India’s old hands warm to Boxing Day task
Australia’s callow bowling attack has tantalised with the promise of
a brave new era, but faces its stiffest examination against India’s
veteran batsmen in the first test in Melbourne starting Monday.
Sachin Tendulkar, Vangipurappu Laxman and Rahul Dravid will almost
certainly face Michael Clarke’s team for the last time Down Under in the
four-test series, having come agonisingly close in the past to pulling
off India’s first series win on Australian soil.
Unlike many chastened visitors, the prolific run-scoring trio have
delighted in Australia’s quick and bouncy decks and relish the idea of
continuing the harvest at the batsman-friendly MCG with unfinished
business on their minds.
“Winning against Australia is the dream of all cricketers, not only
from India but anywhere in the world, because when you play Australia in
Australia it’s probably one of the toughest cricket (contests) a player
can play,” Laxman told reporters on Friday in the bowels of the famed
stadium.
“Australian surfaces are best for batting. Personally, I always
relish batting on such conditions than the subcontinent conditions
because once you see the new ball, there’s true bounce on the wicket and
you can play a lot of your shots and you get value for your shots.
“I think the key would be to get a big score in the first innings and
I firmly believe that at the MCG if you can get a big total in the first
innings you can put the opposition under pressure straight away.”
India, second in test rankings, have arguably their best shot of
breaking their duck Down Under in decades, coming against a
fourth-ranked Australian side in flux following their humbling Ashes
defeat on home soil last year.
With Mitchell Johnson ruled out for the series and Shane Watson
sidelined, Australia’s bowling hopes rest largely on the shoulders of a
talented 21-year-old quick who has played only two tests and an
offspinner who has contested seven five-day matches.
Paceman James Pattinson impressed with two five-wicket hauls in his
first two tests against New Zealand but enjoyed the benefit of devilish
pitches in Brisbane and Hobart.
Nathan Lyon has given rise to hopes that Australia has found a
quality spinner to fill the gaping hole left by Shane Warne, but faces
an acid test against India’s accomplished players of spin.
More concerning for Australia has been the form of their batsmen,
however, who have perfected the art of suffering batting collapses when
pressing for victory.
Their 47 against South Africa in Cape Town and their dismal buckling
to lose the Hobart test against New Zealand prompted Australia’s cricket
honchos to convene a batting boot camp to get them to sharpen up before
the Boxing Day test.
It also led to the dumping of youngsters Phil Hughes and Usman
Khawaja, who squandered their chances to cement their places at the top
of the order.
Shaun Marsh has been rushed back into the side to give the batting
line-up some spine, ironically after suffering a debilitating back
injury, while Ed Cowan, the form player in the Sheffield Shield, will
debut at the top of the order after scoring a century during the tour
match in Canberra this week.
REUTERS |