The Power of Positive Play

You might have already seen all sports page headlines or in India front page headlines about the superb innings of Very Very Special Laxman. It is a sensational innings under pressure, there are absolutely no two ways about it. This is the kind of positive play we had been waiting for to take the message to Australia that we mean business, not by Harbhajan Singh’s press conference that “we are here to win the test series”. This innings can change the fortune of India in the ongoing test series if they can hang on to the advantage for two more sessions.

Let me come back to Laxman’s innings again. The best thing about this innings is the pace of the innings. Mind you; had the strike rate been 50, still the innings would have been top class. But what a strike rate of 77 at the top of the innings has done is that it has bought time for India. More importantly, it could let Rahul Dravid do all kind of mental experiments out there. He got time to reinvent himself a little bit in the middle. That is why I have been shouting for Sehwag. Dravid’s half century is equally important in the context of the test match, even if it was tortuous to watch a batsman of his caliber scrape so much for each run. Hopefully, he has re-gathered his thinking process and ready to shine from the next innings onwards.

Dravid’s batting is the first benefit India got from Laxman’s positive play. Second thing is India has a healthy run rate and time on its side to dominate the test match provided Sachin and Sourav make this opportunity count. Both are looking positive and we need a little bit of luck. If they can put another hundred runs on the board without loosing any more wicket, it will be fun to watch Australian body language. If India can at least match Australia’s first innings score, there is every chance of anyone winning the test match weather permitting 5 days play. The reason behind my prediction is that Australia will try to score quickly so that they can have enough time to bundle out India for the second time. And that is where India has a chance of wrapping up the Aussie innings quickly. Indian bowling has proved twice in two test matches that they can take ten wickets.

Ricky Ponting, the world’s best batsman at the moment has a fine battle going on with Harbhajan. By taking Ponting’s wicket twice in two tests, Harbhajan has created just enough doubt in Ponting’s mind to add spice to the battle. Knowing Aussie nature Ponting will try to dominate Harbhajan and if we can get Ponting out early the match will be wide open. But these are mere speculations unless India can match Australia’s first innings total. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope for that eluding century from Sachin’s bat in this innings.