The Board of Control for Cricket in India and its Australian counterpart, Cricket Australia worked out a compromise formula to save the much interesting tri-series, which would not have been possible if Harbhajan was banned even for one match. Thanks to Sachin Tendulkar.
India's threat to abandon the tour worked. They even managed to get umpire Steve Bucknor removed from the Perth Test, which India won convincingly. And the Indian off-spinner consequently escaped a three-match suspension.
A young and resurgent Team India will be looking to put Australia under the mat when they clash in the one-off Twenty20 at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday. The likes of Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, Sreesanth, Suresh Raina will put Australia to test at their happy hunting ground. The Aussies will be eagerly waiting to go after now-famous Harbhajan Singh in the Twenty20. The World Champions are yet to open an account with the Twenty20 Champions, India remain a team to beat.
The racism row involving Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds have brought new found crisis between India and Cricket Australia. The Australians desperately wanted Harbhajan be banned for two One-day games or one Test match. Ricky Ponting, obviously, is not happy with the CA, ICC and everyone in between. While the controversy is laid to rest he refuses to bury the hatchet. He is making all sorts of statements to the press rather concentrate on the game. The Test series was marred by the racism saga and now the players should ensure a fair play during the Twenty20 and the ODI's. This war of words will only add to the wounds.
Australians are known for their aggressive on-field behaviour and they play better cricket when they are aggressive. Now the aggression will be doubled after Bhajji's let-off. Ponting and his men will go in for kill to prove a point but the Indians in the recent past have shown that they do perform under pressure as they did with style when they won against Ponting's men in Mumbai when the Aussies visited India in 2007. Sachin Tendulkar, if he plays, will be a value addition, adding the necessary boost to the young Team India.
The Indian team will be more under pressure. The pressure from the crowds will be hard to cope with. For that matter, Harbhajan Singh has been provided with additional security fearing the off-spinner could be subjected to taunts by hostile Australian fans. The Indians have flexed their muscles enough off-the-field and maintaining the same posture against the angry Aussies on-field will be a true challenge. Things were said, cricket was dragged to the courtroom and yet it came out victorious. Now its time to play cricket, on-field.
Ricky Ponting, if he plays, will be the man to watch. Ricky got his lost form back after the Adelaide Test. The Australian players are furious, they had their share of heated and emotional sessions but this time they will ensure that their celebrations are not put on hold.
India have a perfect record against the Australians in Twenty20. Their game, sportsmanship and character will be tested. It is easy to succumb to the aggressive Aussies. What is not easy is to beat them in their ground. And true champions have always won under pressure. Let's see who buckles under.
Source: Indiatimes
No comments:
Post a Comment