Old guard in new battle

Gautam Gambhir waited patiently for his turn as coach Gary Kirsten gave throwdowns to Sachin Tendulkar.

Gautam Gambhir waited patiently for his turn as coach Gary Kirsten gave throwdowns to Sachin Tendulkar. You are next, said Kirsten,after about half-an-hour. Gautam wore his helmet and picked up the bat to move towards the nets. Fifteen minutes later,Gambhir returned to his chair Tendulkar had decided that this was his hour at the nets which meant the left-handers wait was extended.

Eventually,when Tendulkar called it a day,Kirsten signalled to Gambhir with a tired request: Grab a few water bottles on your way here. It was tough to say who of the two Tendulkar or Kirsten was more exhausted. With the batsman keen to practise the drives,pulls,cuts and even the audacious guide over the slip to the rising ball,Kirsten had spent an hour being a bowling machine.

The hard work is expected to bear fruits in the days to come. With Rahul Dravid not in the side,Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh just returning after injury and the young batsmen in the squad not yet earning the Mr. Reliable tag,it is clear India wouldnt want their long-standing Atlas to shrug. In a series that will also see Tendulkar completing 20 years of international cricket,he will once again be the sherpa wholl have the responsibility to guide his team to the top.

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Interestingly,another veteran batsman,Ricky Ponting,will also have a similar burden to shoulder. It was apparent when the Aussie captain entered the arena with his troops later in the afternoon. Considering his recent form,he too will hold the key to this tricky away series,given that not many in the ranks have proven credentials in the sub-continent.

If this is a series between two teams who have toggled on world crickets podium for some time,the fate of the contest could well be decided by two men are at the No.1 and No.3 spots on the list of the highest run-getters in ODIs. But looking at the commitment of two of the oldest pros in the series,it is clear that the complacency of achieving a feat hasnt crossed their minds.

Looking at the bowlers that the two will be facing gives another perspective about the series. While Tendulkar will be facing a pace battery that has enjoyed several highs recently,Ponting will be padding up against the speedsters who havent been among the wickets. The attack comprising Brett Lee,Peter Siddle,Mitchell Johnson,Shane Watson and James Hopes cant be taken casually.

However,Ponting will be wary of at least one bowler in Team India ranks. The Australian skipper has a past when it comes to facing Harbhajan Singh in Indian conditions,and being a No 3 batsman thats an eventuality he cant avoid. The Aussie skippers long sessions against the slow bowlers since he landed in India prove he is ready for the challenge. In a state that still practises prohibition,this India-Australia series is all about old wine in new bottle.

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