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By Pradeep Ramarathnam

The 2001 edition of the  Border-Gavaskar Trophy kicked off perhaps fittingly in the den of India’s most famous tourist attraction after the Taj Mahal. Sachin Tendulkar’s home ground saw spectators arrive in truckloads for what was supposed to the perfect beginning to India’s quest to regain the trophy that they surrendered  somewhat politely in Australia 1999-000. However , what transpired in the match was an anti-climax.

The Australian pace attack of McGrath, Fleming and Gillespie must have licked their fingers in anticipation as Steve Waugh put the Indians in. 23 Overs later the three pacemen were seen belching loudly after they had the Indian Top Order for lunch. First to go was Sadagopan  Ramesh. After being softened up by a few bouncers, Ramesh made a couple before  listlessly pulling  a McGrath delivery to Gilchrist’s waiting hands. Fleming knocked over ‘The Wall’ for nine before Gillespie dismissed Das. Ganguly followed soon after thanks to a ham-handed poke at a Warne offering.

The Post lunch session saw Vintage Sachin Tendulkar in action. The master blaster decided enough was enough and dispatched Fleming to the boundary thrice in succession with utter disdain. 76 runs later, he fell unwillingly following a McGrath outswinger. 13 scorching boundaries embellished his knock as the Indian citadel began to wilt under the pressure with his dismissal. The last bit of resistance came from Nayan Mongia as the Indian Tail refused to wag like a faithful Pomeranian. At 176, The Indians didn’t have much of a total to defend.

Michael Slater, cricket’s version of a Kamikaze Pilot departed early to Agarkar. Langer hung around with Hayden for a while before the great Indian Spin trick began to take center stage. From 71/1, the Aussies collapsed to 99/5. And this time even Disaster Management Guru Steve Waugh was back in the hut. All that separated Indians from routing the Aussies was this one partnership-Gilchrist and Hayden.

What followed next can be described as a brutal assault at its subtlest best. Hayden swept with the intensity of a Janitor with something to prove. His sweeping was reflective of Gooch’s 115 in the 87 World Cup Semis against India. Only Harder and higher. Fielders were left transfixed as if they were in a photo shoot. At the other end, Gilly wasn’t making life any easier.

Here’s a gist of the ‘Conversation’ that happened between Gilchrist and Sanghvi.

Sanghvi: Good Morning, Mr Gilchrist.This is a turning pitch. You are dead!
(Proceeds to flight the ball. The ball has a nice loop to it...)
Gilchrist: A-ha!
(Yawns and tonks the ball to the cover boundary)
Sanghvi:Ok, here’s my faster one
Gilchrist:A-ha!
(Yawns and tonks the ball to the midwicket boundary)
About six different types of deliveries later (All made to visit new unexplored areas of the boundary), Sanghvi finally gives up. Enter Harbhajan
Repeat the above conversation. Replace Sanghvi with Harbhajan.

The marauding Gilchrist sent the Indian Spinners into a tail spin and in the process made the fastest ever test century against India (84 balls) beating the record of ‘big Cat’ Clive Lloyd (85 balls) who made the distinction in Bangalore. (Cricketfundas.com reminds you that a certain Vivian Richards and Gordon Greenidge made their debut in the same test!)

Javagal Srinath finally broke the partnership by getting Hayden to nick behind to Mongia. Shortly after, Harbhajan extracted sweet revenge by luring him out of his crease for 122. Mongia made no mistake yet again. Shane Warne decided to rub salt into India’s wounds by smacking 39 at more than a run a ball. When the Aussie innings ended at 349, the mach was firmly in their pocket.

In the second innings, India lost Das early before Ramesh and Dravid stitched together a usueful partnership making 44 and 39 respectively. Ramesh, who sometimes reminds viewers of Zubin Mehta, the famous conductor, with his airy swishes outside the off stump, fell driving loosely at Gilchrist.

The rest of the innings was nothing to write home about except for one shining exception in Sachin Tendulkar who made 65 runs of the most pristine quality. Mark Waugh, shades and all, turned up at the crease to lob a few and Ajit Agarkar, perhaps remembering that it was Australia and he had a duty to not trouble the scorers, promptly completed a pair.

The Indians folded for 219, leaving the Aussies just 47 to go one up in the series. Riding on adrenaline, Slater and Hayden smacked 4 boundaries each to sew up the match in just 7 overs. Game over. Next stop-Kolkata. With scores of 20 and 12, VVS Laxman’s place was under threat. Would he be able to do something there? Perhaps, a double century would be nice.

 

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