke, with the Aussie attack of Lee, Gillespie, Williams and Bichel being slightly better than their opponents. Both sides have top class fielders, and fielding is the most important in this type of game and indications are that the side that fields better coming out on top. TV Commentators Watching the Test and one-day series between Australia and India on ESPN/Star TV it was interesting and educative listening to TV Commentators Geoff Boycott, Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Dean Jones, Harsha Bhogale, Alan Wilkins and Wasim Akram describing the happenings out in the middle. Their superb presentation, descriptions and comments have kept viewers glued to their sets. They are not afraid to call a spade a spade and not some other implement. They never hesitate to take on the umpires if they have erred. To enlighten and inform the viewers should be their job and not to heap praise as if singing for their supper. When the Aussies tour it is hoped that the famous Tony Greig would be here. TV sponsors would add more spice to the telecasts if they could get Navjot 'Jonty' Sidhu to also join the commentary team. Greig and Sidhu would sure be a fine double to listen to. |
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