The result of the game last night only served to heighten the interest in the remainder of the VB Series. Although it was victory to Australia, the scoreline was still not emphatic. Throughout the Test and the current ODI series, neither team has been able to assert any superiority over the other. Both teams have been in positions to dominate a game, but neither have been able to maintain that advantage long enough to gain a command of the opposition. Last night’s ODI was no different. India, without its formidable opening batting combination of Sehwag and Tendulkar, still produced a score which was very defendable. Laxman continued his golden Aussie summer, while Yuvraj proved, at least in this game, that his talents were more than just showmanship. On a good wicket and having to bowl first, I was hoping we could contain India’s total to 275. The end total was higher than expected, but certainly not out of reach. I was pleased with the efforts of Brett Lee who has been the subject of much media speculation. It is the sort of game result he needs to boost his return to the ‘big time’. Since returning from injury, he has been making steady, if unspectacular progress in the unforgiving world of international cricket. While I am a person who is concerned about the ‘process’ and not results, Brett’s personality is one where results help drive his enjoyment and fun when on ‘stage’. And when he begins to really enjoy himself, look out! Since Christmas his ability to enjoy himself has been sapped by abnormal physical and mental strains. These are gradually being put behind him — he is beginning to ‘buzz’ in and around the dressing rooms again which is a pleasing sign for not only the remainder of this series, but as we head towards Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, the ICC Tournament in the UK and on to India for the Test series. Jason Gillespie, while not quite at his best, was very good support to Brett; however, our second phase bowlers in Andy Bichel and Ian Harvey were both disappointing. Both carried disabilities of a different nature into the game, with Ian very distracted by the death of his state coach, David Hookes. In fact, he relayed to one of his teammates that after the mini-memorial service to Hookes which was just prior to the start of the game, he was unable to shed it from his mind throughout the night. Andy Bichel, Mr Indestructable, was hampered by strained tendons in his knuckles suffered during fielding training on Tuesday. Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke were utilised more as ‘over rate’ bowlers. That is to say, bowlers who are used by the captain to get through overs quickly, mainly to catch up the over rate and allow more freedom of decision making in the hectic pace of the last phase of the game. I was much happier with our fielding defence. We had, and will continue to concentrate on upping our skill execution for the remainder of this tournament. While Mike Young, our American assistant coach, and Tim Nielsen, my second-in-charge, will be the main drivers behind this approach, the person who is instrumental in making this happen in training and onfield is Ricky Ponting. Fielding is one of Ricky’s great skills, but probably one area, apart from slips catching, that he has made a lower priority throughout the Test series. He clearly recognises in himself and across our team, that not only is it an important feature of cricket; but also it is an area which we can gain advantage over all sides we play. For our batting, Matthew Hayden was resting back in Brisbane allowing Simon Katich to play his second ODI for Australia. While his time at the crease was short lived, his time in the ODI team will soon be longer I believe. Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist then demonstrated the wicket and the Indian bowling attack held no fears, scoring at over 7 runs per over for the first ten overs before rain intervened. On resumption, with a Duckworth/Lewis adjusted target of 225 to win from a total of 34 overs, the pair continued at will. Their partnership showed either the original total or the mended one were well within reach. At 1/150 at the beginning of the 22nd over (requiring 75 runs from 78 balls), a trademark strategy of Ganguly’s ‘New Indians’ was employed. Yuvraj took a dive reminiscent of senior English and European football players. While it was obvious to all onfield and off that India wanted to create a break in the momentum of the game, I was disappointed at the length of time it took for the umpires, Ganguly and Yuvraj to concur that he should leave the field. We lost two wickets immediately which in Ganguly’s mind would vindicate his decision. No doubt it suggests to him that he can continue to utilise such a tactic as he has done throughout our various tournaments and series. In fact, Ganguly continued these tactics for the remainder of the night, either personally with boot repair or through bowling changes or field settings. In some quarters, slowing the game down will be viewed as excellent stewardship and true gamesmanship. In other quarters, it will be viewed as not playing the game in its true spirit for which the ICC is strongly opposed. To a viewing public and those who operate broadcast and written media, it is unnecessary and unwanted extension of specific time allocations to the game. I will be very interested to see how the ICC deals with such issues as it is obvious that an increase in the penalty system for such offences is having little or no impact. I can only imagine closed door discussions in the boardroom of broadcasters suggesting that, like tennis many years ago when the tie breaker was introduced to control length of matches, cricket will need to overcome existing time wasting practices; otherwise it will forfeit revenue or coverage or both. (Gameplan)
