Gambhir's ton in vain as Australia clinch a high-scoring thriller

On a day when the Under-19 Indian cricket team eased their way into the semi-finals of the world cup, the big boys lost to Australia in a high-scoring thriller. The Indians were always chasing the game having conceded 100 runs in less than 12 overs. In fact, I think they did well to restrict Australia to 317/7 in 50 overs.

The Australian top order were under pressure to deliver and they did just that today in the manner they knew best-Attack!!!. This was probably the best wicket of the tournament for the Aussie top-order to come good and some lackluster Indian bowling early on helped the Aussies to get off to a flyer. Even though Gilchrist departed early, Haydos and Ponting decided they were going to play their natural game and took the attack to the Indian bowling. The first 50 came off just 38 balls while the second 50 was one better with 50 coming off just 37 balls. This start reminded me of the 2003 World Cup final where Aus got off to a similar start and went on to score a mammoth 359/2 at the end of 50 overs. It needed a brilliant bit of fielding from Rohit Sharma to break the Haydos-Ponting partnership. Hayden was run out for 54 with the score at 131 in the 20th over.

Clarke joined Ponting who was just beginning to find his touch. It was not Ponting's best innings but what makes it special is that it came at a time when the team and Ponting himself needed it the most. Like all great players, he made the start count and went on to reach his 26th ODI hundred. Symonds joined Ponting as Clarke was out trying to accelerate the scoring. Symonds showed why he picked up $1.35 M in the IPL players auction as he scored 59 off just 49 balls with six fours and two sixes. Though Australia lost wickets towards the end, the damage had already been done by the top and middle order to take them to a healthy 317/7 at the end of 50 overs.

The Indians needed to get off to a good start but Lee and company had other ideas. Sachin was out leg before to Lee in the first over and it was always going to be an uphill task for the Indians from there on. Sehwag hit 3 fours of one Lee over and I thought this was probably going to be Sehwag's day(he had a pretty decent outing with the ball conceding just 28runs from 6 overs and a wicket to his credit). But Sehwag didn't last too long as Stuart Clark got him caught behind. Rohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh left in quick succession as India were reduced to 51-4 in the 11th over. At that stage I doubted whether this Indian batting would last the entire 50 overs.

Gambhir and Dhoni and later Uthappa proved that they were not going down without a fight. Even though Gambir started off shakily, I would rate this innings as the best in his career so far as it was an innings well compiled under pressure. Not only did he play the quicks and spinners well but he ran exceptionally between the wickets to get to his second hundred of the series. Uthappa played brilliantly too. He flat batted Lee for a stunning six over long on and that to me was probably the shot of the Indian innings. This kid seriously has tremendous power and hand-eye coordination. It was a just a pity that neither Gambhir nor Robin could finish the game off for India. Pathan and Bhajji also did their bit with the bat before getting out to Bracken and Lee respectively. Lee picked up three wickets to end up with match figures of 5 for 58 from 9.1 overs.

With just a day before the game against Srilanka, the top order batting along with the bowling of Sreesanth and Pathan would be the major concern for the Indian camp. For the Lankans, the game on tuesday is a must-win game to have any hopes of qualifying for the finals. On the other hand, the Indians will be hoping that they can get past the Lankans on Tuesday and secure a place in the finals of the tri-series. I am looking forward to yet another close contest on Tuesday.

BINGA UNLEASHED!!!

As rain played spoilsport on a day when the ball did most of the talking, I witnessed one of the finest spells of fast and accurate bowling in ODI cricket in recent times. Brett Lee (Binga) continued from where he left off in the test series and showed why he is Australia's premier fast bowler in both forms of the game. His figures of 5 for 27 in 9 overs with 2 maidens was a stupendous effort on a day when the likes of Bracken and Noffke went for over 5runs an over. Mitchell Johnson didnt bowl too badly but it was Lee's spell that shook the Indian top and middle order.

After electing to bat first, India lost Sehwag early as he dragged a Nathen Bracken delivery back onto his stumps from outside off. Lee got rid of Sachin after the master had stepped back onto his stumps in an attempt to run down a rising delivering from Lee to square leg. Gambhir and Rohit Sharma were building up a good partnership until Ponting brought back Lee for a second spell in which he removed Rohit Sharma of the last ball of his seventh over. I am sure that would have been Lee's final over of that spell if not for Sharma's wicket. Instead, Lee went on to do more damage. He welcomed Manoj Tiwary (making his debut) to the big league with a bouncer. After a series of bouncers, Lee bowled a fast inswinging yorker and it crashed into Tiwari's middle and off stump. Between the 20th and 25th over, India slipped from 91-2 to 102-6.

Dhoni and Pathan and later Dhoni and Bhajji took India to a respectable total of 194 all out in 45 overs. Lee came back to bowl the final over of the innings only to pick up Dhoni and Bhajji in the process and round-off what was a tremendous display of fast bowling. This was Lee's seventh five wicket haul in one day internationals and I don't think there are too many bowlers playing today who can match that.

The batting of Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma must have pleased the Indian camp. I was particularly impressed with Rohit Sharma who hit some exquisite square and cover drives. Ian Chappell on air said, "India may well have found a replacement for Sachin at no. 4 when he retires from test cricket in Rohit Sharma". A statement like this from an Australian great speaks volume of Rohit Sharma's talent. It is important that the selectors now persist and keep faith in young talent like Rohit, as the lad is just going to get better with every outing. As far as the Indian bowling goes, we saw a glimpse of what Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma could do on a seaming track with good bounce. The deliveries that got rid of Hopes and Ponting would have troubled most batsmen around the world. If only the Indian batsmen could put up a decent total for their bowlers to defend, India may well be able to give it back to the Aussies as they did in the Perth test.

However, I am concerned about the Indian team combination as well as the batting line-up. If I were Dhoni, I would ask Sachin to bat at 3 or 4 as it would provide a much more stable outlook to this weak middle order. I would stick with the eleven that he put out on the park today for a game or two, but if that does not work out I would look to play an extra spinner in Piyush Chawla. Aussies have not seen a lot of this little fella and he might just surprise them with his top spinners and googlies. Also, assuming India puts up a big total, Dhoni can have the field spread out on these big grounds. I hope Chawla has caught up with Shane Warne as there is nothing better than learning from the 'King of Spin' himself.

In the end, it was a game that I will remember for one man's excellent display of fast and accurate bowling. Lee was at his lethal best and if not for the rain, India may have well been on the losing side yet again after that forgettable 20-20 loss on friday.

GoodBye Tri-Series!!!

For one last time, the 29-yr old one day tri-series gets underway at Brisbane, Australia on Sunday with the world champions (Aus) taking on the 20-20 champs (India). Australia, India and Srilanka( the 3rd team) bid farewell to a tournament which has entertained the cricket crazy Aussie crowd through much of their summer over the last 30 years.

This is a tournament that I have followed closely from 1991-92 and I have watched Australia dominate on most ocassions and that is probably one reason why the authorities want to get rid of this format. I also feel that the tournament is too long with each team playing the other two teams four times over a period of one month. This format needs a re-think, especially at a time when 20-20 cricket has caught the attention of the authorities and the crowd in recent times.

Looking ahead to the game on Sunday, both teams have injury concerns with Ponting and Hayden being doubtful starters for Australia while India will miss the services of Yuvraj. For Australia, Noffke has been named the replacement for Stuart Clark who is at Sydney due to personal reasons and Adam Voges has been named as the standby for Ricky and Haydos just in case they don't make it on time. Even without Ricky and Haydos, Australian batting looks formidable with Gilli annd Clarke on top and Symonds and Hussey in the middle. The bowling line-up is bit of a weakling with just Lee and Bracken being the familiar names and if one of them has a bad day then Australia could well be in trouble. The likes of James Hopes, Brad Hogg and the inexperienced Noffke do not pose a threat to any batting line up, let alone India.

The Indian selectors have gone in for fresh and fast legs and it will be interesting to see how quickly the youngsters adjust to the playing conditions in Australia. India's batting once again depends heavily on Sachin and he will look to Sehwag and to a certain extent Dhoni for support. Sachin may well play at 3 or 4 with Gambhir joining Sehwag on top. The middle order looks weak without Yuvraj and I am eagerly awaiting to see how the Indian middle order performs in Australian conditions. Going by friday night's 20-20 performance, none of the younsters give me confidence that they have the technique or patience to play 50 overs. In the bowling department, Irfan Pathan looks likely to share the new ball with the erratic Sreesanth. The promising Ishant Sharma and the inexperienced Praveen Kumar (if he plays in the eleven) will try to keep things tight in the middle overs. It has been raining at Brisbane and the forecast is for more rain. Both India and Australia might well end up fielding an all pace attack.

After a closely contested test series where Australia just managed to get the better of India and a 20-20 that India would look to forget, the stage is set for the two teams to kick-off the tri-series. So without further delay, Let the Games Begin!!!