SERIES DOWN UNDER

Finally the much awaited series against the oz started today with India doing good well on the first day of Boxing Day test match at Melbourne. This test series is well set for the number of reasons. sachin just 141 run short ,to become the second Indian to score 2000 runs against one country.kumble need 16 more scalps to get into 600 wickets in test cricket and many more records for different player. Australians have not tasted defeat in their home soil since 1992.Indian team in fact came close to that mark by drawing the series against the oz in 2003-04.Aussies were push down in that series due to injury of their spearheads bowlers Glen McGrath & Brett Lee. This was a blessing in disguise for the team India .Rahul Dravid and cool Laxman’s innings helped India to won the crucial match at Adelaide. This series also saw the farewell of legend Steve Waugh.


The series down under would be the last tour for the senior brigade of team.sachin would love to get past Lara’s milestone of highest run getter in longer version of the game. Dada would be eying a big hundred in his 100th test. This series would be great testing platform for the young players of the side. Especially the poster boys M S Dhoni and Yuvi. Both of them aggressive in style and fragile in technique. It would interesting how they will cope up with seaming condition of the Australian wicket.


On the other hand, Australia would continue the unabated wining spree of consecutive 14 test matches. They would be looking to break their own record of 16 consecutive win against India.


This series would be highly anticipated by the Indians since they love their side playing hard and tough cricket against Australia. Spin attack of India would be quite crucial against the Aussies. Australian player’s record against slower bowler has not been great for long period. This factor was quite evident on the last ODI tour of oz in India.



Well on paper, our side batting order looks quite formidable. But we would have to wait and see how this long batting line up would counter attack the Australian bowling line up. Brett Lee is now just four short of 250 wickets in test cricket. Brad Hogg will have big task to restrict Indian batsmen to score against him. It would interesting how this series will go on. Indian team in fact have played some good cricket in the past by wining test series against WI, RSA and England. I will be keenly following this series and would love to write more on the same.