Related Links : India’s Tour of Australia 2007/08 : Scorecard
Finally, one got to see some pulsating action in international cricket with two top class teams playing with great intensity. The Australians over the years have been untouched in their den in the last many years. Their fans may have been bored of watching numerous one-sided test matches played by their heroes, but today at the MCG, the story was a completely different one. India, a team that was full of tigers at home but lambs away from home till the late 90s kept its reputation of being the only team that can challenge the Australians in their own backyard. Led from the front by Skipper Anil Kumble, India brought the Australian batting to pieces, from a dominating 135 for no loss to 337 for 9. This was despite a magnificent hundred from Matt Hayden.
On a drop-in pitch at the MCG, it was a good toss to win for Ricky Ponting as the track was tailor-made for batting. The conditions were hot and therefore minimum chances of the ball to do anything in the air and off the wicket. The Aussies decided to go in for Brad Hogg instead of Shaun Tait while India too went for the extra spinner in Harbhajan ahead of Ishant Sharma. This Boxing Day Test Match was Sourav Ganguly’s 100th Test Match of his career as well.
The experienced opening pair of Phil Jaques and Matthew Hayden comfortably survived the initial test with the new ball just doing a bit from India’s only two fast bowlers in the match – Zaheer and RP Singh. Jaques is new to the international circuit but he has played more than 100 first class games and he has been a seasoned opening batsman over the years in Australia. The first session simply went Australia’s way as India didn’t have a back up seamer. The heavy outfield in a way ensured that the Aussies didn’t run away with a huge total by lunch. They still got themselves to a powerful 111 for no wicket in 27 overs.
After lunch, Kumble got himself into the attack along with Zaheer Khan after a few minutes. It was the Skipper who showed the opening for his team by foxing Jaques with a googly. It was a pity that Jaques, a highly accomplished batsman against fast bowling was made to look ordinary against spin. Jaques, who didn’t have the skill to read Kumble’s googly played the wrong line and his backfoot dragged out of the crease. That was enough for an alert MS Dhoni to take the bails off and the opening stand came to an end in the 34th over. Jaques made 66 (from 108 balls with 8 fours) out of the 135 runs on the board. A few minutes later, it was the turn of Zaheer Khan to stamp an impression. Coming from round the sticks, he produced a magical delivery that angled into Ricky Ponting and then straightened up a wee bit to defeat the right hander’s defence and to disturb the woodwork. A bit of reverse swing did help Zaheer in getting the deviation away from Ponting, who was completely squared up. It was 162 for 2 now with Ponting lasting only 13 deliveries. In the very next over, Kumble made it 165 for 3 as his googly wasn’t picked by yet another Australian batsman. This time it was the turn of Michael Hussey to be dumb folded, he got rapped up on his back leg after playing for the non existent leg break. Hussey played just the three balls in the innings!
Matthew Hayden was now required to build a vital partnership with Michael Clarke to get things back in a shape. He did that in his attacking fashion which brought up his 28th hundred in just 126 balls. For Clarke, it was all about working hard for each and every run as the Indians managed to sustain the pressure on him. By Tea, India were satisfied to get back into the groove as they had Australia at 213 for 3 in 56 overs. The Indians struck gold quite early in the last session as RP Singh joined the party to take his first wicket on Australian soil. A wide half volley that was reverse swinging away was good enough to produce a false drive from Michael Clarke (20 from 60 balls). A smart catch was taken by VVS Laxman at second slip as RP Singh brought an end to a 60-run partnership. One man who was troubling India all through the day was Matt Hayden and he too was sent back. Hayden, who was way too early in an attempted push off the frontfoot couldn’t check his shot in time to spoon an easy catch at mid on. The bowler was Zaheer Khan, who was mixing up his pace along with the reverse swing. Hayden made 124 from 183 with 9 fours and Australia were now 241 for 5.
It was now upto Symonds and Gilchrist to blast Australia out of danger. Symonds did just that, smashing the ball around and living on the edge. RP Singh produced a genuine outside edge off Symonds which fell on the bounce at second slip. That was a lucky escape for Symo but his luck vanished when his full blooded pull shot off a near long hop from Anil Kumble was taken at short mid wicket by Dinesh Karthik. Symonds had to depart for a quick 35 (from 42 balls with 5 fours). Being the only recognized batsman left, Gilchrist was in two minds whether to play his shots or to trust the abilities of the lower order batsmen. He decided to play his shots and that made him to bite the dust. A predetermined slog sweep led to hid downfall. The bowler Anil Kumble was brilliant enough to sense the big shot as he bowled a quicker delivery that skidding past the left hander. All Gilly did was to miscue the wild swing high in the air to be caught at backward point. Gilchrist made just 23 (from 42 balls with 1 fours) and Australia collapsed to 288 for 7.
Kumble didn’t allow any batting heroics from Brett Lee as he trapped him infront of his stumps with a skidder to send him packing for a 12-ball duck. That was Jumbo’s 35th five-wicket haul. He would have got his sixth as well but Umpire Mark Benson didn’t pick a bat pad catch off Mitchell Johnson. Brad Hogg and Johnson, both left handers survived the spin attack at both ends and Kumble was now left with the option of taking the second new ball. Zaheer, who made first use of it struck straightaway with the very first ball as Hogg played a loose shot away from his body to be caught by Dravid at third slip. Hogg made 17 having lasted 44 balls. That wicket fell in the 87th over and that was also the last for the day’s play. Stuart Clark (21 from 17 with 3 fours) , the no. 11 batted with very good technique and Mitchell Johnson (10 from 25 which includes a six off Kumble) had no trouble whatsoever. Aussies finished the day at a disappointing 337 for 9.
The last session saw six wickets going down in 34 overs at the cost of 124 runs! The pitch has had little to offer for the bowlers and it was a spirited effort from Kumble (25-4-84-5) and Zaheer (22-1-93-3) that stole away the 500-600 massive first innings total from the Australians! It wasn’t a bad thing at all for the Indians not to have wrapped up things today. The last wicket pair of the homeside may just help them in getting whatever freshness that might be available early morning to evaporate under the sun. Now that the bowlers have done 95% of the job, it is now upto the famed batting line-up to bat India into an advantageous position.