Ponting lying down on the job

The beginning and end of era’s are notoriously hard to define without the benefit of hindsight, as a changing of the guard can happen over many seasons. For a new era to emerge, one team will have to step up to consistently beat all others, both home and away.

To put the claims that India have achieved this into perspective, here’s a quote from pommy blogger King Cricket.

After winning successive Test series against West Indies, South Africa, South Africa again, Bangladesh, England, Sri Lanka, India and West Indies, Australia finally lost away to India and are now ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING at cricket.

India’s recent run of losing a series against Australia, drawing one against South Africa, losing one against Sri Lanka before winning this one, hints that they are now perhaps the new supreme power in world cricket.

As for Australia’s “decline” it’s worth noting that they’ve never been overly impressive in India ; even in the “era of Baggy Green dominance” they only won a single series! The overall series ledger shows Australia with 3 wins (1956, 1969 and 2004) to India’s 5 (1979, 1996 [1 test series], 1998, 2001, and 2008), with 3 Drawn (1959/60, 1964 and 1986 [1 Test Tied]).

I guess my point is that while the Aussie team has obviously weakened through the retirement of some legends, it’s too early to say if there is another team ready to claim a decade as their own. Australia losing in India is nothing new, and losing there again isn’t all that remarkeable.

India played well and full credit too them, but to be the world power that their population demands they’ll have to cope with some big name retirements, and improve their away record vastly. In Dhoni they have the best captain in world cricket, and Ishant Sharma is a real talent who I hope stays fit and hairy.

India, Australia, South Africa, England and Sri Lanka all have strong Test sides at the moment, and are all capable of beating each other on their day. It’s going to be an interesting period in Test Cricket and I can’t wait.

Reference: Australia in India.

Hayden was out on the 3rd ball of the day, and you could not have written a better start for the Indians. Sure it was a dodgy decision by Rauf, and a lesser team would have fired up the learjet to fly home, but not Katich and Ponting, who got stuck in and for a 166 run partnership which swayed the match back to Australia’s favour.

Katich eventually fell to a lapse in concentration and India were back with a sniff, yet the Aussies regrouped immediately, denying the Indians a collapse. The 60 run partnership between Hussey and Ponting gave the BaggyGreens control of the first day. Punter was lucky to get away with a half-volley caught and bowled, however swings and roundabouts had him given lbw 10 runs later to one that hit him outside off, while he was playing a sweep shot, and would have struggled to hit a 5th leg stump.

Time for another partnership, and Michael Clarke was the next to step up and looked good against the spinners before falling to a peach from Khan with the that got some sideways movement off the pitch, ending the days play.

With his experience opening in ODI’s and T20, Watson was the obvious choice to face the 8 ball old rock with Hussey on day 2. Unfortunately it didn’t play out that way with Sharma bowling him early in the piece, bringing Haddin to the crease. A very watchful innings by Haddin has seen off the new ball and taken Australia through to lunch.

Ishant has been the pick of the Indian bowlers, which re-affirms my suspicion that Stuart Clark will be a real handful on this pitch. Believe it or not they are both the same height, Clark just has some meat on his frame and as such doesn’t look like a praying mantis.

Australia added just 74 in the session, though it must be said that for a team bowling spin from both ends to only get through 28 overs is truly appalling. It’s not like they were constantly chasing the ball or anything!