Last summer Australia lost the CB series to England this year they are playing India, the rivilary between the two teams is at all time high and their relations are at an all time low. Both the teams are going through rebuilding and have lost some key players since last year, Australia are still the team to beat given their bench strength but the recent slump in the form of their key batsmen have often made them look vulnerable, team India has also undergone changes and their new found strength in bowling has made them a lot stronger than before the induction of youth has not only brought energy in the team but also a certain level of swagger. India are also facing some problems with their batting they still have not been able to find the right combination in their batting line up the form of some key players like Sachin,Yuvraj, and Uthappa is haunting them, and if they have to fancy their chances these players will have lift up their game. Sachin in the nine matches he has played so far in this series has only averaged 23.87, Yuvraj has averaged only 22, and Uthappa 19.
The real difference between the two teams is bowling Australian fast bowlers have rescued their team on a number of occasions, the difference between the two teams is of Nathan Bracken, Johnson and Brett lee not only that they have been taking wickets on regular intervals but their economy rate has also been excellent. Whereas India has been only riding on the shoulders of Young Ishaant Sharma, the absence of a quality fifth bowler has often caused serious problems for them, the part time spin of Yuvraj and Sachin has not helped them at all in this series.
Will Australia lose their crown this year ? Can Indian players become more clinical in their approach? We don’t know the answers to these questions yet but one thing is for sure all the fans will get to see a dog fight between these two rival teams.
Match report
Australia v India, CB Series, 1st final,
March 2, 2008
50 overs Australia 8 for 239 (Hayden 82, Hussey 45) v India
Australia made a disastrous start to their innings, stumbling to 3-24 with the farewelling Adam Gilchrist (7) and captain Ricky Ponting (1) falling to errant shots off the bowling of Praveen Kumar (2-48 off 10 overs).
Michael Clarke (4) was unlucky with umpire Rudi Koertzen ruling him caught behind off Ishant Sharma despite replays suggesting the ball only brushed his pad.
Hayden and Symonds rescued the innings before Harbhajan struck twice and got rid of both of his nemesis as he and fellow tweaker Piyush Chawla (0-33 off 10 overs) dried up the runs mid-innings.
From 5-135, Mike Hussey (45) ensured Australia posted a 200-plus total from their 50 overs with a typically measured knock with the departing Brad Hogg (23no) also providing a handy contribution. Brett lee scored three consecutive boundaries off IK pathan in the 49th over and helped his team in posting a total of 239.
It will not be easy to score these runs under the lights against Australia’s bowling.
Samy,
Australia are beatable they are not the same any more,Pontings bad patch has been really hurting them a lot lately, Gilchrist and Brad Hogg have also retired and the new players will take time to adjust at the International level, Australia are on the decline the gap between them and the rest of the world is not as wide as it was a year ago. As most of the teams have improved over the last year.Sachin did played an excellent knock,I wouldn’t say that it was his best ever,but he is experienced enough to take control of the whole game and thats what he did in this match, the Australian bowlers did every thing to unnerve him, the beamer by Brett Lee was just like hitting below the belt,first the sledging and now this beamer Australians tactics are not working anymore as this Indian team includes some feisty individuals, I was impressed by Harbhajan a lot this whole sledging thing made him a better player and it will be hard for the Australians to stomach that both Hayden and Symonds got out to Harbhajan, Australians have not gained any psychological advantage by this sledging war in fact they have put themselves under pressure.
Wasim,
While I certainly do hope that India can prove to the cricketing world that the Aussies are beatable, I feel they will not let India win the CB series easily. Last year too there was a similar situation when they lost 5 matches in a row but evetually won the World Cup. True, some of their players wre missing then but still, they do have an enviable record in the finals.
Anyway, it was a terrific knock by Sachin, possibly one of his best ever. He does reserve his best for Aus, first the two innings at Sharjah and now this.
Samy,
I told you the gap between Australia and other teams is very minimal, their crown is slipping.
When the going gets tough the tough gets going Sachin raised his game when it was required of him and added another accomplishment to his never ending list of accomplishments his first Odi 100 in Australia which helped his team draw the first blood against the Aussie’s in the finals of CB series,he was ably helped by Rohit Sharma (66)in a 123 runs partnership, earlier India saw a mini collapse when Uthappa was caught in the deep and Gambhir was run out India were left on 87/3 but Rohit and Schin both resurrected the innings and in the end India won the match comfortably by 5 wickets.
A year ago Indian cricket was in a miserbale crisis after being eliminated from the world cup at the premlinary stages. This was a disaster for the passionate fans as they were burning pictures and posters of their cricket icons and treating them as a total disgrace.
Today a year later India is competing in two finals . The dynamic feature of this youth which has exceled in the last year for Indian cricket. India U19 has many talented players who have reached the mega final in Malyasia. Meanwhile the Indian national side were up agianst Australia at the S.C.G in the first of three finals.
India came out victorious in both finals to add to their 20/20 triumph in September 07. Youth has been a revolution in Indian cricket in the last year. India have managed to compete aginst Australia and come out victorious on many occasions in the last year. With the abundance of youth and talent Indian cricket is currently holding they have got a very good shout at becoming the new world champions following Australia.
2/3/08 a memorable day for Indian cricket.
Bowled! Yuvraj gone,once again he failed, India are 87/3 this is going to open the flood gates.
India just lost their second wicket its 60 for the loss of 2 wickets,and Australia came back into the game Gambhir was the key run getter for India in this series, now Yuvraj and Tendulkar will have to stay on the wicket.