Boxing Day Test Match…………Aussies pack a punch

I know it’s a bit late and there’s no point taking skeletons out of the closet but can’t help writing this. It was a déjà vu feeling going into the MCG on Boxing Day (26th December) this year and no surprises as I witnessed the Boxing Day test match between India and Australia at the same venue back in 2003. Things did change drastically over these four years with the MCG getting a facelift and the Australian cricket team not having the likes of Gillespie, Warne, Langer in the playing eleven this summer.

Instead of the all five days of the test match I restricted myself to only the first day of cricket, almost sensing a shoddy performance from the Indian team. The first day started well with a terrific battle between bat and ball. Zaheer Khan swung the ball either ways and had the opening pair of Jaques and Hayden in all sorts of trouble but the Aussies did what they know best, attack. If it hadn’t been the experience of Kumble Australia were looking to post a total of 500 plus but the day ended with the Aussies nine wickets down for 340 odd runs. Taking back the train home that evening all I could think was, “what a fight back by India”, with the Aussies scoring 111 runs for no wickets till lunch, Indians came back and claimed nine wickets in the last two sessions. What happened in the next four days is a shame and a pain to write about.

It is not funny when they say, history repeats itself. Back in 2003 the Indian team started day one of the Boxing day test flying high with Sehwag scoring a blazing 195 runs. What happened in the next four days was no different than in 2007. Enough has been written in the press about technique, under preparation, strategy, etc of the Indian team going into the test match which eventually led to their failure. What about the millions of dollars earned by BCCI, salaries to BCCI officials and coaches, contract money to players??? If we expect the team to perform, is that a crime? Where is the bloody accountability? “Every time we go out there, we try to perform at our best”…..this bullshit shouldn’t be accepted anymore.

I got a bit lucky this time or call it my intuitive best that I bought (for AUD $35) tickets to watch only the first day of cricket unlike in 2003 wherein I bought for all five days. The point I am making here is that we as Indian cricket team supporters are spending all this money and time to watch a bunch of players who lack not only intent but skills to compete at this level. How can you justify presence of a player like Dravid who hasn’t played a noticeable innings in past 1 year or for that matter Wasim Jaffer who is best at scoring runs on placid pitches.

Don’t fool the common people by winning a stupid competition like a Twenty20 world cup and declaring yourself as world champion. Play consistent and entertaining cricket and then no matter if the team loses or wins, fans will surely support them across the world. For the moment, I’ve taken a vow not to spend money to go see a cricket match involving Indian cricket team. And what to say about the Aussie team…..you guys deserve to be the world champions.