[Affiliate Program]
[Competition]
[For Sale]
[Trade]
|
 |
 |
 |
TEST MATCH REPORT by Thomas Rose.
THE TONS ROLL IN AS AUSTRALIA WIN
Australia won a remarkable game of cricket against India in the first Test at Adelaide. After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Australians began confidently, losing Slater right before lunch to be 1-107, Slater charging Kumble one too many times to be stumped by MSK Prasad for 60.
After lunch Langer joined Blewett. Blewett had a life being dropped by Tendulkar, and soon after was dropped by Ramesh. Blewett progressed on and his century came off 205 balls. Langer, on the other hand, looked in very good form. Blewett was later bowled by Ganguly for 123. Mark Waugh, in the middle of a form slump, joined Langer out in the middle.
Their partnership didn't last very long as Langer was caught by Tendulkar, who finally held onto one, off the bowling of Kumble. Steve Waugh only scored 5 runs when he was given out lbw to Kumble.
Mark Waugh played on, going steadily, and ended up reaching his 50 and in the process dominating his and the new batsman, Ponting's partnership.
Day 2 began and in the first over Ponting reached his half-century. BKV Prasad had two very close lbw shouts and Devang Gandhi dropped Mark Waugh. Things just weren't going right for the Indians. Waugh brought up his century and Ponting closed in on his but, on 91, fell to Agarkar, getting a nick to MSK Prasad.
Gilchrist was the new batsman in. Agarkar replaced Kumble four overs later and in the last ball of his first over in his new spell claimed the vital scalp of Mark Waugh. His 109, while at times shaky, was a sign that he was returning to form.
Shane Warne came in but only hit 12 runs before Kumble picked up his fifth wicket for the match and MSK Prasad's 4th dismissal. At 526/7 Australia looked like they were going to make something around 550, with their long tail consisting of Kasprowicz, Fleming and McGrath.
But this estimate was proved wrong as Kasprowicz raced to his half-century and Gilchrist made his century, the third for the innings, as the total raced up towards the 700 mark. The total passed 700 when Ganguly struck, Kasprowicz playing in the air to Devang Gandhi.
India were keen to get Fleming and McGrath as quick as possible. Gilchrist reached his 150 and the score kept going higher. Fleming stayed in there and Srinath, on the first session in day 3, got Gilchrist out for a defiant 174.
At 9-796 the total looked like passing 800 but India got McGrath out for a duck, Fleming stranded on 49*. But at 798 all out Australia were nothing less than happy.
Gandhi and Ramesh started positively, building up their partnership, which passed 150, but when Gandhi was out for 101, the score was at 181/1. The wicket looked like a batsman's paradise. The South Australian crowd was a buzz with Tendulkar due to bat at number 5.
Ramesh fell when the total was on 225. Kumble came out as a night-watchman and lasted the night. But in the 7th over of the morning, he was out for 12 off 30 balls. India 253/3 and maybe had some chance of avoiding the follow-on on this flat Adelaide track.
Dravid joined the other not out overnight batsman Laxman and the pair added 50 runs and Laxman surpassed his half-century. But when he fell, for 58, India were in trouble at 303/4. In a normal game this would be a promising position, but with Australia's 798 in the first innings, this was a poor attempt to avoid the follow-on.
Out came the 'little master' in Tendulkar, who joined Rahul Dravid. The Adelaide crowd was in for some great excitement, and Greg Blewett, playing in front of his home ground, dropped Tendulkar. The crowd was a buzz, Tendulkar in form. Dravid was going along quietly, passing his 50 which was just about a spotless innings.
Shane Warne had a chance to catch Tendulkar off his own bowling but put down the difficult chance. Warne made up for his earlier mishap by catching Dravid off Steve Waugh for 77. At 388/5, India still required 211 to avoid the follow-on with 5 wickets in hand.
These hopes were dashed when Steve Waugh had Ganguly caught by Fleming for 19. India were 424/6. Not all hope was gone, but most of it was. It all was when Mark Waugh claimed MSK Prasad for a third-ball duck. India were 427/7, still needing 172 to avoid the follow-on.
Tendulkar passed his half-century and Steve Waugh took off brother Mark to let McGrath to have a crack at the great batsman. This move immediately paid off, McGrath's first ball getting the edge from Tendulkar which Gilchrist caught with ease.
4 overs later, McGrath claimed his fifth wicket, BKV Prasad, and the follow-on was unavoidable. At 462/9, India still needed 137 to avoid the follow-on. A string of dot balls put the pressure on the Indians and finally Javagal Srinath succumbed to it, lbw to Steve Waugh. India hadn't avoided the follow-on, and still required 337 to make the Australians bat again.
The Indian openers strode out to the wicket but Gandhi didn't last long, Kasprowicz sending him to the pavilion, Ponting taking a fine catch. 9 runs later, Laxman was also dismissed, Warne picking up his first wicket for the match. At 49/2 the Indians still required 288 runs to make the Australians bat again. The situation wasn't helped when 26 runs later, Rahul Dravid edged to Gilchrist, Warne picking up another wicket.
Kumble, acting as a night-watchman again, came out and saw out the night with Ramesh. The last day began and Ramesh passed his half-century, but was out soon after for 54, lbw to Fleming. The pair had added 49 and showed some resistance if there was any to be shown. Tendulkar strode out to the wicket and received a standing ovation for the crowd at the Adelaide Oval.
Kumble fell to fellow legspinner for Warne for 32, Warne picking up his 3rd wicket for the match. Down the other end, Tendulkar was playing magnificently, scoring almost a run a ball in a great display of composure and skill. Ganguly came out to partner him and the two looked very confident.
Kasprowicz put down Ganguly but the next over Langer took a blinder to dismiss Tendulkar for 54. Warne picked up his fourth wicket for the innings. Six overs later, Warne picked up wicket number 5, Ganguly out to a ball that turned dramatically and mistiming a drive straight to Ponting. At 239/7 India still needed 98 to make Australia bat again.
If all hope wasn't lost at that stage, it was when Fleming picked up MSK Prasad for four. Warne got Srinath with a leg side stumping and at 245/9, India were dead and buried. Warne finished off the Indians by getting Agarkar caught, fittingly, by first innings century-maker Mark Waugh. Warne's figures of 20.1-6-59-7 were amazing, as was Australia's first innings.
All in all, the match belonged to Australia ever since the outset, and they went 1-0 up in the three Test series. The Boxing Day Test in Melbourne may tell a different story - you never know.
