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Making the Kangaroos hop
on a soggy day - Day 2 at the GABBA
Writer :
B.V.Swagath
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Only
16 overs were possible on Day2 of the GABBA Test Match but they were more than
enough for the Indians to grab 7 Australian wickets in a jiffy !!! A dream day
for the Indians as everything went so wonderfully well for them whether it was
catching in the slip cordons or the two seamers Zaheer and Agarkar bowling in
the right spots more often . Rain playing hide and seek in most part of this
test match but the rate at which the runs have been scored by the Aussies and
the rate at which their wickets fell today and not to forget the
seamers-friendly pitch certainly kept the game in for a result .
An overnight 'chumantar' from
the Bowling Coach - Bruce Reid as it seems must have worked wonderfully
well in the bowling performances of both Zaheer and Agarkar . The
first wicket to go down today was yesterday's centurion Justin Langer
adding up only 6 runs to his overnight score of 115 . Langer was
beaten by an Ajit Agarkar's late inswinger and was wrapped on the
pads and then came up the dreaded finger of Rudi Koertzen signaling
the end of the left hander's dismissal . Then it was the arrival
of the 'Farewell Series Man' - Steven Waugh amidst huge applause
coupled with some emotions . It was a nightmare kind of start to
Steve Waugh's innings as he had his communication medium with Martyn
choked resulting in Martyn and Waugh ending up at the same end and
Martyn eventually sacrificing his wicket . A very fortunate break
for the Indians (not to forget the fact that it was a noball in
which they got Martyn run out ) and the ideal scenario to put Steven
Waugh on the backfoot both mentally and in the game . Australia
reduced to 275/4 with Martyn departing for a classy 42.
If Steve Waugh's career be glanced for a
moment, one would have thought Waugh would come up with a big fighting knock
as he had done in most occasions in his long test career, but today was a
completely different day - a day completely going in India's tide .Soon a
Zaheer's rib-snorter making the Australian skipper hop and hop enough to
disturb his stumps to get out 'hit wicket' for a blob and thus reducing
Australia to 275/5. It was lunch on Day2 and still everyone believing that
Australia would make a big first innings total with the reputation of their
lower order revolving around Adam Gilchrist .
It was lunch followed by some
intermittent showers putting off the game for some time and it was the ideal
time for the bowlers and the fielders a chance to recharge their batteries and
a pensive time for the batsmen in the pavilion . Play was again resumed and it
started off in a glorious fashion for the Indians as Zaheer coming round the
stumps forced the dangerous Gilchrist to edge him to the slips where Laxman at
second slip diving to his right and in front of Dravid pulled off a
sensational catch to end Gilchrist's innings for a duck .Then walked in the
useful batting talent of Andy Bichel, Bichel announced his arrival at the
crease with a cheeky edge for 4 and a smashing coverdrive to collect another 3
runs. Runs were coming in a jiffy for the Aussies but luckily Agarkar produced
the right ball to end Bichel's brief stay at the wicket , Bichel snapped by
Laxman at the slips for 11 and Australia at 302/7 . Then was the dismissal of
the 3 tests old - Simon Katich (16) as Zaheer forced the left hander to nick
into the safe hands of little Parthiv Patel .It was now only the no.9, 10 and
the jack left for the Australians and Gillespie who was playing a puzzled
innings in the middle ran himself into trouble while attempting a non existent
fourth run of his cover drive . Thoughts of Australia bowled out pretty soon
and the Indians batting on the 2nd day were blown away in thin air as the
umpires called off the day's play owing to bad light . Zaheer ending up with
another ' five for ' in an away test and Agarkar coming good with two wickets
. We will have to wait and watch
until tomorrow , how the Indian batsmen cope up with this seamer-friendly
wicket and hopefully it would be all sun blazing tomorow when the Indian
batsmen come to face the pace trio of Gillespie, Bichel and Bracken . Till
then it's time to pray for some good weather for the 3rd day's play . |
