forecast not good for baggy green
October 22nd 2008 23:58
The Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi, a ground on which India have been victorious in all of their last seven matches, will be the scene where Australian cricket will seek to regain their aura of invulnerability not lost since March 1999 against the West Indies.
The West Indies in Kingston was the last time Australia experienced their lowest of lows on the international stage. Although they were able to salvage a draw out of that series, it seems the same cannot be said against a red hot India outfit at present.
Not since their ten-wicket defeat to the West Indies has Australia been so comprehensively outplayed and downright owned over five days of a Test match.
In all reality, India look home and hosed.
Losing a Test series in India is no disgrace with Australia's Test victory in 2004 their first since the 1980s.
But the manner in which they have been beaten in Mohali suggests there is no way back for the five time world champions.
Going into a Test with only four bowlers would be laughable for most sides, yet India's quartet were devastating, dominating Australia's batsman like very few nations have over the last decade or so.
Zaheer Khan swung the ball both ways and extracted reverse swing just six overs into the innings.
Ishant Sharma's trajectory and ability to bring the ball back into the right-hander was too good for Ricky Ponting.
Kumble's replacement Amit Mishra showed guile and control on debut and Harbhajan Singh chipped in with crucial spells in his usual manner, providing the perfect complement to his colleagues.
Try as they might, Australia were never going to dominate India on a flat wicket which required incredible skill to achieve success.
While Zaheer was reversing the ball after an incredible six overs, Australia only managed it after 70.
Mitchell Johnson seemed the only man capable of achieving such feats for the Australians but by the time he did, India were already ahead by 300 runs or so.
Despite the heavy defeat, Ponting did not seem overly concerned after the match even though he admitted it was 'possibly' one of his worst losses as captain of the baggy green.
"One thing I know about champion players is that you can never write them off," he said to those posing questions over the disappointing form of Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee.
Maybe Ponting has a reasonable case that will keep the media at bay for the next six days or so.
But judging from what's occurred on the pitch so far, Australia are clearly not good enough to conquer India in their home conditions.
It's now even questionable whether they have the players to take on the likes of South Africa and Sri Lanka - the other two sides who make up the top four in the ICC Test ratings.
Even England will fancy their chances when they host The Ashes series next year.
With their backs against the wall, Ponting's men can take some pride in the fact their humiliating loss to the West Indies in 1991allowed the men wearing the baggy green to salvage some pride.
Steve Waugh's team recovered from their mauling in Kingston to draw the four-Test series 2-2.
Since then, the Aussies have lost just two series whilst holding an otherwise iron grip over international cricket.
So maybe all is not lost for Ponting's men but India do have the makings of a side now willing to accept Australia's crown as the new Cricketing superpower.
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