Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2010

India vs Australia

The two teams have faced each other in 27 Test matches in the last fifteen years. Honours have been even with both teams having won 10 matches each and 7 of them ending in unlikely draws. This stat shows how closely these two teams have competed over the last decade and a half. The rivalries might not be the same anyone. India has lost stalwarts like Azharuddin, Ganguly, Kumble, Srinath etc and similarly Australia doesn’t anymore have legends like the Waugh brothers, McGrath, Warne, Gillespie, Hayden, Langer, Brett Lee and Gilchrist in their ranks. There isn’t a Tendulkar vs Warne, a Tendulkar vs McGrath or even a Tendulkar vs Lee rivalry alive anymore. Both teams will depend on their most experienced campaigners Tendulkar & Ponting, also the two highest run getters in Test cricket, to guide to safety in times of despair. Both teams have other seniors like Dravid, Laxman, Sehwag for India and Clarke, Katich, Hussey on the Australian side who will be expected to play stellar roles in leading their team to victory.

India’s last test series was an away series against Sri Lanka where India came back from behind to square the series 1-1. Earlier this year against South Africa at home, India again came back after losing the first test by an innings to defeating the Proteas by an innings in the second test. Australia on the other hand just had an extremely well contested two match test series against Pakistan in England where Pakistan came back from behind to level the series 1-1.



For India as always batting holds the key. Tendulkar is in the purplest patch of his career with eight centuries in tests in the last year and a half. Sehwag & Gambhir will be depended upon for rousing starts. Gambhir will be expected to carry on his fine form. Laxman will be facing his favourite opposition, the Australians. He is known to save his best for the Australians. Dravid is going through a lean period. He needs a long stay at the crease to find his bearings, a big innings isn’t too far then. Raina is the man to look forward to. His willingness to stay put on the crease was on display against the Lankans. His ability to attack and defend whenever need be is crucial. Dhoni’s role will be to provide some pyrotechnics when the team total needs a boost. His more important role would be to guard the tail when the top order has failed. He has done both tasks with élan and will be expected to do so in this series too. Indian bowling will depend heavily on Harbhajan and the Australian tendency to lose wickets to his wily off breaks. Zaheer’s come back must be encouraging for the Indians but he being fully fit is vital. How Sreesanth supports Zaheer to will be critical. India will probably decide on the eve of the 1st test who the fourth bowler should be. Ishant, it would be if they opt to play 3 seamers and Mishra or Ojha if they opt to play two spinners. I feel playing two spinners would be a good option even though the wicket at Mohali might support the seamers early on. Mishra would be my choice for the second spinners. His loopy spin would draw the Aussies into committing for the shot and eventually getting beaten. Pujara & Vijay are amongst the best young batting talents available in the country will be left on the bench but only to gather more experience.

Australia has a well balanced line up starting with Watson & Katich. Watson is probably in the form of his life, playing like a dream in the last year or so. His worth in the team is on the rise each day. Ricky Ponting is surely not getting younger and his batting surely isn’t getting better either. His record in the past year or so doesn’t exactly reflect the quality batsman he really is. His record in India in test matches needs some correcting to do. This may be his last chance to do so. Clarke, Mike Hussey & Marcus North maketh the middle order for this Aussie team. North is in fine form having scored a ton against Pakistan recently. Hussey’s form in test cricket in the recent past is worrisome. Compared to his initial stats, his stats over the last two years are contrasting. Clarke is their experienced man for the middle order. He is also the man Aussies would like to believe may also be the future captain after Ponting. In Haddin’s absence, it’s Tim Paine who’ll do the wicket keeping duties. Tim Paine’s no muck with the bat. Aussies are rich in the spin bowling department with Hauritz having a partner in Steven Smith who proved his worth in series vs Pakistan in England. Hilfenhaus, Johnson & Bollinger is the pace battery Australia would like to unleash on India, though Peter George & James Pattison will be eagerly waiting for their chance to impress the selectors ahead of the Ashes. My money is on Bollinger to be Australia’s best bowler in the series. He’s got a big heart to slug it out and bend his back on Indian pitches. He is a bowler in the Gillespie mould. Hauritz’s off breaks too have a major role to play if Australia are to threaten India in this two match series.



Australia have begun playing mind games ahead of this crucial series. Johnson challenged Sehwag’s abilities playing the short pitched ball. Hauritz tried to psyche Tendulkar by over hyping him and undermining his own abilities. Not in few words can the significance of this short two test match long Border-Gavaskar Trophy be described in the context of world cricket today. After a controversy ridden two months for the game with players and teams accused of match fixing, spot fixing and ball tampering, the fans need a taste of some hardcore cricketing action and hear news about happenings on field rather than off field affairs. Lately with all the talk about Twenty20 getting more importance from players, administrators & fans alike and Tests & ODIs losing the impact it had on aficionados, its important this test series between two well balanced sides is played in the spirit of the game and restores the fan’s faith that the Test format is still alive and kicking.
Tendulkar vs Johnson, Sehwag vs Bollinger, Harbhajan vs Ponting, Harbhajan vs Mike Hussey, Zaheer vs Clarke, Hauritz vs Dravid are some individual battles which may be worth observing.

In all I would say this series is going to do a lot of good for the game’s reputation and will surely bring some fans back who might have sworn off cricket after the disgraceful allegations the Pakistanis faced and brought nothing but disrepute to the game.

To someone like me, nothing can bring disrepute to the game. No corruption, no cheating. The game of cricket, I feel is paramount to all these trivial things and will always emerge the winner.

Indian Cricket since 1996

In a four part series, I plan to break down India's journey since the Wills World Cup 1996 to the eve of the 2011 World Cup due in South Asia next year. My initiation into Cricket was way back in 1992 just when Benson & Hedges Cricket World Cup of 1992 was about to begin. I remember waking up to India losing close games to Australia and England. Remember the India vs Pakistan game which we won where Tendulkar scored a 54 and took a few wickets.

Wills World Cup 1996

But let me here talk about Indian cricket in the last 15 years beginning from the Wills World Cup of 1996 in the sub continent. Lead by Azharuddin, India were one of the fancied teams in the competition being the main hosts. The league phases were breezy with the exception of a blip against Australia where a poor finish cost us the match and of course when Jayasuriya took the game away from us while chasing 271. The quarter final against Pakistan still remains one of the most talked about games in ODI cricket. India out did Pakistan to book a place in the last 4 where Sri Lanka had the last laugh on a slow turner. Sachin Tendulkar announced himself as THE MAN to watch out for in the future scoring 523 runs aided by two centuries. Anil Kumble snapped 15 wickets and was the highest wicket taker of the competition.

1996

Soon after the World Cup we toured England in the series where Dravid & Ganguly made their test debuts. English bowlers had Indians in a web early in the swinging conditions. Tendulkar was the lone ranger scoring a counter attacking hundred against the like of Peter Marin, Dominic Cork, Chris Lewis & Min Patel. Dravid & Ganguly made their debuts in the Second Test at Lords and thus was the beginning of one of the most ruthless middle orders in Test Cricket. Singer Cup in Sri Lanka participated by India, Australia, Zimbabwe & the hosts Sri Lanka was won by the hosts as they continued their fine form from the World Cup. India then beat Australia on a belter in Delhi in the one off test where Nayan Mongia scored a patient 152. India had South Africa on the mat on slow turners at Ahmedabad and Kanpur. Srinath was the star in Ahmedabad where he snared 6 for 21 to skittle out the Proteas for 90 odd in their chase of 110. Azhar was the star of the series, with two centuries, one in Calcutta and one in Kanpur. His ton in Calcutta was complemented by a fine 88 by Kumble but wasnt enough against the efforts of Hudson, Kirsten, Cullinan and Klusener who took 8 for 64 on debut. The three-pronged spin attack lead by Kumble and supported by Srinath were too hot to handle for SA and India went on to win the series 2-1. India had earlier also won the Titan Cup against Australia & South Africa. The series is remembered as the first time when the Ganguly-Tendulkar opening pair was forged.

1997

India's successes were to be short lived. Early next year in 1997 when India toured South Africa for a three test series, India bowled out SA for 235 at Durban on the first day and in return got shot out for 66 & 100. Indian batsmen were exposed to raw pace and some fine use of conditions by the African attack led by Donald, supported by Pollock, McMillan & Klusener. The second test had two heroic performances by Tendulkar & Azhar who scored a ton each but their efforts werent enough for India to avoid another defeat at Cape Town. In the third test at Johannesburg, Dravid century in both innings almost took India to the post. Cullinan's stubborn stand with Klusener & Symcox and rains saved the day for the Proteas. Indian bowling looked partially strong with Srinath & Prasad showing ability to fire on pitches abroad. Kumble was always the potent force we needed at home. But we lacked a back up seamer to support Prasad-Srinath. The Standard Bank Tri Series with Zimbabwe as the third team took place. India as expected reached the finals and in a riveting contest between bat & ball where a meek Dravid clubbed Donald for a mighty six, India lost to SA.

India had yet again in South Africa lost the first match of the series, a trend which was just beginning to set in after their loss to England at Birmingham in the first test.

India then toured the "not so very mighty" West Indies. India was expected to do really well in the Caribbean. Their batting line up looked ominous. But they lost Srinath right before the 5 match series and he was replaced by Abbey Kuruvilla to lead the attack with Prasad. In an otherwise drab series India was in a position to win in the third test at Barbados with 120 to win on the last day. India fell short by 38 runs and was a big blow to their confidence. This series is also remembered for the one where Sidhu scored his only double century at Port of Spain. India also lost the 4 match ODI series 3-1.

Pepsi Independence Cup was held in India participated by India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. India beat New Zealand in a game where Tendulkar scored a fine hundred but lost to Sri Lanka and Pakistan and did not even make it to the final. The India-Pakistan encounter at Chennai was the one where Anwar took Indian bowlers to the cleaners and scored the world record individual score of 194. India replied strongly with Dravid scoring his maiden ODI ton but eventually lost.

This was followed by a drab test series against Sri Lanka, where the pitches decided the games' fate. India declared at 537/8. Sri Lanka replied with a record 952/6. Mahanama (215) and Jayasuriya (340) made merry while Rajesh Chauhan, Kumble and Nilesh Kulkarni toiled. Chauhan ended up conceding 278 runs, the maximum by a bowler in a test match. The pitch for the second test was a tad better but the test meandered to a draw. Every top order batsman in either teams scored a century in the series. The ODI series that followed was very keenly competed by both teams but India lost all three matches.

Between two very monotonous India vs Sri Lanka series, India went to Toronto to play Pakistan in the 2nd edition of Sahara Cup. India thrashed Pakistan 4-1 with Sourav Ganguly playing a stellar role in almost every game in the series.

India then played Sri Lanka at home and the result was the same 0-0. The honors were shared in the ODIs too.

1998

After a series of boring India-Sri Lanka matches and a disappointing Coca Cola Cup in Sharjah where India failed to win a single game, India went to Dhaka to play the Independence Cup. Tendulkar was not any more the captain, Azharuddin took back the mantle. Sachin duly obliged the fans with a rollicking 67 off 44 in the shortened match against Pakistan. India dominated the league matches and won the first final, thanks to Tendulkar's terrific 95. India lost the second final after being shot out for 195. In the third final, under overcast conditions and gloomy skies Azhar put Pakistan in. Pakistan scored 314 in 48 overs, as Ijaz Ahmed and Saeed Anwar notched up hundreds. The skies were gloomy and so was India's condition in the game. Sachin and Sourav started slowly in the mammonth chase but caught steam with Indians reaching 71 in 8 overs as Sachin looked like he might walk away with the match. With Sachin's eventual dismissal India began to look down the barrel. But, Ganguly(124) and Robin Singh(84) took charge and took India within touching distance of a win. India began losing wickets in a heap and nine were required of the last over. Kanitkar and Srinath rode their luck and brought the equation down to three off two balls. When Kanitkar lofted Saqlain, over mid-wicket for a boundary, the entire nation erupted in unison. India had won yet another famous battle against Pakistan on the cricket field.

The spring of 1998 was when the Mark Taylor lead Australian team came to India looking to conquer its final frontier. Azharuddin lead India with a settled batting line up and Sachin Tendulkar is sublime form. India conceded first innings lead to Australia in the first test match in Chennai following which in the second innings Tendulkar took Shane Warne to the cleaners scoring a fantastic 155 and setting up a win for India. The second match at Calcutta was routine for India. We put up a huge total and let our spinners run amok the Australian batting. India trounced over Australia by an innings. Australia came back to win the 3rd test at Bangalore inspite of a brilliant 177 by Tendulkar. The test series was followed by Pepsi Cup also involving Zimbabwe. Indian batting was in full bloom with each of India's top order batsman scoring a ton in the series. Ajit Agarkar made his debut in the this series and fast proved to be a potent wicket taken. Australia won the ODI series.

Then came an ODI series no cricket fan can easily forget. The series known for two individual knocks by Tendulkar against Australia. His 143* and 134* arent easily erasable from a cricket fan's memory. Sharjah skies were lit up with some glorious fireworks from the champion. His heroics led India to a stunning victory over the Australians and capped a successful summer for India over them.

India made its trophy cabinets richer in 1998 by winning the Coca Cola Cup in India against Kenya & Bangladesh, Singer Akai Nidahas Trophy involving Sri Lanka & New Zealand and the Coca Cola Cup in Sharjah against Sri Lanka & Zimbabwe. India's Sahara Cup campaign hit rock bottom with the selectors trying to send good teams to both Sahara Cup and clashing Commonwealth Games at Kuala Lumpur. India ended up losing both. 1998 was also a year when India lost the one off test in Zimbabwe exposing its weakness playing tests abroad again. It was also one of the best years for Sachin Tendulkar. He became the highest century maker in ODIs obliterating Desmond Haynes' 17 centuries. The year ended with another defeat on foreign soil for India against New Zealand in a test series. Honours were shared in the ODI series both teams winning 2 games each.

1999

1999 was a landmark year for neighbouring rivals India and Pakistan. Pakistan toured India for a test series in over a decade and a half, led by Wasim Akram. The first test played at Chennai was a closely contested one which Pakistan eventually won by 16 runs despite a hardworking 136 by Tendulkar in the fourth innings. Second test played at Delhi is engraved in gold in Indian cricket for Kumble snared a perfect ten in Pakistan's second innings handing them a defeat of more than 200 runs. India thought they finally found a stable opener in Sadagopan Ramesh. He had a great debut series facing the likes of Akram, Waqar, Saqlain & Mushtaq Ahmed. After sharing honours in the two match test series, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka headed for the Asian Test Championship. The India, Pakistan encounter of the ATC at Kolkata was see-saw Test match at its best. India had Pakistan on the mat at 26 for 6 in the first innings. Pakistan came back into the match with some good lower order batting and some fiery pace bowling by Shoaib Akhtar who accounted for Tendulkar and Dravid off beautiful in swinging yorkers. A second innings 188 by Saeed Anwar and some fine bowling by Pakistan made sure India was shut out of the game. The India vs Sri Lanka match at Colombo was a drab draw with Jayawardena scoring a fine double hundred.

Test championship was followed by two ODI series in India and Sharjah with India and Pakistan joined by Sri Lanka & England. India reached the finals of both tournaments only to end up second best to Pakistan. India dearly missed Tendulkar's services in both tournaments as he was nursing a back injury and was fighting against time to be fit for the World Cup due in May.

The next part will begin with the World Cup 1999 that was played in England and will have analysis of India matches till the beginning of the 2003 World Cup at South Africa.