Sport

Beating Australia at its own game

Australia was swept aside by an ambitious, fit, young, fresh and superbly led Indian side. Bound together by a sense of injustice, the Indians became formidable.

India’s economic boom has released a new sort of cricketer, tough, independent, materialistic and comfortable in his own skin.

Australia was confronted with a younger version of itself. India used to depend upon players steeped in the traditions of the game. Not any more. India has not merely copied Australia’s abrasive style. It is also producing the same sort of characters, who ask no quarter and give none.

Take Irfan Pathan. He was not bothered about the pressure of bowling the final over at the ’Gabba. Growing up, he had watched his father trying to feed his family and did not think cricket compared with that. Like most of his comrades he comes from the poorer sections of society. He knows that life can be harsh. Of course it helped that a charismatic captain eased the pressure with a joke. But Irfan was not scared anyhow.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni understood and exploited the new Indian outlook. After all he was raised far from the fashionable crowd. Dhoni recently told India Today’s Sharda Ugra that “Guys from small places are tougher than those from the metros.” He fits the bill. Throughout he held his side together, remaining calm and constant in the tight spots.

Despite a sore hand he played in the second final and pushed himself up the order. He dared to introduce a swing bowler from a family of wrestlers and a teenage leg-spinner. Sachin Tendulkar was happy to play under him. Even extras like Suresh Raina remained loyal. Not that Dhoni is soft. His glare at Yuvraj after the swashbuckler’s recklessness cost the team four overthrows should be bottled.

Dhoni did not waver. After an early setback he said that he had been given the team he wanted. He took responsibility. Thereafter India was fast in the field and between wickets, audacious tactically and fresh in mind and body.

Contrastingly Australia played like a team weighed down by worry. Amongst the locals only James Hopes and Nathan Bracken lasted the course. Neither had played in the Test series.

Australia made its worst mistake long before the ODI finals. The attempt to isolate and intimidate Harbhajan Singh served merely to strengthen India’s resolve. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the Sydney Test, the Australians lost their equanimity and never recovered.

Harbhajan’s exchange with Andrew Symonds was of little account. And Symonds had started it. Symonds and Hayden are as diplomatic as George Bush.

Far from breaking their spirit, the attack on Harbhajan helped the Indians to form the pack mentality that has long been the hallmark of Australian teams. The spinner’s refusal to take a backward step was part of that. In October these teams meet again in India. They play the same type of game, but India seems to represent the future, Australia the past. But India must keep its eye on the ball.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu