Series Down Under

The Boxing day will be witnessing one of the greatest cricketing battles ever. Tickets are increasing at geometric progression at the MCG. All Indians would love to see that 195 figure repeated by Viru again. Quite interestingly, Australia are a much transformed side, very different from the last time India played them in 2008. They will have a different skipper in Michael Clarke. There would be no
Haydens,Langers,Gillys,McGraths,Warnes. The Clarkes,Husseys,Pattinsons,Siddles would be jumping all along the lush green outfield. Clarke will find himself in the same position that Border used to, 26 years back. Clarke is outgoing,aggressive and wants to be a leader. Border was defiant,steely and had to grow into the job. Border did not have to sit in judgement over a Greg Chappel as Clarke might just have to go with Ponting. All eyes would be on the great Punter who is struggling with his willow at the moment. He should feel lucky enough to find a place in the book of selectors. ACB is always impartial and defiant when it came to selection policies.

    On the other hand, India should not find themselves in a worrying position as the squad looks young,energetic,balanced and competitive. If they can beat Oz,then it might well lead to the conclusion that this Indian team will be dominating the world of cricket for atleast the next decade. It will,probably,be the last outing to Australia for the big 3 i.e.Sachin,Dravid,Laxman.They would probably be playing Ponting and Hussey for the last time in their backyard.Ishant Sharma would be raring to have a go at Ponting. If he succeedes in repeating his 2008 heroics, then Ponting might well bid an adieu to the cricketing world. A bit of bounce with movement would do the trick for him. Umesh Yadav will want to be what Ishant was here 4 years ago.

Mine playing 11 for India would be Gambhir,Sehwag,Dravid,Sachin,VVS,Kohli,Dhoni,Ashwin,Zaheer,Ishant,Yadav and for AUS it would be Warner,Cowan,Ponting,Clarke,Hussey,Marsh,Haddin,Pattinson,Siddle,Starc,Hilfenhaus.

This year India are trying to come back from the hammering in England. These wounds take longer to heal, but an Austalian summer is not a bad place to start with.