Sehwag's terrible miss on day of Irfan's hits

(in Jest!)

No. We are not talking about Sehwag’s inability today to take advantage of the life given by Hussey.

Instead, here we are talking about Sehwag’s failure to respond to Brett Lee, when, after hitting Irfan on shoulder, the Aussie paceman was trying to enter into a chat with him once again about the pace of Perth.

The swashbuckling opener, who never lets go an opportunity to hit a loose ball, should have responded to this loose talk by requesting Lee to be friend with him as well. It would have been ideal had he said, “You seem to be very friendly with our bowlers. Why aren't you trying to be friends with me now? I'm a bowler, as well (Even though part-time).'

Remember Symonds words to Harbhajan, after he had touched Lee.

"You seem to be very friendly with our bowlers. Aren't you trying to be friends with me now? I'm a bowler, as well’’, that is how Tendulkar had recalled the conversation, while adding that it was just one of those things.

India have Australia by the scruff of the neck

And they can thank the inspired selection of Sehwag and Irfan for it.

But for the initial thrust provided by Sehwag in both the innings, and two critical breakthroughs given by Irfan in first few overs, probably Australia would have been holding the initiative at Perth.

In fact, that was anticipated at the time of writing this post during the warm up match at Canberra.

http://atulsondhi.blogspot.com/2008/01/if-india-have-to-get-in-sehwag-this-is.html

Irfan and Sehwag were also the integral part of the team suggested in this blog even before Canberra match, though the ideal thing would have been to have five bowlers and six batsmen.

http://atulsondhi.blogspot.com/2008/01/time-to-talk-cricket-and-opening.html

Still, it is India who have Australia by the scruff of the neck. You do not get too many opportunities of Taming the Kangaroos. So India must get them fast, by totaling in excess of 400. That should be an impossible fourth innings target on this pitch.

A sullen, forlorn Bhajji, whose bunny was stolen away!

In the morning session, when India were fighting a grim battle for substantial score, Sachin was seen trying to infuse some humour into off the field proceedings. He had Harbhajan for company. However, Bhajji looked sullen, and in reflective mode. And why not.

If he does get banned by the ICC for few tests, this omission will not count! Was that bothering him? Could well be.

Or was the heartbreak of being omitted from the Indian squad on a pitch, where bounce would have suited him, dominating his thought process. After all, Steve Waugh too felt the same way, as he wrote. ‘’Spinners can profit here, but ones who rely on bounce, such as Harbhajan Singh, are normally a better bet than your skidding types such as Brad Hogg. India's selectors obviously disagree because they axed Harbhajan, whom I felt may have bowled well.’’

Or was it the fact that his bunny (on ground)-turned nemesis-(following complaints to the ICC), was in danger of being let off the hook in the absence of his terminator.

Fortunately for India, Ponting was found wanting today even when turbunator was not there. But no amount of celebrations from Ishant Sharma can match the matchless acrobatics of Bhajji at Sydney, when he had claimed Ponting for the eighth time.

At least one of the Cameras today should have been targeted towards the pavilion, showing how Bhajji reacted once Ponting was dismissed. Probably, he would have cast aside all his disappointment, breaking into a jig – another matchless one!

How were you dismissed Dad!

What if his son asks Chris Rogers this question, instead of inquiring, ‘Dad, what your first runs in test cricket were, and how you scored them?

Probably, Rogers will shake his head in disgust, and lament: Leg Before Wicket, and given out wrongly.

And the answer about the first runs would have been a cracking four to the covers, one of the best shots for an opener to help settle his nerves.

How in a matter of three deliveries the whole world of Rogers may have changed upside down. First he shows his class, then he leaves a good one, and then he leaves to India’s delight!

As Gavaskar said, people remember their first runs, be it in Test Cricket, State Cricket, or Club level cricket. But one can bet they will also be remembering their first dismissals, especially if they have been done in by the marginal ones.

But an unfortunate decision for Rogers was also a perfect case of divine justice. Had the benefit of doubt gone to Tendulkar and Dhoni, India would have been looking at at least 100 runs more than the eventual total. Still, they have Australia on the mat as of now, and that augurs good for the test.

As they go into day two, Points India must not lose sight of...

-- Play your strokes. Fifty more runs could put Australia in a real spot of bother. Yes, the advantage was lost a little with four wickets in the post-tea session, especially with the departure of Dravid and Laxman towards the end. But then, most Indians would have found the 1st day score-line approaching 300, more than acceptable when India won the toss and elected to bat.

-- Ganguly and Kumble could be bigger threats than the other three pacers. The bounce and pace could help them as much as it should assist RP, Irfan and Ishant. India will need optimal utilization of their resources, and Ganguly did prove his worth as a bowler by effecting crucial blows in the series against Pakistan. Take lessons from Ponting’s book in this respect. He has used Symonds and Clarke so effectively in this series. Sehwag’s off spin can also be tried from time to time.

-- After Sydney, most Indians had mentally prepared themselves for a 0-4 score line. So after such a resilient 1st day display, things can only become better for them. Even if they have to go down, they must go down with all guns blazing. Especially when it is a win-win situation for them.

-- The battle for the driver’s seat is still on. As of now, India have runs on the board, and even if last four perish adding just 15-20 more runs, Australia will need anything above 400 to put pressure on India. They will be batting last after all, and could miss Hayden badly. Dravid today said that he would always prefer to bat on a seaming track on the first day, than face an up-and-down pitch later on. Australia may have similar preferences, and apprehensions. They too are humans after all.

Muddai lakh bura chahe to kya hota hai!!!

''Muddai lakh bura chahe to kya hota hai, vahi hota hai jo manzoore kunda hota ha''
Basically, this couplet in urdu means that even if people speak ill of you and wish for bad things to happen to you, only that will happen which the God has in store for you (Otherwise, the whole world would have parished by now!)

Indeed, it was High Tea at Perth for India, when their fans were enjoying Lunch Time in India!

India were 177 for 2 at Lunch. Probably 20-30 more than what people expected to be the team’ss total at this stage. More significantly, they had lost eight wickets less. And at Perth! If someone had just read the score without naming the team, over 90 per cent (not in know of who had won the toss) would have thought that the Australia were simply batting too well!

Openers gave India a 50 plus stand, with Sehwag riding his luck. But then one always knew that Sehwag will give chances. He plays to dominate, and it can have some adverse side effects too.

Sehwag was trying to hit out at every delivery initially in his eagerness to score, and was missing quite a few too. But by the end of his small but significant essay, he had done the job. Thanks to his presence, India had got their best start of the series, which Tendulkar and Dravid made full use of.

And how the threat was tamed. Tait’s bowling was in tatters, 43 runs coming of his nine overs till tea. Indian batsmen were aggressive, not evasive. The biggest threat eliminated even before it began.

Whatever happens now, a score of 300+ will provide some real challenge to Australia. The match will surely not end in three days, unless the Australians are on the losing side!

WHAT I DID followed by WHAT NOT TO EXPECT FROM PERTH TEST

What I did on the 6th which I do not hope to repeat on 18th, 19th or 20th

1) Switched off my TV set in disgust as soon as Ishant Sharma was convinced that he was out (Could not bear to see the Australians wildly celebrating a tainted win)

2) Sulked in despair throughout the day as the reality sunk in that a golden opportunity to keep the series at 1-0 was lost

3) In spite of being a cricket writer whose livelihood depends on writing and AV work, hoped for Board to take a strong view on the continuance of the tour after Harbhajan was ‘banned’.

4) Temporarily stopped admiring Australians for their tough play as they equaled their record.

5) Allowed rough decisions in the match to dominate my life for a few days. I will be watching at least 100 more Tests involving India in next ten years, so one test should not matter that much.

Meanwhile, Kumble has won the toss and elected to bat. Below is a story on what not to expect from Perth Test, written yesterday night.

What not to expect from Perth's encounter

1) Do not expect Sehwag to click for sure. This missile nicknamed Tendulkar of Nazafgarh, can fail as well. He is in because just one very good innings from him has the potential to give India the kind of dream start they are looking for, and get back into the series. Too much expectations will put pressure on him, which could only be counter productive. He is just one of the eleven players in the team.

2) Do not expect India to win, and take the series ‘alive’ to Adelaide. Though be prepared to get surprised if the Indian bowlers just bowl good line and length and let the pace and bounce of the pitch do the rest. Tit for Tait will not be the right policy.

3) Do not expect Dravid to open again. Either Karthik or Jaffer will partner Sehwag. Having Dravid open in the first test was a big mistake, and it was his sheer class which saved the day for him at Sydney. Regular opening combo will also put some order into the batting order

4) Do not expect India to play five bowlers. But it will be good if they are bold enough to go with five bowlers – three pacers and two spinners. To be adventurous is the best policy against the Aussie, as you need more firepower to dismiss Australia twice, and cheaply.

5) Do not expect too much bad blood. Harmonious race relations will be the order of the day. Even losers will be seen smiling, just to ensure that the things do not spiral out of control. Perth should be the perfect photo opportunity for the Cricketing Doves.
But do expect millions of Indians to be rooting for team India tomorrow, hoping for every one of them to be a perfect hit.