Thats what its called here. It is not known as the MCG but just as the G. Here in the sports capital of Australia, India begin their march to glory; unmatched glory it will be if India do manage to upstage Australia in the 4 test match series starting on Boxing Day.
I have booked tickets for the 3rd day and hope the match will not be over by then!! No, that definitely seems unlikely this time around in spite of the Taits and the Lees. Two very partisan issues have been raised in anticipation. One of them is an Australian conundrum: to spin or not to spin? Simply put, it would be a huge gamble to play Hogg over Tait. The Indians are accomplished against spin yet Hogg has had some success in the past in ODIs against India. I would punt on Ricky Ponting going for an all out pace attack. This is the first time that more cricketing voices are calling for all-out pace at the G than a 3rd choice, un-proven spinner. Secondly, Ponting himself has been effusive in his praise of Tait and no matter how many times the Indians batter a one-dimensional pace attack, the Australians will always believe the visitors are vulnerable to pace on bouncy tracks. Moreover, if one has it, they should flaunt it: Australia is veritably the only test playing nation that has four front-line fast bowlers who would make the first eleven of any test team around the world. The only dampener is the pitch at the G. It always gets slower and lower as the game wears on. The 2nd and 3rd days are usually best for batting barring any rain. If India's batting line up takes centre stage from the 5th session, it could be a long, hard toil for a 4-pronged pace attack.
India have a few tricky choices to make of their own. Sehwag has been picked but where will he play? If India pick two openers, who will make way in the middle order for Yuvraj? What will the bowling line-up look like. Call me crazy, but I know the only way to take on the Aussies is to take them head-on, especially if you have the quality in your side which I proudly admit, India does have. Therefore, I would like India to go all-in at the G! I would open with Sehwag and Dravid followed by Sachin, Sourav, Laxman, Yuvraj and Dhoni. Kumble will be the lone frontline spinner along with both newbies Pankaj Singh and Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan to lead the pace attack.
Shocked?... Read on....
My 11 does seem unfair on Jaffer but thats where I will be going all in with Sehwag. Sehwag gives Kumble an off-spinning option that could contain the left handers in the Australian line-up. Given Harbhajan's dip in form, it would be a better idea to pick him in Sydney where there is more bounce than the G. Down the order, I have dropped Pathan because there is usually not much swing at the G unless the clouds cover in. Usually, in summer, cloud cover means rain and once the rain's gone, the clouds are gone too. Basically this defangs Pathan and there is no point playing him as a batting all rounder. Ganguly can do that job. Again, I take a punt in playing both the newbies but there is a reason for this madness. The Australians do not believe in dawdling at the crease. They will come hard at the newbies. Pankaj and Ishant can both afford to stick to their natural lines outside the off stump. Trust the Australians to go after them and the extra lift that they both extract will come in handy! Moreover, they are young and fit and can bowl long spells without risk of breakdown. Lastly, the Australians have not been tested often by McGrathesque bowling. I do not mean McGrathesque accuracy but that kind of ilk - the height and the extra bounce; I would like to see Ponting play the hook and pull to tall young newbies.
No matter what Kumble chooses, I wish all the very best to India. Two days ago, the guy at the coffee shop promised me a 2-0 or 3-0 scoreline and added gravely that India would find it difficult to save a single test if the weather stays good. How much I would love to wave a pic of Anil with the Border-Gavaskar trophy held high next month. Just like the Indian team, I wait with a quiet confidence!
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