Test match fever is all gone after Australian Open Tennis dominated cricket this summer here in Australia. The domination started after years first Grand Slam Tennis started in Melbourne.
I am here not to talk about tennis and I can’t even forget almost six hours of clash between Djokovic and Nadal in the Australian Open final. However, I am here to talk about the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
I tweeted at the end of the 4-match Test series about India’s flop duo Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman’s retirement plans. I wrote: “this will not gonna happen” and it will not happen.
No doubt they had extraordinary talent. Sachin Tendulkar, well every one can put him on exceptional case, will and can play as long as he wants to. By the way he is 38 years old and I guess waiting for his 100th ton to think about retirement.
Among the all batsman who toured at this test series Sachin was the only player who looked in good touch, it was perfect bowling by the Aussies that made it difficult for him to score. Rahul 39, VVS 37 and a flop show this summer has hinted to play more, more and more, and they will, trust me.
As they enter the big stage back home no one can stop them. This is what I don’t like about Indian Cricket Team. Talents that are willing to play for their country has to wait a long time and when time comes they look depressed waiting for long time.
Rohit Sharma is a good example, the selectors made him chew his nails even in the last match, we all guessed this time he will get a chance but he didn’t. This is what Indian team is, was and will be…
Indian bowlers? I have a suggestion: do not tour abroad until and unless you have bowlers who can hit the deck hard at 150 kmph. Zaheer was one and Yadav looks like having a bright future. I missed Praveen Kumar and Harbhajan Singh.
As previous tour, Team India were here in Australia to get rid of the cold weather back home. They lacked cricket basics. Few old legs combined with a few young lazy legs. Players were chasing the ball as if a Bollywood Actor running to hug his heroine in super slow motion.
A tour should be planned and you should act on the plan and give a fight. Team Australia did this and they are holding the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Every player played their part, captain Clarke passed his exam, his decisions were extremely impressive and it stroke the brain and hit the heart.
This series became a good platform to former captain Ricky Ponting get his form back. Aussie bowlers are the true winners if we analyze the whole series. Hilfenhaus, Sidddle, Pattinson and Harris all bowled according to the plan and they got the reward whenever their captained.
Overall, this summer cricket didn’t give me The Entertainment. Lets see what will the ODI Tri-Series has for me.
Now I am eagerly waiting for our boys for the U-19 World Cup…
Cricket Nepal special correspondent Sudin Pokharel writes from Sydney, Australia.