WE'VE DONE IT !!!! India has WON the Perth test. India won by 72 runs thus ending Australia's consecutive winning streak at 16 for the second time in a decade. They sure are a thorn in the Aussie's side :-)
There couldn't be a better reply to what happened at Sydney. Defeating Australia after being 0-2 down in the series, that too at Perth which is regarded as the bastion of Australian cricket and being the first sub-continental team to do so, is definitely a great thing. This was the Aussie's first loss at home in 25 tests since Adelaide 2003 where they lost to INDIA. Great..!!! isn't it ? I'm honoured that I've watched both of the great Indian fight backs against Australia - Kolkata 2001 and Perth 2008 albeit on TV. The first one I could have watched live as it was played in my city. But the schedule fell bang in the middle of final exams in school. I had an exam on the final day, and I remember asking people how many runs India - specially Dravid and Laxman- had made, whether they were still there at the crease.... as soon as the exam got over. Laxman and Dravid had batted out the whole of the 4th day. I missed out on a big part of that match. But not this one. I've watched every ball bowled in this match....well, almost every ball.
The Aussies were desperate to win the last match at Sydney, and they did so by hook or by crook ,literally. But things do even out. The irony of the situation is evident. After that terrible win and the hoopla surrounding the controversy after it, Australia lost comprehensively at Perth - presumably the fastest pitch in the world. As a newspaper headline has stated today - "Ricky Ponting - Nice men do finish first". Capital !!!
For now, everyone is basking in the joy of the situation. Every Indian is delirious with joy.
CHAK DE INDIA !!!!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Perth Test
What a match !!!!!!!! and it is not finished yet.
I've almost been living cricket for the last 2 weeks, since the Sydney test. That, from my (an average Indian cricket fan) point of view, was a disaster both on and off the field. On the first day India had Australia placed at a precarious position at 134/6 at one point. But they lost the match due to various reasons - dubious decisions, most of them going Australia's way and a very good performance from the Australian batsmen especially Andrew Symonds. The bottom line is that India lost, and this is what counts. The result coupled with the following racism controversy surrounding Harbhajan Singh and Symonds made matters worse. Everyone , including me, had an opinion, specifically on what the Indian team should do. And true to the style of protest preferred by us Indians, quite a number of effigies were burnt. I even read a in a newspaper that straw merchants were running out of stocks !
What happened in Sydney, particularly the aftermath, was bad. But Perth is a different story altogether !! What a game of cricket this has been. only 3 days have been played so far, and already Australia are at 65/2 chasing 413 for a historic 17th test match win in a row. India needs just 8 wickets to thwart Australia once again ! Last time Australia had won 16 on a trot, they lost the 17th, the historic match at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, to India. So, as one of the commentators on Star Cricket said today, whoever wins, there will be history made on either side. And someone will most definitely win with 2 days remaining. I sincerely hope that it is India.
The match so far has been played exceptionally well by both teams. Before the match every expert predicted that considering the nature of the pitch at the WACA, said to be the fastest pitch in the world, the Indian batsmen would be demolished,blown away. They have not been, not 'blown away' at least. Scores of 330 and 294 are not bad against an all-pace Australian attack. The bowlers, the pace trio and Kumble, bowled very very well in the first innings. I'm sure they will do so tomorrow also. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and praying at the same time.
I have a confession to make. I bunked college the last three days to watch this match on TV. Oh ! How I wish I was there at Perth, watching the match live !!
I've almost been living cricket for the last 2 weeks, since the Sydney test. That, from my (an average Indian cricket fan) point of view, was a disaster both on and off the field. On the first day India had Australia placed at a precarious position at 134/6 at one point. But they lost the match due to various reasons - dubious decisions, most of them going Australia's way and a very good performance from the Australian batsmen especially Andrew Symonds. The bottom line is that India lost, and this is what counts. The result coupled with the following racism controversy surrounding Harbhajan Singh and Symonds made matters worse. Everyone , including me, had an opinion, specifically on what the Indian team should do. And true to the style of protest preferred by us Indians, quite a number of effigies were burnt. I even read a in a newspaper that straw merchants were running out of stocks !
What happened in Sydney, particularly the aftermath, was bad. But Perth is a different story altogether !! What a game of cricket this has been. only 3 days have been played so far, and already Australia are at 65/2 chasing 413 for a historic 17th test match win in a row. India needs just 8 wickets to thwart Australia once again ! Last time Australia had won 16 on a trot, they lost the 17th, the historic match at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, to India. So, as one of the commentators on Star Cricket said today, whoever wins, there will be history made on either side. And someone will most definitely win with 2 days remaining. I sincerely hope that it is India.
The match so far has been played exceptionally well by both teams. Before the match every expert predicted that considering the nature of the pitch at the WACA, said to be the fastest pitch in the world, the Indian batsmen would be demolished,blown away. They have not been, not 'blown away' at least. Scores of 330 and 294 are not bad against an all-pace Australian attack. The bowlers, the pace trio and Kumble, bowled very very well in the first innings. I'm sure they will do so tomorrow also. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and praying at the same time.
I have a confession to make. I bunked college the last three days to watch this match on TV. Oh ! How I wish I was there at Perth, watching the match live !!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Hello..!!!
I might name an imaginary friend one day. I'll emulate Anne Frank ,in a way, then...which is what i've wanted to do ever since i read The Diary of Anne Frank, from the diary writing aspect. I'm verring off topic, let me come back to what i wanted to write today.
I had a pretty eventful day today. After 3 weeks of lazying around at home in the pretext of 'spending a holiday', I went to college today, which is an event in itself. :) What I'm excited about is the 3rd test match between India-Australia at Perth, which is starting tomorrow. I'd love to predict a good performance by India, btu seems highly unlikely before the match. Let's just see what happens...on and off the field.
I might name an imaginary friend one day. I'll emulate Anne Frank ,in a way, then...which is what i've wanted to do ever since i read The Diary of Anne Frank, from the diary writing aspect. I'm verring off topic, let me come back to what i wanted to write today.
I had a pretty eventful day today. After 3 weeks of lazying around at home in the pretext of 'spending a holiday', I went to college today, which is an event in itself. :) What I'm excited about is the 3rd test match between India-Australia at Perth, which is starting tomorrow. I'd love to predict a good performance by India, btu seems highly unlikely before the match. Let's just see what happens...on and off the field.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
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