India's best surrendered without a blow

India's best surrendered without a blow

DECEMBER 13: In a battle, they say, if you go down, it must be with all guns blazing. A Test match is not war, but the theory still applies: don't surrender meekly. Yet, two of India's best went down without swinging a blow in anger. Both Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar succumbed without attempting to play a shot, leaving the rampant Australians with only a mopping up operation on the final day.

This tame resistance was in direct contrast to the earlier bowling effort, which was spirited and determined. The accuracy of the attack kept Mark Waugh pegged on nought for a long time and there was an air of inevitability about his innings. The sad decline in his batting in the last 12 months, coincides with the public revelation that both he and Shane Warne took money from an Indian bookmaker and since that news he has scored just over 700 runs at under 30 in 26 innings.

Having dismissed Mark, Agarkar could've been accused of picking on the Waugh family when he also clipped the edge of Steve's bat to presentMSK Prasad with yet another victim. Agarkar has shown signs of having arrived at Test level. He bowled well without luck in the first innings and displayed the ability to move the ball away from the right-handers, which is a great attribute at his lively pace. The slim Mumbaite is not quite the answer to India's prayer for an all-rounder, although he batted with discipline in the first innings, but he is a valuable acquisition as a new ball bowler.

Agarkar's contribution was just one of many good efforts from a determined Indian side. They fielded with enthusiasm and bowled a tight line and length only to discover that the Australian batsmen could be frustrated just like any team, by such a combination. This will be handy information for the future Tests.

However, all this good work was spoilt by the timid approach with the bat, which must cause some readjustment in the Indian batting order. Devang Gandhi is over-matched against Glenn McGrath as his vulnerability against the short-pitched ball stands outlike a light on the Old Trafford scoreboard on an overcast day. VVS Laxman will have to open and this will have the positive affect of returning Dravid and Tendulkar to their rightful three and four positions respectively. Sadogoppan Ramesh was purposeful until he suddenly caught the disease that was in danger of becoming endemic in the Indian side and padded up to a well-pitched leg-break.

This left only Saurav Ganguly of the top order batsmen to fight the rearguard action and he did so by being positive and prepared to play naturally. India squandered a good opportunity to show the Australian team they have the nerve to fight toe to toe, but all is not lost as one battle doesn't make a war. However, to swing the momentum in their direction the star studded batting line-up will have to start playing naturally as well as with determination and purpose. It wil also help if the marginal decisions don't continue to go against Tendulkar.