It was just a reiteration of the basics—a bit of shadow practice to ensure that your elbow is coming straight towards attempting a drive, that the backlift is correct, and that the bat is close to the body. To do that on the centre-wicket gives the batsman a feel of getting it all right—of being ready for the real match.

Rahul Dravid did all that— but he also had a real long stint at the nets—matched only by Sachin Tendulkar’s efforts at the other end of the ground, and Sourav Ganguly’s practice with the ball.

How much, and how differently Ganguly can contribute with the ball to force a change in the line-up is a matter of conjecture. But there’s little scope for debate as to how important it is for the Big Three to get cracking with the bat. Tendulkar had shown a glimpse in Hyderabad, as did Dravid in Kochi. And Ganguly was missing from both.

Tomorrow, all three will have one great chance together to take the responsibility, and bring home the wandering youth to their first victory in the series.

Robin Uthappa has been candid in admitting that the team perhaps got too soaked in the post Twenty20 World Cup adulation and thus slipped a touch on intensity that was required for a big series. Through this series, the Indian team has been a work-in-progress to match the Australians—verbally, cricket skills and temperament-wise.

The general serenity in the dressing room amidst a nation-wide panic may not exactly indicate their urge to bridge the gap, but at the moment there are quite a few gaping holes for skipper MS Dhoni to plaster.

... contd.