Battered after Boxing Day

Three years ago, the curator in Nagpur was accused of preparing an "Australian" pitch - it did have a smattering of grass and offer good bounce, without bearing any resemblance to the WACA of old - after the visitors cruised to the 342-run win that gave them a first series win in India since the days of Neil Armstrong's moonwalk.

At the MCG, Tony Ware appeared to return the favour, with a surface that was far more low and slow than anything you usually see in Australia. The result though was the same, a crushing 337-run victory that laid bare every single Indian inadequacy. After Anil Kumble's bloodymindedness had created the illusion of a contest on day one, an illustrious batting line-up showed all the fight of a whale stranded on the beach. Australia bowled superbly, with Mitchell Johnson outstanding in the heat today, but there can be no excuse for being rolled over so cheaply twice.

To be fair to him, Kumble wasn't even thinking of excuses. "When you get on top against Australia, you have to stay on top," he said. "We didn't do that. We didn't bat well enough in the first innings." Only one Indian batsman, Sachin Tendulkar, passed 50 in the match and the difference between the two sides was exemplified by the figures of two openers.

Matthew Hayden faced 183 balls for his matchwinning 124. From the 180 balls he faced after being asked to open in both innings, Rahul Dravid managed a paltry 21. Almost every attacking stroke he attempted went straight to the fielder and the overall impression was of a man slowly disappearing from view in quicksand.

The pressure from Australia was relentless, with Johnson, Lee and Clark taking turns to torment the Indians. And there were no other weaknesses to prey on either. Brad Hogg winkled out Sourav Ganguly in both innings, while Andrew Symonds ended Dravid's vigil on Saturday. Unless there's a dramatic change in plan, and there's unlikely to be after 15 straight wins, poor Shaun Tait will have to wait till the WACA to be unleashed.

India now have three days to get this horror show out of the system and prepare for Sydney. In two of the last three Tests they played there - 1992 and 2004 - they dominated from start to finish and were unfortunate to leave without a win. With Perth coming up after that, success in sydney becomes mandatory if the series is to stay alive.

You sense though that it'll take more than happy highlights reels to rouse this Indian side. As for Australia, only a few more sessions of such dominance stand between them and a place alongside Steve Waugh's Immortals. On this evidence and the cold glint in Ricky Ponting's eye, you can't see them being denied.

Comments

[Ted Baines]

Face it ASustralia is far better than India.

[Brett]

India?? Are they still playing cricket?? From someone who watched Australia get slapped through the 80's and marveled at the likes of the West Indies through that same decade, I say let the carnage continue!! I can't wait until the 2009 Ashes Series when the Aussies are able to challenge themselves to an innings plus defeat of the Poms through that whole series. Ha, ha, CATCH UP!!

[Hugh]

Personally I thought India fielded decently, and only Kumble, Dhoni and Tendulkar can get some consolation from parts of their performance. Their overall problem was they they didn't take the game to the Aussies. Their top order has the talent to do damage, if only they'd back themselves. It's not like they've got anything to lose. No one expects them to win, but they still chose to die on their knees rather than fighting on their feet.

This test was like Adelaide last year with England spending their 2nd innings trying to bat defensively. India, like England did then, only welcomed their own downfall.

Australia are miles ahead at the moment, and rightly so. The Aussie XI is packed with talent, versatility & exceptional athleticism. They play hard, never let up, take their chances, always go after victory and give their opponents absolutely nothing to work with. Even when India were 350+ runs behind with only a wicket or two left, the Aussies were still hurling themselves at the ball in the field to prevent even 1 unecessary run.

They are ultra-consistent in the way they apply their overall philosophy. And the Aussies may have one poor innings, but they won't have two, and that's why they win tests.

If the rest of the world wants to be competitive, they might consider using the Australian work ethic and competitiveness as a starting point.

[Brad Donman]

Forget the in depth analysis of players and pitches. Ive been watching cricket for nearly 60 years and am bored with the way we Aussies sweep everyone aside with consumate ease. Handicaps MUST be considered as the ICC are hiding the fact that the current world number 2 Test team is Australia "B" !!! (and I'm led to believe our u/19 team is rated in the worlds top 3 !).
Remember what goes around comes around....but it can be a bloody long wait !

[bunty]

india have ridden the 2001 and 2003 performances too long; 2004-05 oz in india and now suggest that they have sorted out our experienced players; will get tougher once tait is in the team; sachin looked good vs hogg but now seems to have probs with pace; are we staring at 4-0?

[Realist]

Firstly Mr Premachandran, thanks for your balanced view of the game. It is appreciated and respected from those who love the game in Australia.
On the issue of the MCG pitch, I would remind readers that this is what we call in Australia a "drop in pitch", that is, a strip which is prepared in a greenhouse and literally placed into the ground. Given the weather conditions which prevailed prior to this Test, is was not indicative of the standard wicket which one associates with an MCG strip. But I agree that it was rubbish.
The reference regarding the performance of the Indian teams in Sydney of their wins in 1994 and 2002 bears rather more scutinty should India expect the same conditions next week. Since the Sydney Cricket Ground
has removed the entire topsoil and replaced the drainage system in 2005, the SCG wicket is no longer the first day turning wicket it once was. Indeed it is now an opening bowlers paradise. (though not in the catagory of the WACA)
Should India choose two spinners with the same medium/fast bowling attack for this match it will be at their peril. Sydney has been dry and humid for the last 7 days, so I expect an absolute firecracker first two or three sessions of day one, after that a lovely batting strip which will turn quickly mid afternoon on the third day.
So there's some information you can pass onto the visitors.

[Dileep]

You've zeroed in on the most important fact. Without being an outstanding fielding side, you have no hope in hell of being the best side. Just look at Adelaide last year and the Giles drop. A lot of subcontinent players regard fielding as a "lesser" skill and as long as that attitude persists, the likes of Australia will be miles ahead.
I thought the Australians were hugely impressive in this game. Right from Phil Jaques who bats with such uncluttered simplicity to the pace bowlers who kept to such tight lines, it was a ruthlessly professional display. If India don't go out with positive intent in Sydney, Perth will just witness celebratory carnage, like it did last year.

[Scott Wickstein]

From an Australian perspective, that was a very pleasing performance. There were times in both Australian innings where the Indians seemed to be getting back into the game but the Australian middle order played with grit and professionalism. My personal highlight was watching the marvelous footwork and dexterity of Michael Clarke, during his 73 in the second innings. He has a great record against spin, and again proved he's probably our best player of spin.

The bowling performance was good, rather then outstanding. One wonders how Australia would have fared if any of the Indians had the gumption to dare what Kumar Sangakkara had dared at Hobart, but the end of the line is, they didn't.

And India's fielding is, to be blunt, a disgrace. How can they expect to win games when they refuse to take the discipline of fielding seriously?

Australia can't just assume that India will lose confidence and not bounce back though- I expect the tourists to put up a much better showing in Sydney. But if Australia continue to play in a positive, professional manner and not be complacent, I think that Australia will continue to have India's measure in this series.