Adelaide musings

Of the 22 men that fought out an enthralling Test match four years ago, only 10 will be make their way on to the Adelaide Oval tomorrow. Some like Steve Waugh have retired, while others like Ajit Agarkar discovered that one swallow doesn't a summer make. Brad Williams went off to paint houses, while Ashish Nehra never reached the heights he scaled on a Durban night when he swung out six English batsmen and threw up a banana.

Rahul Dravid and Ricky Ponting remain, double-centurions from a match that has a special place in a unique rivalry. India conceded 400 on the opening day in December 2003, including 159 in the final session, and came back to win by four wickets. Ponting blew a kiss to his wife during an epic innings of 242, but his second-innings failure was the precursor to a stunning collapse against Agarkar on the fourth afternoon.

It might still have been so different had a magnificent spell from Williams fetched some reward on the final morning. Instead, Adam Gilchrist put down Dravid when he had just 9, and the 63 more that he added piloted India past a tricky target.

Four seasons on, Australia don't need to win, while India must to square what has been another gripping sides between the two best matched sides in world cricket. And that imperative may well force their hand when it comes to team selection. Given Ponting's difficulties against him, Harbhajan Singh must surely play. Ordinarily, another bowler would make way, but the very thought of Ishant Sharma, RP Singh or Irfan Pathan stepping aside after their heroics in Perth is almost unthinkable.

That means Wasim Jaffer is likely to be the fall guy. In normal circumstances, Dinesh Karthik would have come in to replace him, one opener for another. But these are unusual times, and given Dravid's reluctance to move out of his familiar No.3 groove, it could be Pathan that's asked to front up to the new ball alongside Virender Sehwag.

For Anil Kumble, the match marks a return to the ground where a stalling career was given the kiss of life. Harbhajan had started that tour as the frontline spinner, but his exit gave Kumble an opportunity. Having taken just five wickets at 90 in three Tests in 1999-2000, he got off to the worst possible start, taking 1 for 115 on an opening day when Australia ran riot. But three wickets in five balls stitched up the innings, and 18 wickets in the next two Tests firmly established him once again as Indian spin's first among equals.

As for Australia, they have to overcome the disappointment of a streak ending, and focus on avoiding defeat in back-to-back Tests for the first time since Chennai in 2001. Unusually for them, an XI hasn't been named, with opinions divided on whether Shaun Tait will play his home Test ahead of Brad Hogg. Tait had a wretched game in Perth, struggling with his run-up, action, and control, and now has the unenviable record of two losses and a draw from his three Tests. But at the Oval, he has often been a fearsome proposition for South Australia.

Hogg was excellent in Melbourne and relatively poor in Sydney, but given that the pitch here tends to deteriorate markedly over the final three or four sessions, he should get the nod. But regardless of whether it's turn or pace that comes to the fore as the match goes on, we can hope for a reprise of Sydney and Perth, without anyone of the umpiring and other controversies. It's been a fascinating series, and it deserves a fitting final chapter.

Comments

[bunty]

187/4 at tea day 1 doesnt look good for india as 500+ first innings has been a losing score at adelaide and india would need 600+ to feel safe; even if 500+ defeats are aberrations certainly a first innings total below 425 while not looking bad is likely to be woefully inadequate. Pitch best for batting days 2 and 3 and if OZ are in for most of the 2 days they may not need to bat in the 4th innings when spin wouldve entered the frame. one cant help but wonder if it mightve been 187/2 if laxman had come in at no 3 instead of no 6. which begs the questions -why is he slotted so low especially in oz where hes been india's most successful batsman and why are there no questions on his odi exclusion? hes in better form in oz as a bat than dada, a better catcher at 2nd slip/silly point, and an equally poor outfielder/runner between wickets.
overall advantage oz so far in this game - i'm a bit surprised hogg was preferred to tait but it may not make much of a difference. possible first innings 400 and 2nd (3rd) innings 300 while looking ok are more likely to be losing totals on this ground and india may well not get these scores. good to see sachin n viru get a few. even better if sachin can carry on. the key would be if laxman can get a big one either innings-but thats more likely at no 3 than no 6.

[Tim]

As a longshot, what chance Karthik replacing Dhoni, and Singh replacing Jaffer, with Kathik opening and the rest of the order the same? Dhoni has done well with the gloves but has been disappointing with the bat; Kathik's solidity could complement Sehwag's explosiveness.

[bunty]

having said that i do believe its advantage oz at adelaide; talking of swansongs before sachin can emulate lara at adelaide he must know its his last test in oz? does he?

[bunty]

jaffer out n bhajji in is a no brainer. but who will open with viru (india must get a good start to have a chance) if kaarthik isnt in for jaffer or saurav (dada tends to first sulk in adversity than later let his bat speak); personally i dont think theres much in it at adelaide only (middle order is more tested by 2nd innings uneven bounce, spin, reverse swing and each day occasional post tea breeze that helped kapil in '85 tour) between kaarthik and pathan as openers here though not elsewhere; unfortunate if bhajji is in for ishant who would be useful day 1 and on uneven bounce 2nd innings; unfair to ask dravid to open; the key bat for india to win here is vvs batting well at no 3 or not later than 5 (y not dravid at 5 and saurav at 6?); 5 reg bowlers will also better contain oz adelaide usually winning strategy of big first innings; my gut feel is oz will retain tait as hes done well here with reverse swing and uneven bounce 2nd innings; hogg not really scared india and if india batting 5th day clarke n symonds have shown can be tricky; though somehow when india has played here in past adelaide has turned a lil less than reputation even on day 5

[huyen]

dileep, if the indians had made a noise about bucknor's umpiring THEN, when ponting was plonking his foot down but was still completely immune to lbw's, they would have more credibility now and not appear like cry babies.
it's incredible how nobody's said or written that bucknor has been a serial offender against india and that's why he had to go.
if they had protested then, bucknor may have been thrown out earlier, ponting may be averaging in the late 40's now, and australia may be looking less invincible.
and the australians won't be on the moral high horse they climbed after being immune from bad decisions for so long.