Saturday, January 26, 2008

Cricket for assuring a draw

Cricket for assuring a draw

The title itself is expressive to describe the third day’s play of Adilede test between India and Australia. When the sun rays started to heat the earth surface Australian were at 62 runs with all the ten wickets in hands and after hard work and sweating for whole day manage to score 322 runs for the loss of three wickets that means in the day’s play of 90 over than scored just 260 run, well below the strike rate of 3 runs per over.

The highlights of day for are the two surprises; it is become a hard composition for me to recall when last the Australians were so slow with the bat, since past few years cricket lovers are used to see Australians cricketers scoring runs at the average of nearly 4 runs in an over even in the test matches but today the body language of Australians was suggestive of their attitude of playing for assuring a draw result in this test to keep their record of series win intact.

The other surprise of the day was to watch an Indian speedster persisting with speed in vicinity or almost of 140. Down the memory lines baring the few early day’s of Shreenath, I can’t recall anyone from India can match with the Eshant Sharma’s today’s constant bowling speed. Hyden went on to score 30th knock of ton for self but surely the over all scoring rate of Australians for clinching the match towards a draw.

Yet another surprise is fleshing on my television set as I am writing this, Adam Gilchrist , yesterday only he become the world record holder hunter behind the wicket, announced his retirement from test match at the end of this test match and from ODI after the conclusion of coming tri series between Australia, India and Shri Lanka. I think the decision of Gili had come at most appropriate time for as his form has started to show the signs of decline and before people start asking and talking about his retirement, this was the most suitable time to leave the ground with pride and honor. Contribution of this talented Australian player can be narrated in converting the special slot of wicketkeeper into place of all rounder.

Since the Sydney test Australian cricket seems to be on the decline as still a proper substitute for the Glen Macgraw and Shen Worn is under the search and surely the retirement of this hard hitting wicket keeper and ODI successful opener with strike rate of almost 97, will create a vacuum in the batting line of Australians and might affect adversely their status of world champions of the cricket.

Back to third day the disappointment of the day is surely the Indian off Spinner Harbhjan, who through out the day seems to struggling for landing the red leather circle in the right area and went wicket less at the end of the day. Indian attack was sustaining the absence of injured R. P. Singh and situations were ideal for scoring at brisk rate by Australia as the pitch has become considerably favoring slow for the batting without signs of deteriorating and notable help to spinners, but Australians seems with the mind of slowing down the happenings of the ground.

If the famous forth day of Adilede doesn’t comes to life tomorrow, Australians by their slow scoring rate have almost assured a draw for this test match and win the series with 2-1 lead including the disputed Sydney test.

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