The Australian tour

Boxing day:

What is all this hoopla over Boxing Day Test Match? I urge you to read ahead if you are a cricket follower who knows that the Boxing Day is related to cricket more than a fight of fists wearing gloves.

Why was the day after Christmas called the Boxing day in the first place? Earlier today, my friend Pravin casually remarked that it was a day when people ‘boxed their’ Christmas gifts, and someone else interjected with another story. The servants of the house were given gifts on this day, and they celebrated Christmas on the day after the Christmas. I liked the second story, for it is the day of the underdog.

As humans, we always love the underdog’s victory; the David beats Goliath story has been played out in hundreds of movies, and it would still be in vogue even after we are all gone from the face of the earth. Now who is the underdog here?

Is it the Indians who are lions at their own den, and probably caged lions during foreign tours?

Over the years, the Indian team has managed to play well enough to sustain public’s imagination with a possibility rather than presupposition of a win every time they go out to the ground. Unlike the strong Australian unit of yesteryears, they have never threatened to wash out their opposition even while they were basking the glory of the number one test team status.

Or is it the Australian unit, the resurgent underdogs under Michael Clarke? No doubt they are working hard, probably too hard, only to take the sheen out of the word resurgent. They’ve had no replacement for Warne yet, not that it mattered against India. The replacements for faster men have been faster to get themselves injured than to bowl fast. At the wake of the recent collapse against SA and NZ, their batting is deep in trench. With Ricky- at the verge of forced retirement, messy Hussey, and an impulsive Haddin, the middle order is indeed shaky.

Not so long ago, India won a home series solely on the basis of a bowler’s batting prowess - The series against New zealand where Harbhajan Singh outscored every batsman in the team. More recently, India were miserable enough to draw the third test match against a weak West Indian team in home conditions. Once again it required another off spinner’s batting prowess to put them on the track, but his luck ran out at the wrong time and he was run out of the last ball leaving India dangling for one more run for victory. Surely, the fight backs by tail enders were indications of a superior side , but definitely not a sign of a world beating side. A world beating side is one were everyone does their own job, the batsmen bat, bowlers bowl, no part time bowlers, and no tail ender saving the game with bat.

On the other hand, Australia is playing three relatively new players on top. In my opinion, the trio of Ed Cohen, Shaun Marsh and David Warner would be the difference between the two teams. How India can manage to tie them down would make the difference between a win and a loss. If the bowlers are unable to get through the in-form trio quickly enough, they will be giving the much needed cushion for the struggling middle order. Early wickets, and the middle order stands no chance, and another Australian collapse is not too far.

As always Indian batting lineup is formidable on the cards. Standing tall or falling like a pack of cards is hugely dependent on one man who could do anything in the world; Virendar Sehwag. A good day for Sehwag can be translated as the end of Lyon’s mind. But Sehwag is prone to give away wickets to the most likely bowler he can hit out of ground. While, Gambhir has been gambling a lot with walking down the track and piercing the slip cordon shots, is most likely to fall prey to such invitations. Lot has been said about Dravid, Laxman and Tendulkar. No doubt they are champions, but they are definitely susceptible to good fast bowling in a slightly bowler friendly pitches. Expect Dhoni to play his usual 60+, no partners knock. But, Kohli is the man who can make a difference to the team.

Australia is blessed with a young breed of fast bowlers who can challenge the Indian legends on any ground, more so in Australian grounds. Inexperienced? Yes. But they make up for that with vitality and belief in their strong training. Pattinson has been very impressive, and predictions of a ten wicket haul in this series is already making the headlines. Peter Siddle is an effective bowler, and can ask a few questions on his day. Hilfenhaus has a potent outswinger up his sleeve, and can trouble the famed front foot drives of the legends. In the absence of an all rounder, that leaves Lyon to the lions for a definite mauling. That is an exaggeration, but very likely if the faster men cannot contain and corner the Indian openers early.

Some things are better unsaid. India’s tour of England in 2011 is the closest analogy to such unsaid things. India continuously managed to injure players at random. There were no set patterns, except that it started with Zaheer pulling out of the first game. No one is still sure about Zaheer’s fitness. Will he be able to bowl a day against Australia without stinging his hamstring? If he does, will he be as effective as he was? Or will the scare of an untimely injury play on his mind? Ishant is in no better situation, for he has also been under the injury cloud from the first day of the practice match. First match in an Australian tour is known for rain and thundershowers. Now it appears as if an injury can strike India’s two strike bowlers as much as rain can strike on the Boxing Day.

Now who is the underdog on the Boxing Day? Australia, who were mauled by New Zealand or India, who lost 4-0 to England. Australia who were bowled out for 46 by South Africa or India who has won only two tests in thirty years in Australia ? Whatever be, let the underdog win and make this festive season a time to remember by.