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.

Sachin's 12000 and Fab 5

Sachin is now the highest run getter in test cricket and has passed a milestone which no one has so far done. He went past 12000 runs in test cricket today at Mohali playing Australia in the 2nd test of 2008 Border-Gavaskar trophy.

To say in his own words "Success is a process... During that journey sometimes there are stones thrown at you, and you convert them into milestones." This comment portrays how much injustice is being meted out to our seniors who have carried the weight out our aspirations with aplomb for so long. Be it Sachin, Sourav, Rahul, Anil or Laxman; our media has mercilessly targeted each set back they suffered in past 5 years and tried to virtually put an end to their careers. Well I understand that media doesn't hold a grudge against these greats; but they have targeted these fabulous five of Indian cricket for want of sensationalism. This in addition to the cricket politics would have been enough to keep any other player from fighting back as the fab-5 are doing. It is no wonder that media are so eager to act as scavengers (that being part of their trade) but the way the things are going about I would say the public is also to be blamed.

We Indian's often idolise fame and hero worship the famous. That is not a ideal thing to do. But here we are hacking away at any semblance of peace the fab-5 are entitled to enjoy in the evening of their careers. They do realize that they will have to call it a day in a year or three and none better than they realize that they need to be responsible. The fab-5 did not raise to fame and then succumb to it; in fact they have handled fame with much humility than is possible by many of our ex-cricketer's or even many of the youngsters around. It is quite evident that the fab-5 are playing test cricket as well as any other youngster "might" have played and in fact they are playing it better.

For a seasoned campaigner, a occasional set back is normal. We are just over reacting to set backs of these greatest of the greats of Indian cricket as we haven't seen many set back from them before. What Anil said is perfectly true: the fab-5 should retire on their own terms and not on others. The reason is not just that they have earned it but that they still are the best India has on offer. Sometimes putting faith in a persons sense of responsibility and believing their judgement is not just respecting them but also the correct thing to do.

If we can't trust that these icons of Indian cricket won't be responsible enough to with draw when they should, then who or what can you believe in Indian cricket?