India against Australia 2001 the greatest series – 1.
When I look back to the good old days, not that many series stood in mind. Sure there were odd brilliant test or the 1983 World Cup win. However, I just could not recollect an entire series. A series that stood the test of time and that is brought up in almost all conversations related to come from behind wins, David against Goliath etc. A reminiscence as though the series happened just yesterday. One such series came to the rescue. It has stood the test of time. It has brought smiles on the faces of millions of fans around the world. Also, it will rated as the greatest come from behind series win. That was probably the greatest test series and it was between none other than Indian and Australia.
Before the start of the series
I had just stepped out of the college and stepped into the mad world of working in a corporate company. It was surreal. Just like the millions of Indians, I was also a part of the IT culture. Work took me to various countries around the globe and my first port of call being Saudi Arabia. Flying from a conservative Madras to an ultra-conservative Jeddah, I was able to feel a world of difference. The bustling crowd at the Jeddah International Airport, the sheer beauty of the airport and the swift frisking to the hotel where a group of 4 of us stayed.
Initially, I was reluctant to travel because I did not want to miss the series because cricket in Saudi Arabia is an unknown commodity. Bowling of Warne & McGrath against Tendulkar, David & Laxman. The young turbaned genius Harbhajan Singh. The street fighter attitude of Steve Waugh. All of these are hard to miss and I have to be among the familiar environs to be able to completely enjoy the series. Fortunately or unfortunately, I had to travel and in hindsight it was a better decision because I don’t think I could have handle the stress of that series well.
Upon reaching Jeddah, I just could not live without watching the game. I alongwith my friends somehow managed to find a satellite television provider and signed a contract immediately. The time difference between India and Saudi Arabia did help. I was able to watch the game almost till tea before I had to leave for work.
And then the series started
27 February 2001. The first test at Mumbai or was it Bombay? I don’t remember. The name of the city hardly matters when the games great players are in town. The Australians were on a roll. They had just won 15 tests in succession. The Indians were under added pressure to stop their juggernaut. The start of the series was extremely nervous for me. I can only imagine the pressure the players were under. It certainly looked like the Indian players were in awe of the Australians who had won everywhere they have played. Added to that, Steve Waugh terming the series as the last frontier not only increased expectations but increased the pressure on the Indian player manifold. Australians were super confident. McGrath was in top form.
Gilchrist had redefined the art of keeper batsman. Ponting was sitting on a mountain of runs. Matthew Hayden, began to redefine the art of opening the batting. All of these showed in the first test and Australia went onto win the game with relative ease.
The mood around the nation was quite sombre. Sitting in Jeddah I could feel the same. Everyone were of the opinion that Australia were too strong and not even the combined might of Tendulkar, Dravid & Ganguly will be able to save the team from losing the series. I resigned myself to the thought that if at all we have to lose the series, we would have lost the series only to one of the two greatest sides ever to have walked on earth.
And then the second test started
Kolkatta or was it Calcutta? The venue for the 2nd test was bustling with spectators. They were all hoping for an Indian revival. All of us were hoping but were not certain. The Australians not only intimidated the Indian team but they intimidated the entire Indian population. Australians were cruising at 250/4 and a sense of déjà vu swept around the country. A thought of here we go again. The Australians are going to pile up a huge score and bowl India out twice. Just then, something told me that this is going to be different. This series is being played in India and we seldom lose in India. The Australians themselves have struggled in this country for more than a couple of decades. Surely, someone or something will standup to be counted.
Strange sense of well-being
Suddenly, I was expecting and not really hoping. There was a sense of euphoria. I grew more and more convinced that India cannot and will not lose. A turnaround was just around the corner. We will definitely be able to stop Australians from continuing with their winning run. Infact, it became the primary motivator for not just me but for the entire nation. Then the miracle happened. The sardar decided to announce his arrival on the international scene.
Harbhajan Singh enters the arena
There was Ricky Ponting who would go onto become one of the great batsman produced by Australia facing the young and ebullient Harbhajan. Just in the previous game, the offspinner had got rid of Ponting for a duck. It was thought to be an aberration. There is no way, Ponting is going to fail again. There was quiet anticipation.
The offspinner was on top of his mark and came ambling down the wicket with arms waving like a traffic constable trying to keep the flow smooth. After a lot of thrust, the ball pitched nicely on the offstump and turned back in sharply. Ricky Ponting went on the backfoot and was stuck right in front of the middle stump. Harbhajan and the close in fielders blurted out an appeal. The umpire’s finger went up ever so slowly and Ponting went for a low score and again to Harbhajan. Has he become a bunny? I don’t know yet.
Next to fall in line – Adam Gilchrist
In came the destroyer in chief in the first test. Adam Gilchrist. He who murders even the fasters bowlers with his strokeplay and what chance does a spinner have? He is such a free flowing batsman. Gilchrist marks his guard, surveys the field and must have thought to himself, “There are some close in fielders. Let me drive them to the boundary”. Again, Harbhajan ambles in, the ball pitches on the leg stump and hurries towards Gilchrist. It was delivered at a quicker pace. Gilchrist looks to defend but before he could bring his bat down, the ball had stuck the pads. A huge appeal followed and the umpire’s finger raised slowly again. I was thrilled because I wanted one wicket but I got two.
The hat-trick ball
Now, Harbhajan was looking for a hattrick. In walked the greatest spinner of all-time but a suspect batsman. Shane Warne. He walked to the wicket wearing his famous panama hat. Extra fielders were brought in trying to get that wicket. Harbhajan again came ambling down the wicket and unfurled a ferocious offspinner. It pitched on leg and all Warne could do was turn it around where Ramesh swung to his right and came up with an incredible catch. Warne just stood there in disbelief. Harbhajan has taken a hattrick. India were back in the game. Within the space of 3 deliveries, he changed the complexion of the game.
Was it the turnaround I expected?
Also read a youngster’s dream fulfilled here, here and here.
to be continued…….