From the depths of desperation, the Sri Lankan cricket fan has been transported to a state of euphoria, thanks to the determination, grit and skill shown by the Sri Lankan team in an exhilarating comeback victory over the South Africans on their home turf.
The die-hard Indian fan too has seen it all this year, only to end 2011 on a rather low note. From the hurrahs of the World Cup victory to the humiliation at the hands of the English in the summer, from the dominance on the Indian shores to their meek capitulation to Australia in the see-sawing first test Down Under. It has just been that sort of a year. The Indian fan, who holds his cricketing gods in extreme reverence, has seen them touch such incredible lows, that surely he must have felt even his faith shaken.
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| Australia's James Pattinson (centre R) gestures towards the replay screen while waiting for the third umpire's decision awarding him the wicket of India's VVS Laxman during the first cricket test match, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground December 29, 2011. REUTERS |
Was he to appreciate India’s Dravid vs Goliath story against the mighty English or bemoan India’s worst performance in recent memory over a 4-0 whitewash? Was he to gloat over Sehwag’s scintillating ODI double century or regret the falling from grace as the No.1 ranked test team in the world? Short-lived is glory, long-lived is pain and this may well be the memory that he carries, as he stares at the prospect of a very dominant Australian summer.
Yet, there are some good individual stories for him to savour from the year gone by. Newcomers to international cricket, Ajinkya Rahane and Manoj Tiwary have done well in different conditions, showcasing both talent and, more importantly, maturity. Rohit Sharma, the under-performing, highly rated and talented cricketer, seems to have finally found his groove, impressing all with his performance against the West Indies in the one day series. With Dravid, the Wall in his last leg of international cricket, perhaps Rohit, the Rock could be India’s replacement in the future scheme of things?
However, the biggest and most exciting story this year was from India’s weakest link and long standing bugbear - fast bowling. The Indian pace attack had seemingly whittled down to a one-man force. When Zaheer Khan, whose 30 plus body, under the burden of single-handedly carrying India’s expectations, gave up at the start of the English tour, it exposed the frailty of the Indian attack. This, and the disastrous tour, was followed by three good things. First, Ishant Sharma found his pace and with it, his potency once again, then India found Umesh Yadav and finally India found Varun Aron. Suddenly, India had found 3 bowlers who could regularly bowl at 145 kmph and beyond.
This was not all. With Harbhajan Singh having lost his sting, India uncovered a spinner with guile and talent, Ravichander Ashwin, finding his way into the national mainstream through his successes at IPL for the Chennai Superkings. The 3-test series against West Indies saw him pick up 22 wickets and even score a century. And now, for the first time, in a long time, India seemed to have 4 match winning bowlers.As for the first time, in a long time, a visiting country started as favourites in the Boxing Day opening test match at the MCG. Alas, for the confused and now beleaguered Indian fan, it was not to be. In a match of lost opportunities, India came unstuck when it mattered.
Chasing down Australia’s 333 in the first innings, India managed to slip from a commanding position of 214 for 2 to 282 all out, giving away an invaluable lead of 51. Then the drama truly began with 4 top Australian batsmen back in the hut, with a paltry 27 runs on the board. Surely, India could not have lost it from there. But yes, they did. Hussey, Ponting and the tail combined to take Australia to 240, leaving India with a victory target of 292, surely, with India’s batting talent, they could still do it. But no, they did not. When Sehwag’s all powerful cut found Hussey’s safe hands, the writing was on the wall. It was not to be India’s day. And an all too familiar story played out, as the Indian batsmen succumbed one after another, meekly, on the face of some hostile and accurate pace bowling to hand Australia the 1-0 lead.
It must be said, though that the Indian bowling looked sharp. Ishant and Umesh were more than just support bowlers to the King Khan of Indian bowling, Zaheer. Umesh, infact, provided vital break-throughs at the top of the order, finishing up with 7 wickets in the match. Ishant, while being unlucky not to pick as many wickets, bowled fast, bowled well and the regular thud of the ball into the keeper’s gloves was music to the ears.
Despondency aside, India has the ability and the skill to win this series. But does it have the resolve and most importantly, the belief? Can it fight back as did Sri Lanka? While the Indian fan hopes that the England tour was but an anomaly, and the big names of Indian cricket will live up to their reputations, he can but sit back and hope to enjoy this roller coaster ride of being an avid cricket fan. |
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