India against Australia 2001 the greatest series – 2. Part 1 can be read here.
Was it the turnaround I expected?
Yes, this was it, this was the turnaround I expected. It is only a question of time before Australia are bowled out for a score less than 275 and India will pile up a huge score and will stop the Australian juggernaut. Alas, it wasn’t to be. Steve Waugh, the gritty warrior, took centre stage. Together with Gillespie, he took Australia past 400. It was unbelievable. Just when I thought India were back in the game, they actually went behind by many miles. It was a heart breaking partnership but credit to Steve Waugh for the gutsy innings and to Gillespie for sticking with him captain. It is another story when Gillespie formed a similar partnership, this time with Simon Katich and denied India a series winning victory.
India’s sorry first innings
Then came the familiar sight of the Australian bowlers running through the Indian lineup with absolutely no one able to offer any resistance with the exception of Laxman. Laxman played some delightful shots in his brief innings. Watching from Jeddah, I thought to myself that Laxman must be sent at number 3 for the rest of the series. Now, it was the turn of Steve Waugh. He had a decision to make. Whether to impose the follow on or to continue batting. It was a decision that not only proved to be a game and series changer but it changed the perspective of Indian cricket itself. The Indian team were reeling under match fixing allegations and lot of fans had deserted the team. This series not only brought the fans back to the game but certainly reinstated the faith on the players.
Steve Waugh took the correct decision
Looking at the decision now, after all these years, I do think that Steve Waugh was spot on. Under the circumstances, he took the correct decision. Here was an opponent who were bowled out cheaply for 3 innings in a row, who were down in confidence, whose batsmen does not seem to have a clue against an extremely good bowling attack and who was ripe for the taking. The Australian bowlers were hardly stretched for 3 innings in a row. The Australians were about to make history. Just one good day with the ball in the field. Any sane captain would have certainly imposed follow on. Afterall, how many times have teams managed to even to draw the game when they were behind by 274 runs?
How many times have teams managed to post a tall score for the opponent to chase and win? Just a few times in the annals of cricketing history. Steve Waugh must have thought that evenif India were able to go past the innings defeat mark, they will not go ahead by much and the Australians had the batting to score the required 50-60 odd runs. Never in his wildest dream would he must have expected what was to unfurl. As report emerged later, he didn’t take much time to think and imposed the follow on.
Start of the 2nd innings
This time, India got off to a good start. The opening partnership was worth 52 runs which in the context of the series was a good effort. However, it wasn’t enough. Within the space of another 20 overs, India were 3 down including Tendulkar. An innings defeat seemed imminent. Just then, Ganguly decided to do something about his form and added a further 80 with Laxman who was batting superbly. When Ganguly got out, India were still behind by another 40 runs. I was getting excited. Come on guys, just one partnership of 100 and we will set a good 4th innings target and create enough pressure for the Australians to succumb.
I certainly did not expect what was to unfold. Dravid joined the impressive Laxman who was delighting everyone with his strokeplay. Dravid was under pressure because of not so impressive returns until then. Common Dravid, just innings. Show this world who you actually are. What can you do to the best of bowling attacks. Dravid chose the perfect moment to showcase his calibre. I have always held that Dravid was a much bigger match winner than Tendulkar. He started cautiously. Happy to give the strike back to Laxman. In the meanwhile, Laxman had already gone past 100. The end of day 3 with India behind by 24 runs.
Day 4 and the real magic started
Australia had taken the new ball and expected to run through India but it wasn’t to be. Laxman and Dravid took the score past the Australian score and the team score touched 300 for the first time in 4 innings. A lead of 26. No enough but a lead nevertheless. Enough has been written about the innings and I do not want to add to that existing memorabilia. I took the day off watching the innings unfold. There was a strange realisation. I am watching something special. Laxman was sweating. Dravid was panting. Drinks was served on the field. They both were exhausted even before the final session was underway but they kept going.
I kept marvelling at their resilience. Their determination to salvage the situation was incredible. Laxman and Dravid were expected to bat but were never expected to bat the Australians out of the game. Surely, both of them must have lost enough calories that day and must have lost weight by 4-5 KGS. In all these, they kept adjusting their pads, their helmets, took fresh guards and prepared themselves to play the next ball, the ball after that, the ball after that, the over after that, the session after that. That day, my respect for Laxman and Dravid increasing manifold. The Australians for once were tiring as well. They just didn’t know what to bowl. Instead of India, it was they who were looking for inspiration. They could sense that the chance to win a 17th consecutive tests is slowly but surely ebbing away.
Just then day 4 ended
with India ahead by close to 300 runs. Surely, the Australian winning sequence had ended. I was really elated by that thought. That it was India who stopped the Australian machine. There was a strange sense of pride in that. Here is a chance to pull off one of the greatest victories but I was satisfied with having stopped the Australians. Not just me but it was the feeling across the nation.
I really could not imagine what could have happened in the dressing room that night. Whether the players partied or were they simply exhausted to do anything? The body must have had enough and could not take anything anymore. Will both Dravid and Laxman be able to stand up and come back to the wicket the next day?
Yes they did. Now the expectation shifted to Laxman becoming the first Indian batsman to score a 300. Alas, it wasn’t to be but he had done more than enough. Soon after, India declared and now ambition grew no bounds. Can India pull off a famous win?
The Australian chase
to be continued…..
Also read a youngster’s dream fulfilled here, here and here.