One Day International Series – Australia ready to complete India demolition
by Juris Graney
Cricket Odds:
Australia vs. India
Wednesday, November 11, 3.30am
India –150
Australia +120
Not many international teams can lose nine players and still beat India on low-playing home soil in a one-day series.
Australia is probably the only one in the top 10 who could pull that off.
With the chance to seal a memorable series 5-2 with victory at Mumbai, bookmakers have installed India (-150) as favourites despite Australia’s (+120) dominance in the face of adversity.
The term ‘heroics’ is overused in sport, in fact that term should be reserved strictly for those who get shot at for a living in the armed forces or firemen. The word ‘hero’ should be shelved until a cricketer is shot and killed while trying to save a small village with just a cricket bat and a stump.
The Aussies tenacity and determination should nevertheless be commended.
The glittering demigods of Indian cricket, bar Sachin Tendulkar, were no match for Australia and despite a few wayward performances from the likes of Ben Hilfenhaus (1/83 in the second match) and Doug Bollinger (1/75 in the fifth match), the makeshift team has gelled remarkably well, each player contributing in someway.
India should feel disappointed in their overall performance. With the world number one crown within sight, they folded meekly in all but two matches. Their performance in the sixth game at Guwahati typified their disjointedness.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, India capitulated for 170 in 48 overs, one point flailing about at 5/27 with Virender Sehwag (6), Sachin Tendulkar (10), Gautam Gambhir (0), Yuvraj Singh (6) and Suresh Raina (0) dispatched to the change rooms in 8.6 overs.
Bollinger’s 5/35 and Mitchell Johnson’s best return of the tour, 3/39 off nine overs, the destroyers.
If you inspect a pitch, win the toss, elect to bat then fold for 5/27, your captain is either a fool or your top order would struggle to be picked to play for Bangladesh.
Considering MS Dhoni was third top scorer with 24 off 77 balls, the answer is certainly the latter.
Capitulation aside, India struggled with consistency and team cohesion. Tendulkar almost single-handedly won the fifth match but aside from his 175 in a total of 347, the stand-out performances have been few and far between (Dhoni’s 124 in match two was another).
India have left themselves a lot of work to do in the coming months while Australia can look forward to a rest period before the West Indies arrive for their Christmas tour – a series which will no doubt be as fulfilling and offer as much sustenance as licking sandpaper.
This match at DY Patil Stadium is an unknown – this game marking its international debut. Having hosted IPL matches last year, the way it will play isn’t a mystery however how much it will deteriorate over 100 overs compared to just 40 overs is.
Apparently it will offer seamers some help, which suggests that the second innings could be a struggle for a team chasing a big score.
With a cyclone circling the South Arabian Sea, there is a chance the weather will play a big role in the outcome of the match.
