Ian ConstantineIndia are coming; Life after Warne & McGrath
August 16th 2007 06:06
Leader of the Streak - Steve Waugh
Australia won the opening match with ease to enhance their streak to an incredible 16 victories in a row. The Aussie’s were seemingly well in control of the 2nd match, forcing India to follow-on; the 17th win was an inevitability, Australia were cruising and unstoppable right? WRONG! In one of the all-time great comebacks, India defied belief by not only saving the game, but winning it. The streak had ended, it was always going to take something quite remarkable, but nobody expected VVS Laxman to score 281, least-of-all the Australians. The 3-match series was heading for a decider and in a heart-stopping finale, India amazingly won to claim a famous victory. Not only had Australia’s streak ended, they had lost a series as well!
It was declared the final frontier, Australia set out to defy the record books to defeat India on home-soil, it was stalwarts Warne and McGrath’s last chance to win on the sub-continent; without skipper Ricky Ponting it seemed like a tough ask. The series never lifted to the lofty heights of its predecessor and the Aussie’s won the series comfortably. The previously impenetrable Fortress India crumbled like a house of cards, much like the ‘unbeatable Windies had done in 95.
Move forward to the present, India has always been seen as a team shaky on foreign soil. They have always had the talent but never seemed to realise it away from home. This was the old India, one that lacked self belief when the going got tough. The new team (new in attitude, not players) has just beaten England in England and have boldly declared they can beat anyone, anywhere. The Indian’s have moved to 3rd in the ICC test rankings, with only England and Australia above them.
The tables have now turned and it is India with their elder statesmen set to have one last tilt at the world champions. Australia has not been beaten on home soil since 1992-93, to beat them at home is cricket’s version of mission impossible. There is however a noticeable difference this time round. This is a new team; the air of indestructibility is waning. Namely, it is a team lacking Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. In the matches they played together (104), they took 1001 wickets at an average of 23. No wonder Australia has dominated for over a decade, captains would kill for that sort of combination. Whilst Australia has constantly had an embarrassment of batting riches, the bowling stocks have always been the concern. How do you replace two of the best bowlers of all time?
When India last toured here in 2003, McGrath was out injured and Warne was serving a suspension for ‘those’ damn diuretic pills. The Australian’s were a shadow of their usual selves, lacking teeth and short of strike-power; India almost stole the series. It was a scary reminder to fans down-under; this was the future prospect of our team, a side devoid of of Warne and McGrath.
Litlle Master
Best pair ever?
The series could also be the curtain call for Adam Gilchrist who has hinted he wants to spend more time with the family. The charismatic keeper who has entranced the cricket world with his brutal batting may indeed retire at the end of the series.
There is a lot to keep the pundits happy with all these sport narratives set to collide in the upcoming series. It will be a fitting way to bid farewell to some of the best and most engaging stars of all-time. The scriptwriters will be working overtime to give everybody the fairytale ending; I just hope it can live up to the hype!
Bring on the Cricket!
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