Australia and India share the spoils

Michael Clarke was not named man of the series (that honour went to Brett Lee) but perhaps he should have been as it was his one over in Sydney that proved the difference between two great teams. Over four pulsating Tests (three actually, as Melbourne was disappointingly one-sided), India took on the best in the world and almost matched them. Honour was salvaged on both sides after the diplomatic angst of Sydney (although that still has a coda to play) and most cricket-lovers' appetite for the game has been revived.

Peter McGuinness, as he kindly has all series, sent in the following match report:

"Proceedings crawled along for 30 minutes, until Dravid got hit by Lee. The Wall's finger hurt too much to remain on the battlefield and he went off on 11, to be replaced by Tendulkar. Sehwag did nearly all the morning's scoring and duly posted his century, which would have thrilled Michael Clarke no end having dropped the maniacal opener on two. You've got to hand it to Sehwag. He punctuates periods of edging, missing and generally looking like Stevie Wonder swinging a stump, with strokes straight from the middle like blasts from a cannon.

"Once Sehwag had raised the bat, Tendulkar ran himself out for 13. He played wide of Johnson, who athletically picked up and threw down the stumps after the Little Master had been correctly sent back by the centurion. Ganguly arrived at 2/128 and was still present by lunch at 142. The much improved Johnson removed Ganguly after the break, spooning a defensive shot to Hussey at short extra cover, 3/162. Laxman was beaten for pace by Lee and flicked to Gilchrist down leg to be out for 12.  At 4/186, with Dravid nursing a disabled digit in the dressing room, Dhoni needed to hang on to keep the smell of blood from Aussie nostrils. Sehwag now had the shutters up - much against his nature - and became commendably steadfast. Incredibly, when India brought up 200, Sehwag had 129 of them. By tea, India had done enough to secure a draw at 4/210. Lee and Johnson tried mightily for the Aussies, maintaining pace and movement on a Day 5 pitch that continued to hold together.

"Hayden snared a scorcher at wide slip to reward Lee with Dhoni's wicket at 5/237. Symonds claimed Sehwag on 151, beautifully caught by Gilchrist, 6/253.  Sehwag's gutsy lone hand saved his country. Harbjahan fell to Hogg on 7/264, before the captains shook hands on an extremely hard fought draw, indicative of the epic struggle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. What a series - I feel like I've been holding my breath for a month. 

"Some observations: Les Burdett should attempt to produce a wicket with something in it for bowlers on the first day. With these two terrific batting teams, a draw was odds on from the outset. Results in the last couple of years have been courtesy of poor batting from the tourists.

"Harbjahan and Hogg were completely ineffective in Adelaide. Conversely, second stringers Symonds and Sehwag were far superior for their respective teams, and should have bowled more overs, albeit that Roy's ankle was crook.

"Best players throughout the series were Lee, Tendulkar, Hayden, Laxman, Symonds, Kumble and Clarke. Biggest improvers were Sharma and Johnson. India missed Sehwag at the start of the series. Australia missed Hayden in Perth. The Aussies need to develop young slippers for the future. India need to find one more young Test opener. 

"Farewell and Thank You to Tendulkar, Laxman, Dravid and Ganguly. Goodbye and thanks for the memories to the one and only Adam Gilchrist."

Comments

[Urban_legend]

Great series apart from the brain fade by all involved at Sydney. I predict a reverse of the score line when aussies tour india later this year (or worse if Stuart McGill's role remains more of a oenophile than a spin merchant). PM - thanks for the 'hard but fair' reporting.

[Oscar the Grouch]

A disappointingly flat end to the series - two heavyweight boxers slugging it out for the whole 15 rounds, ending up sliding around in the blood on the canvas until both dropped from sheer bloody exhaustion.

Had Clarke held on to Sehwag, then (and yes, this is all what if's?) the rest of the Indian second innings looks on paper as a collapse - but could Australia have pulled off another miracle? Ponting seriously battling, Symonds none too special in the fitness department either; Hayden probably a tad suspect but fresher than anybody else, all the batsmen knackered from the field - what might have been?

Obviously Kumble feared that question too much to even let Australia back on the pitch with a mountain the size of Everest in front of them - well, fair enough I guess, and certainly his right. Had he gambled and lost, one suspects he would have been spit-roasted back home - but what an ending it could have made...