India leading by THREE HUNDRED RUNS at Sydney!

(And the need for CHALLENGES as in Tennis)

Wishful thinking, but just imagine, India holding a lead of 300 plus at this stage rather than of just 69 after the first innings. The match then would have been settled for all practical purposes in favour of India.

Despite such tremendous batting performances by Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Harbhajan, RP and even rookie Ishant, there is a distinct possibility that India could still be under pressure in the final two sessions on the fifth day at Sydney. Though one hopes not with Australia in unfamiliar terrain of being forced to do all the chasing.

In that case, India will only have to blame the injustice meted out on the 1st day – the happenings actually beyond their control. They deserve the highest accolades for coming out of it in such a style and fighting so gallantly to win the first innings exchanges in a tremendous battle. Did not the situation seem hopeless by lunchtime on the 2nd day, with almost everybody expecting another dismal show by a demoralized batting lineup.

Now to ensure fair play, the absence of which could still deny India a win, there were some good suggestions on NDTV and Headlines Today two days back, when Navjot Sidhu, Kapil Dev and Arun Lal had advocated the inclusion of challenges, like in Tennis.

Those challenges would have ensured that the clear nicks of Ponting and Symonds could have been referred to the third Umpire, resulting in sure dismissals due to snickometer.

This inclusion will be controversial for sure. Even in tennis top players like Federer are usually opposed to challenges while lesser players welcome it. This is not because there is some problem with technology, but because marginal decisions by the linesmen, and even Umpires, usually tend to go to the top men.

Similarly, if two or three challenges per team are introduced, they will be opposed by some top players, but the vast humanity of lesser ones will accept them in all humility. That will ensure more fair contests for the have-nots and the underachievers. So, the sooner the better.