MATCH REPORT: India Vs Australia, 2nd Test, SCG (03 Jan - 06 Jan), Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2011-12

THE MICHAEL CLARKE TEST MATCH 

Australia completed a terrific victory by an Innings & 68 runs, here at Sydney, which hosted its 100th test, against a pretty demoralized India. Yet another test that has finished under 4 days & the second on the trot this series. Australia & Michael Clarke couldn't have asked for a better start to the New year. In what can be termed as the "Michael Clarke test", the captain powered his team to a comprehensive victory against a meekly inspired Indian team. It was just a matter of time on the 4th day, after Sachin got out at a very crucial moment of the game, just before the new ball was taken. India managed to give a fight on the 4th day, registering their highest test score (400) in foreign soil in their last 8 games. Hilfenhaus completed the formalities with yet another 5 wicket haul, in what couldn't have been a better come back script. 

After a lot of talk on the changed Sydney pitch, M.S.Dhoni finally won a toss & decided to bat on a morning which had a lot of sprite & live. A few critiqued the decision of batting first, but India had to escape unscathed in the first session to prove the decision was right. Unfortunately, India were not able to do it. Gambhir's poor run of form continued & he was claimed a fiery Pattinson, in the first over of the game. Gambhir's performance at the top has been disappointing, as it's been 2 long years without a hundred. The top order failed again, and ell prey to a very young mending Australian bowling attack. The lines were impeccable from the pace trio of Pattinson, Hilfenhaus & Siddle. By lunch India were 72/4. With the much spoken about Indian middle order failing yet again, Captain Dhoni's 50 was the only solace, as the Indians were wrapped up for 191 in under 60 overs. The pace trio, were the wreckers-in-chief, with all the 10 wickets falling between them. 

With a paltry 191 on the board, the Indian bowlers had to stitch up something special to make a contest out of this game. And so it did happen, with Zaheer Khan proving his weight yet again, running through the top order with some classic left-arm swing bowling. The Australian top order made a mess of this modest total, and were in a spot of bother at 37/3, with all the 3 left handers falling prey to Zaheer Khan. We were then poised for yet another well contested game. But little did India know what was coming their way after that. Ex-captain Ponting & the current skipper Clarke came together, and what looked like the perfect, old style Australian counter-attack. With going at 4 runs per over, Clarke & Ponting safely negotiated day 1 at 116/3. 

On the second day, India needed their pacemen to fire, led by Zaheer Khan. But the Aussie pair had other plans in their mind. The under fire Ponting, cut, pull & droe with much aplomb, reminding people of the old ponting & making a statement that he's far from being done. He was ably supported by Clarke, who read the conditions well & rotated the strike very frequently. He played his shot with gay abundance, helped by a very defensive field by Dhoni. The bowling lost the teeth after the first hour of play. The wicket looked like a batting paradise where Ponting & Clarke were in no mood to miss out on that opportunity. Just before lunch, Clarke got to his hundred, much to the ovation of the SCG. It was indeed a captain's knock, that was taking Australia to a big lead. 

    

The first session had gone without a wicket, and the Indian bowlers erred in their lines & more importantly their lengths. With a total of 191, MSD had no choice other than defending. But he did lack the spark to induce a wicket, it simply looked like he was waiting for things to happen. With 2 batsmen in the middle wanting to prove a point to the world that was not going to happen. Soon after lunch, Ponting scrambled across to almost a non existent single on 99 & dived to save his life, to reach his 40th test century. That single clearly showed what that 100 meant to him. Ponting proved yet again why his class is always permanent. Clarke and Ponting made easy work of the Indian bowlers, who looked helpless & hapless. The last 20 overs before the new ball was taken, mainly saw the part timers in operation. Often such a ploy made you wonder if the captain was running short of ideas & inspiration. The 288 run partnership finally came to an end, soon after the new ball was taken, when Ponting square drove a rising delivery to Sachin at point. It was more a relief than celebration for India, by when Clarke had already reached his 150.

Just when they saw a ray of hope with that wicket, entered Mr.Cricket, who opened his account with a punching cover crive to the boundary. Little did India know, that it was just a preview of what was to follow. Hussey & Clarke began to rebuild with some ferocious shots, with the partnership going at almost 6 an over. Hussey, who was under a lot of fire for poor form, was fed into form by the Indian bowlers. He cracked his IPL teammate, Ashwin to 2 consecutive boundaries followed by a six. Through the session none of the Indian bowlers looked even close to picking up a wicket. At the other end, the captain who was in much need of runs, cruised away to his 1st double century with a fascinating display of temperament and cricketing shots.The pitch held firm, so did this partnership which reached a 100 in 107 balls. Hussey scored back to back half centuries & this one played with much more authority and freedom. The Indian bowlers were made to toil hard, with each of them giving away more than 100 runs. Clarke reached his 250, with Australia in a very strong position towards the end of the 2nd day, where the Indians claimed just 1 wicket.

With a demoralizing day behind them, Indians began the 3rd day without much purpose in their bowling. It was short, wide & strayed off the line.  These played into the set Australians, with the score going past 500 and the second double hundred partnership of the innings. Mr.Cricket, Hussey got to his 100, marking a promising start to the new year. Hussey played the perfect second fiddle to Clarke who was on his way to this first triple century. With a flick off Ishant's bowling, Clarke reached this staggering milestone, joining the elite club Bradman, Hayden & Mark Taylor. With more than 2 days at their disposal, Australia reached 600 and was on course for a massive declaration. 

Hussey reached his 150 at the other end, and soon after that the innings was declared to everyone's surprise with Clarke on 329. The time being no factor, Clarke could have gone in pursuit of a personal milestone, and he did look good for it. But he put his team first like a brave soldier, and did not want to waste anymore time with pointlessly scoring runs. He thought a sizable lead of 468 was more than enough for them to get India bowled out with just more than 2 days on hand. That gesture from Clarke, has taken his image as a captain quite a few notches above. The selflessness needed to be rewarded with a well deserved victory.

Indians facing a daunting task to save this test, had play this test with true concentration, grit, temperament, patience and application. All of the previous was found wanted so far in this series. The Indian opener were due & started of positively. The pitch had nothing to assist the bowlers & the batsmen simply had to bide time. Sehwag went early with a slash to point, where Warner pouched this stunner from the air. India's chances of entertaining thoughts of saving this match took a beating then. That showed that clear intent for Australia, as they wanted to get done with test as soon as possible. Gambhir & Dravid came together and did well. Gambhir was more affirmative with his foot movement and positive in presenting the full face of the bat. He wasn't poking the deliveries outside off stump, which has been the case in all the 3 innings so far. For a moment, we were made to believe that something special was possible. But the specialty came from Hilfenhaus, who bowled Dravid through the gap. It needed a terrific deilvery to get a man of such stature out. India did look a bit wobbly towards the end of the day, with Sachin & Gambhir playing for the close of play. The last 10 overs yeilded only 2 runs, and a run was scored after 58 dot balls. Sachin almost pulled one back to the stump, just in the penultimate over of the day. That would have sent shivers down the treasurer of SCG, concerning him with the next day's ticket sales. 

With 2 days left, 365 runs to make Australia bat again and 8 wickets in hand, India needed a miracle to to get out of this rut. Though rains were predicted, the morning waws clear, and Gambhir was the first one to go after a well made 80. Laxman & Sachin threaded a beautiful partnership, entertaining some hopes for a draw. Sachin was yet again on course to his 100th ton, and the turning point of the day occurred then. With just 2 overs to go before the new ball was taken, Man of the match, Clarke took the ball in his hand and bowled a perfect orthodox delivery which spun away from Sachin taking the edge of his bat. The ball hit haddin's gloves & well backed up by Hussey who comleted the catch. Clarke just couldn't go wrong in this test match, as that wicket almost nailed it for Australia & the yet another attempt in the pursuit of his 100th ton. Soon after that it was a procession of wickets, with the middle order not offering much resistance. Laxman was bowled a beauty to disturb his timber, while Kohli looks to give away his spot to Rohit Sharma in the next game. Dhoni's soft dismissal added to the woes of Indians, before they showed some resilience in the lower order with Ashwin making yet another test 50.

It was curtains for India,as they surrendered not without a fight, scoring 400 runs.  The fact that both the teams are in a mending stage of their cricketing growth, it can be said that Australia look a more potent and a confident one. With almost everyone chipping in at some point or the other, Australia is getting back its lethal elements. After defeats against England, South Africa & New zealand, Australia did have a point to prove why they were ruling the world of cricket for more than 2 decades. This game was purely Clarke's individual brilliance facilitating a power packed team performance. Hilfenhaus's form is a great bonus for the already lethal Australian bowling unit. With Ryan Harris available for the Perth test, the choices for selection becomes interesting for Australia. Not to forget the all important Watson, who will be available for selection after this series. This unit looks more a settled one, especially after 2 crushing defeats. Australia still have a long way to go before re building the perfect team, but guess this by itself is proving to be too good for the Indians. With Australia going for a clean sweep, the Indians have more than just an uphill task ahead.  

Postives for the Indians, in the second innings. Finally the batsmen have managed to put up a score of 400 in a test match. With Sachin yet again being the only one in form, the rest of the batting needs to come good as a unit. Splits & starts are not going to help their cause. The indians need to come out of their sub conscious shell of no able to do well in foreign soil. Indian bowlers are able to get the early wickets, but just not able to produce the knock out punch to decimate sides. The bowling though is a bit inexperienced apart from Zaheer & Ishant, have shown some heart & at the same time their inexperience in testing conditions. They were short & wide and putting no pressure whatsoever. Virat Kohli wasted another couple of opportunities & looks like his temperament needs to be in more control. The rush of young blood can also prove disastrous if not well channelized.  Finally, the captain who was spoken as Midas, just going through a rough patch. MSD had missed a few tricks after getting the opposition on 37/3. With over 500 runs scored with just a wicket, he did have to do something special & extra to bring life into a dying Indian unit. He lacked motivation & inspiration with his field set ups, which is so unlikely of him. He persisted with part timers way too much, when the strike bowlers were under utilized. His usual charisma & pro activeness has been missing so far in this series. With India staring at yet another embarrassing series defeat abroad, Dhoni has a of soul searching to do before the Perth test. India need to win the next 2 games to level the series, which needs a sea change of attitude in the players. India were in similar situation the last tour, and went on to win the Perth test. But to entertain repeating the history, the batsmen have to own up to responsibility and give the bowlers some runs to defend with. Now India has to see the remaining tests, as a chance for redemption after such a disappointing loss. India would not want to go down and under, without giving a fight. Thats not MSD style.