INDIA IN THE LAND OF THE KANGAROOS
Tags: Australia, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, India, Border Gavaskar Trophy

COUNTDOWN 1— Perth, 2008

Two tests were done, Australia were leading the series 2–0 thus retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with 2 tests remaining. India lost the Boxing Day test at Melbourne, and also lost what was a controversial game at Sydney. The teams met at the WACA, at Perth in a test that began on the 16th of January 2008.

The game at Sydney was controversial in the sense that Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson, the on-field umpires made quite a lot of wrong decisions that ended up going against India, and ensured Australia won that by a massive margin. Even the third umpire made a wrong decision. The match was also infamous for the “Monkey-gate” scandal, where Harbhajan Singh called Andrew Symonds (who survived multiple decisions that the umpires made) a “monkey”, or at least Symonds thought he did, as Harbhajan claimed he used a Punjabi expression that sounded very much like it. The match referee Mike Proctor banned him for 3 matches on the grounds of racism. This had offended the Indians. Even an appeal was made before the New Zealand High Court judge and the ban was reduced. The Indian skipper Anil Kumble had stated after the match: “Only one team played in the spirit of the game”. Such was the build-up before the third test.

Symonds was not given out by the umpires in the Second Test at Sydney

India won the toss for the first time in the series and opted to bat first.

The teams named were:

Chris Rogers of Australia was making his test debut.

DAY 1:

1st Innings:

Jaffer and Sehwag opened for India. Lee and Johnson did not start all that well. The openers made use of it and brought up a 50-run partnership in just 9.2 overs. Sehwag struck 6 boundaries in 16-odd overs he lasted. Johnson brought about his end as he tried cutting the ball, but it edged and went into Gilchrist’s gloves. Lee removed Jaffer 3 overs later, as the ball was edged to Gilchrist again. India were 59–2 after a good start. Dravid and Tendulkar were the new pair at the crease. The duo put together 15 runs to ensure the score was 74–2 when the teams broke for lunch.

About 6 overs after lunch, India brought up the team 100. In a few overs time, the batsmen brought up their 50-run partnership. It took a little more time before the team 150 was brought up in the 47th over of the innings. Sachin brought up his 50 in 91 balls. The duo also brought up a 100-run partnership a little later. Just a little before tea, Dravid too brought up a 95-ball 50. A wicketless session saw India finish on 177–2 at tea.

The Sachin-Dravid duo that helped put together a total for India

Post tea, Tendulkar could score only 12 runs before he was struck on his pads by a delivery from Lee, and saw him playing down the wrong line. Sachin was out for 71, scoring 9 fours in it, and his wicket ended a 139-run partnership. Ganguly joined Dravid at the crease, and in a couple of runs, the team 200 came up. Ganguly scored a couple of boundaries before he was caught by Hussey at backward point. Laxman joined Dravid at the crease with the score reading 214–4. The two batsmen kept the scoreboard moving till Dravid’s 93 (included 14 fours) came to an end as Dravid edged Symonds with a cross-batted stroke to Ponting at cover. A little later, Laxman played a short ball from Lee right into the hands of Tait at mid-off. Dhoni and Irfan saw the day out and India finished on 297–6 at stumps.

DAY 2:

India reached 300 first thing on the 2nd day and Dhoni and Irfan scored some quick runs before Dhoni was pinned by Stuart Clark in front of the stumps for 19. Irfan, Kumble, and RP Singh were dismissed in quick succession as India were bowled out for 330 late in the first session.

2nd Innings:

The Indian pacers started brilliantly thanks to an opening spell from Irfan that reduced Australia to 13–2 in the 4th over. RP Singh too bowled superb lengths as he claimed the wicket of Hussey in the 7th over. The Australians were now 14–3, with Ponting and Clarke in the middle. Both of them took the team to lunch with the score reading 22–3.