1947-48
One year into independence and India is still a young nation. Its still trying to gain some ground and make its mark on the international scene. A team of this still young nation sets off to Australia to play five test matches. The Australian side led by Sir Don Bradman nearly white washes the Indian side 4-0. None would have expected a young team under the leadership of Lala Amarnath to white wash Australia.
2007-2008
Its been sixty years since a team from our country first visited down under and even after sixty years everyone was skeptical about the Indian team achieving anything other than a tame white wash and quite a few eyebrows raising on our team’s performance in the ODIs against the likes of the winners and runners up of the world cup.
Everyone was so skeptical that even after being appointed in as the coach for the National side Gary Kirsten chose it was pretty favorable if he took up his job after the tour down under and not before and thus insuring himself against the brick bats of the junta(which was the case). India might’ve well won the T20 world cup but it is entirely a different cup of tea when compared to the conservative cricket and as many pundits do advocate T20 in precise terms ain’t cricket but might just evolve itself as a different game altogether. Riding high on the T20 win would be something close to foolish when it comes to some serious cricket like test matches and F50 matches where the opponents have impressed themselves as next to invincibles.
With all the speculations surrounding the tour started with none hoping our MIBs to do better.
WED 26th- SUN 30 ‘07, MCG
The scores were
I innings :
Aus: 343 India: 196
Quite a common pic for us Indians as our team never performs well in both the departments.
II innings:
Aus: 357-7 India: 161
So, that was before no controversy and nothing that really rocked our Indian team. Everyone thought this was the most ubiquitious picture of our team not faring well in the overseas. So, what’s the big deal about it!
WED 2-SUN 6 , SCG
Everyone had one query in their mind and that was how many matches would India draw with Australia. But there was one man who never thought that way and another whpo thought the other way. The former being Anil Kumble the Indian Test Captain and the latter the Indian nemesis Steve Bucknor.
India were caught in a web of umpiring decisions that left the team rattled and even on the verge of call the tour quits and that gave rise to a lot of controversies involving Symonds and Harbhajan. What the australians didn’t know was that they were in turn instigating Indians to perform better.
Our team lost this test but then everyone back home were feeling pity for a team that has really played very well but was shunned of its most deserving result by few weeding factors.
There were a lot of things going on outside after the Second test and the media of both the involved countries were having field days and then a master stroke of Jumbo really established the humanitarian side of him forever.
WED 16- SUN 20 Perth
This test would be remembered for at least for some more days than a few for the way the Indians played and for that superb spell of bowling by Ishant Sharma to the then best batsman in the world. For one moment everyone might ‘ve really had found themselves really ecstatic at the sight of an Indian lad bowling so beautifully to an australian on their own pitches.
India won this match and won it comprehensively without any fuss and one man must be credited for this famous win and he need not be second guessed.
The CB series win was the result of the comments of the Australian side. The australians ‘d by now scented that intimidating Indians would be like digging their own graves or at least they might ‘ve well gone to some damage control classes to Flintoff who knows that quite pecisely.
At least when the both of these teams meet they(Aus) will well keep their swollen mouths shut and play some cricket which has been missing off late. I just can’t understand what are they proud at as none of them earn at least half of what our new kids on the block earn and as professionals they have to well keep a notice of this and never ever try to have a go at anyone.
At least now they can’t say anything or if they will the chances are they might well be finding themselves out of their respective IPL teams and also their future career in jeopardy.
So, some reality check!!!
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