The traditional Test Match blockbusters at the MCG and SCG have come and gone and sadly Australia’s bid at an historic 17 victories on the trot is being lost in a sea of controversy stemming from on-field incidents.News today that Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has been suspended for 3 Tests for racially abusing Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the Sydney Test and the Indian skipper Anil Kumble and team management have been on the front foot in attacking the Australian’s spirit of cricket and the umpiring during the series. One has to wonder however where this sting and fire was on Days Four and Five of the 2nd Test – when despite some ordinary umpiring the Indians let a golden opportunity to win the Test slip through their fingers with a combination of poor effort and attitude when the game was there for the taking.
If a team wants to attack off the field by taking the ‘we were robbed’ mentality then surely you don’t apply stalling tactics in the first session of the Fifth Day when your opposition is only a couple of hundred runs ahead of you on the scoreboard with a full quota of overs remaining. If India had actually tried during that first session to take some wickets and give themselves a decent shot at running down 250-odd in the final two sessions – and then been dudded by umpiring and the Australian’s lack of cricketing spirit – then I for one would have far more sympathy for the sob story they are pedalling in the press today.
If you really want to make a statement do it on the field with your effort – it was there during Days One to Three – so why drop your bundle in a game that would’ve given them a genuine shot at a Test Series win going to Perth 1-1?
Anyway on to the Warne/McGrath Medal votes for the First and Second Tests against India.
FIRST TEST at MCG December 26-30, 2007
5 – Matthew Hayden: for 124 and 47 – his 124 in the 1st Innings set the game up for Australia’s bowlers to put the heat on India straight away.
3- Stuart Clark: for 4/28 and 1/20 – dismissing Dravid, Tendulkar, Yuvraj and Dhoni in the 1st Innings and Laxman in the 2nd.
1 – Adam Gilchrist: for 8 catches for the match and helpful contributions of 23 and 35 – just edged out Phil Jaques’ two half centuries.
SECOND TEST at SCG January 2-6, 2008
5- Andrew Symonds: for 162* and 61 plus 3/51 in India’s 2nd Innings – his 162* gave Australia a score they should never have got near in the 1st Innings and his 61 in the 2nd dig was helpful but the key wickets of Dravid, Yuvraj and Dhoni sealed his Man of the Match gong.
3- Michael Hussey: for 41 and 145* – his 2nd Innings of 145* was arguably more important to Australia winning the game than Symonds’ 162* and his ability to look impenetrable at the crease was a big reason India seemingly gave up on winning the game early on Day Five.
1- Brett Lee: for 5/117 and 2/34 plus 59 and 4* – Busted his gut throughout the Test and looked tired but produced some awesome deliveries to get early breakthroughs for Australia. A very good 59 supporting Symonds also helped his cause to beat out Matt Hayden and his 2nd Innings of 124.
WARNE/McGRATH MEDAL COUNT after Four Tests:
6 Points:Phil Jaques (1+5) & Michael Hussey (3+3).
5 Points: Michael Clarke (5), Matthew Hayden (5), Andrew Symonds (5) & Brett Lee (3+1+1).
3 Points: Stuart Clark (3).
1 Point: Adam Gilchrist (1).
