Classical Shining

Its time for the swingers and tweakers to get into act and going by recent past, it will be a fabulous act as well.

Two double hundreds in a mammoth first innings score of 613/7(dec); one from a youngster who has started showing his liking to Aussie cuisine and another a well established veteran whose exploits against the Aussies are legendary. This test shows us how well "India shining", the aggressive vibrant young India, moves hand in hand with the polite but classy India epitomised by the fab4.

Gutam's innings was well planned and aggressive at time's, as seen in the way he got from 99 to a century - by hitting a six; he also showed that he can hold his head still and get to double figures. Laxman's innings of 200 not out, was very dominant in effect but that dominance is almost unseen, you suddenly realise looking at the score card what a devastating bat Laxman is, no arrogance here, only the class of a batsman executing his art in peace with himself and sure in his joy.

Laxman's batting belies logic of the conventional but even purists would never term it unorthodox - Laxman just manages to play the most unbelievable strokes to ball's that have never been played in that manner. Brydon has a question that will better explain what I mean - http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/indvaus2008/content/current/story/375998.html

Aussies got to 50 without loss and comfortably so far. Going by common knowledge, Kotla pitch will behave erratically starting sometime tomorrow. What ever might be the pitch, this test every Aussie will be putting a price on his wicket and it will need something special (like they have been so far this series) from the Indian bowlers.This test will most probably end in a Indian win - not that the win will come easy.

A from here on will make Aussies really happy - not that they will acknowledge it though.