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.

Team India The Fearless

We have gone and beaten the Aussies in style. India dominated in all area's of the game, including fielding. Aussie were just dominant during a single session and that did not last. The seniors in Aussie side failed to guide the youngsters. Whatever brave front they may put up post match, Indian's have managed to sow more than a seed of doubt in their minds.

In a way, the upcoming Delhi test will be seen as a touchstone for this Australian side's capability. If Australia lose in Feroz Shah Kotla, it will be certain that they have become a side which has finally come down among mortals; it will be known in the cricketing world that they can be dominated! The dominance shown by India was so complete because India played their cricket in a different style, India attacked, India drew the first blood.

Much can be said about MS Dhoni's knock in the first innings - the most significant of which is that it showed that India for once are playing their best cricket ever. Dhoni's innings was built on solid foundation laid down by Sourav & Sachin. Earlier days, the batsman in Dhoni's place would have seen to accumulate runs at a fast pace. Not so with Dhoni - he attacked mercilessly and fearlessly and that proved to Aussies that this team India is all about winning the match. This attack of Dhoni's showed that this team India is not satisfied by tame draw.

Let us take this approach forward, let us attack in Delhi. Let us be fearless. Let us remember that attack is the best form of defence and that Aussies will look to dominate. Maintaining a lead should be second in our mind, the first thought must and will be to extend the lead to 2-0.

One more blow to this Aussie side might be the very last that needs to be delivered to shatter their confidence. Aussies know this and they will come back hard, they will fight tooth and nail. If India continues to be fearless, then we are up for a very interesting contest.

Tail thunders! - Retain Fab-4!

While half the top order of India did not put up a fight, the tail is showing some spirit. Most annoying was how Tendulkar, Laxman and Dhoni got out. Tendulkar and Laxman just followed the script Aussies wrote for them; wonder even if the "director" Ponting would have hoped for such a "Oscar worthy" performance! In fact the person who is being forced to play his last series was the best Indian batsman today; in spite of a nosebleed Ganguly played within himself and ultimately got out LBW to a faulty decision for 47. His innings almost had no bad shots. So again the question - does Sourav deserve this treatment? India's bravest and most successful captain by far, a fighter to the core. Sourav's fall can never be India's gain.

Dravid also is getting back to his old self. If a single tour is a fate decider for the seniors then will rest of the fab-4 receive same treatment as Ganguly if they fail the whole series. Naah .. that's not gonna happen, they all did bad in SriLanka .. but its just Dada who has to leave - others can congratulate their luck or PR skills.

I am not advocating that any of the fab-4 should leave. I believe they are all great cricketers who have a year or two in them. I am just sore an sorry for the treatment meted out for Ganguly. Why not have a rotation policy and keep benching one of the fab-4 for a test and let a junior take his place? Guys these people are called fab-4 for a reason - they had quality, they had the grit and they were consistent. I firmly believe that none of the Indian youngsters-in-wait have all this right now, as that fab-4 did when they took their place in Indian test side. Apart from that the fab-4 can and will still perform for at least a year or two if given opportunity. Does the selectors even know the meaning of the phrase "to phase out"?