Covid pandemic has ravaged the world in 2020, the year all of the human race would like to forget. The mankind has just started to limp back to normalcy,so does the Sporting world. Matches began to be played in empty stadiums, teams started to travel in the safe cocoon what would be called as 'Bio-Bubble'. After the successful IPL campaign in UAE away from home, the Indian team was set to fly to Australia, the series all cricket lovers in India would love to keep on tracking.
After losing the 3 match ODIs 1-2,we made a comeback with 2-1 T20 victory. But even in this era of IPLs and BBLs, I was looking ahead for the 4 match Test series alike many others in my generation who got the real charm of Test cricket after that Epic Home Series win against Australia back in 2003. The same enthusiasm never died and here I am about to record in black and white about one Series win of gigantic proportion. The impetus for this blog is that I don't want to miss any spark of emotions when I would be reminiscing this series with my grandchildren some 30 years down the lane. Indeed,This test series with all its drama and turn of events warrant a writing of a storybook, that of a fairytale to be specific.
Virat Kohli, the talismanic captain of India would only play the first test in Adelaide. The series was built up on how India would fare in the series without Kohli and few of the regular front line bowlers. The cricket pandits were quick to discard India's chances of repeating 2018 victory down under. With the formidable Australian side in full strength in their backyard, the task was very tough if not unsurmountable.
THE 1ST TEST; ADELAIDE:
In Adelaide,India kept on hanging, often fighting neck to neck session by session. The sad sight of Virat Kohli ,set for a certain century, being run out was the highlight of India's first Innings. Rahane responsible for the fiasco looked dejected and ever so apologetic for running out the best batsman playing his only match for the series. India managed to take a good lead in the first Innings. But India's hope was shattered for the rest of the series, it seemed, when they were bundled out for their lowest total ever, just 36 runs. The end of hope! Really??
THE 2ND TEST; MELBOURNE:
And the story starts here. The story of a team rising from the rubbles(if not Ashes!), building the effigy of resilience, determination and never die attitude right on that ruins. They had a new leader in Ajinkya Rahane to inspire and what a better way than leading from the front with an epic Century. The word 'Ajinkya' in marathi means Invincible. That century galvanised the whole team and with some superb bowling by Bumrah and co, India leveled the series with an unforgettable MCG Boxing day test win.
THE 3RD TEST; SYDNEY :
India with the new found confidence came to SCG, the ground the visitors used to find solace in. Aussies humiliated by the defeat had turned into more of an injured tiger by then, grabbed the Indians by their neck. The mighty Steve Smith got his elusive Century in the first inning and their bowlers did not miss any opportunity to demolish and dismantle India's batting and took substantial lead. The visitors were staring at a defeat when they had to survive for 130 overs in 4th innings with few of their players facing injury issues.Ravi Jadeja had a broken finger, Hanuma Vihari had a torn hamstring and R Aswin a sore back. With the back to the wall, only thing the team could do is to fight back. And what a grind it was in the final day. The resilience of Pujara and the brilliance of one carefree Risabh Pant at one stage raised the hope of even winning. Australia came back strongly and finally the heroics of two injured players, Vihari and Aswin saved the match. The feeling of a victory would fall short of this Drawn match. India survived to take all the drama to Gabba,one final time.
THE 4TH TEST; BRISBANE:
GABBA, the fortress of Australian cricket, where the host remained invincible for last 32 years. The perfect venue to teach the visitors a lesson or two. And if you ask me to describe the visitors status before the test,well, it would be an another story altogether. The team had become a moving hospital with atleast 6 front line players injured.Bumrah,Shami,Umesh,Aswin,Jadeja the whole bowling unit was out of the equation. At one stage the team was left searching frantically and would have fielded just anyone who can bat or bowl for that matter.
Lead by Md Shiraj on his 3rd match with Navdeep Saini and Shardul Thakur on their 2nd and two debutant Washington Sundar and Nataranjan originally picked as Net Bowlers, somehow the bowling squad was stitched. The combined wickets between them was 11 as opposed to 1000+ of opposition's. What a joke.
But the destiny had other ideas. India restricted the host below 400 in first innings and closed on to the total helped by some tremendous batting of two novice lower down allrounder Sundar and Shardul. Md Shiraj's five wicket haul was the greatest success story in the 3rd innings when India bundled down the Aussies below 300 even they were looking to post a huge target for the visitors. Shiraj held his assignments for the country above the personal loss of his father when he decided to stay back with the team. That decision paid off and made his stellar performance all that heroic.
India was left to chase 329 in 100 overs on a GABBA pitch that had become more hostile,full of ever widening cracks. The stage was set for one of the greatest test match 4th innings chase in the history. The drama that was about to unfold over next 8 hrs had many characters,all playing their part in this epic theatrical.The new found talented opener Shubman Gill set the chase with a fantastic 91. The sound of his wood meeting the ball ruptured through the stands of Gabba. The ever cool and composed Pujara played the role of the anchor, the best in that business. He was battered,intimidated by bouncers, hit once ominously on finger,twice on helmet and god knows how many times on his ribs,shoulder,abdomen etc. He engulfed 200 odd balls for his 50 but he kept everything at stake afloat. Then came Risabh Pant, the bohemian wicketkeeper batsman ,who took on the australian bowlers and almost single handedly steered India to victory. India had to score 145 runs in last session and they did it with a sense of calm.
This chase was scripted like a flowing stream overcoming all the obstacles with an ease and pain at the same time, invoking almost a reckless composure shown by a team mixed with a bit of experience and a lot of youthful exuberance. Aussies probably lost the match when they misjudged that 'carefree'Indian side to be 'Careless'.
For many years,this sun burnt country's cricket team was hailed by India as being Awe-stralia at least at their own backyard but on a day the unlikeliest of sporting scripts played out in real life,it was the Australian looking on at this indomitable Indian side in Awe.
ReplyDeleteRichie.Thanks for commenting. Indeed Australian were Awe-Struck
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