2-0 down already and now India step out in front of 90,000 fans at a ground where they have lost five consecutive Tests, all of them convincingly. Melbourne is traditionally a bowler's wicket where draws are rare. It won't be a case of hoping Vijay, Dhawan, Pujara and Kohli rack up 500+ runs and cling on. India's attack must fire on all cylinders or face another defeat.
Four years ago, scoring became harder and harder each day until Pattinson, Hilfenhaus and Siddle wore down the formidable Indian line-up of Gambhir, Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman and a young Kohli for a second time inside four days. In 2007, the margin was a hefty 337 runs. Phil Jaques and Matthew Hayden almost beat India on their own. Mitchell Johnson's Test career was in its infancy but his second innings 3-21 played a major part alongside Brett Lee and Stuart Clark. A four-man India attack was pretty toothless by contrast, a situation which looks set to be repeated this week in 2014.
Back in time to 2003 and Boxing Day belonged to Virender Sehwag. His 195 gave India a great start but he had poor support. Steve Waugh's side boasted a fantastic side and Hayden (136) and Ricky Ponting (257) flayed Agarkar, Nehra and Zaheer Khan to all parts. Despite the absence of Warne, McGrath and Gillespie, the Aussies restricted Ganguly's men to 286 before Hayden and Ponting knocked off the 95 needed on the final morning.
In 1999, the home team were again favourites. The weather as much as India's attack slowed the green baggies down on dates 1 and 2 but they passed 400. More than could be said for India. Only captain Sachin Tendulkar looked defiant, his 116 providing almost half the side's total. At the other end, debutant Brett Lee and McGrath wreaked havoc. Soon Waugh declared to leave India two days to make 376. Rain threatened to save them but Lee, Fleming and Mark Waugh did more enough to win.
In 1991 Bruce Reid took 6-66 and 6-60 to spark that five-match MCG losing streak. However, six years earlier India had been on topics. Only Allan Border's 163 and the weather staved off an unlikely loss. Back in 1981 Australia were in transition and had list the Ashes the previous summer. Glen Chappell led the side and Border's century set up a large first innings lead. A 165-run opening stand between Chauhan and Gavaskar put India back into the match but Australia needed only 143 to win. Enter Kapil Dev. Bowling second-change, he claimed 5-28 and the opposition was skittled for 83.
Somehow I can't see India repeating the feat this Christmas. A restored Bhuvi Kumar and Ishant Sharma will have to keep Warner and Smith quiet. Twice. India are notoriously poor tourists and an Aussie whitewash looks almost inevitable.
Showing posts with label Boxing Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boxing Day. Show all posts
Thursday, 25 December 2014
Sunday, 25 December 2011
Happy Christmas Cricket!
Cricket may have evolved into a year-long merry-go-round of Test, ODI and T20 series, interspersed with struggling domestic competitions and tedious marathon franchise-led big bash bosh tournaments, but Christmas Day seems to have evaded the international schedule. Not so, Boxing Day, with its modern tradition of Test matches at Melbourne and, more years than not, Durban.
This December 26th, South Africa welcome Sri Lanka hoping to improve their recent poor record in Boxing Day Tests. Last year they came a cropper against India thanks to Laxman's runs and Harbajhan Singh's wickets, although dependable Dale Steyn took 6-50 in the first innings. In 2009, Cook and Bell helped themselves to hundreds as England destroyed their hosts by an innings, practising for their Ashes success the following winter when Trott's patient unbeaten 168 and Graeme Swann's nine wickets earned them a crushing win in Australia. Even West Indies beat Graeme Smith's men in 2007 but they were in fine fettle against India in 2006 and the Aussies in 2008, when Ricky Ponting's 101 not out and 99 were overshadowed by Steyn's 10-wicket haul and 76 runs.
Australia have fonder memories of their last Boxing Day encounter with India in 2007, bowling them out twice for under 200, while two years later, Shane Watson scooped more than that on his own as his team beat Pakistan by 170 runs. Between 2000 and 2007, the Aussies won every Boxing Day Test at the MCG, most of them pretty emphatically. In particular, Matthew Hayden seemed to have been routinely spurred to great heights in the festive season. He reached three figures in an innings five years out of six between 2001 and 2006. Ricky Ponting often enjoys a post-Christmas century, peaking eight years ago with a 257 against India. How he could do with another right now! The previous December, team-mate Justin Langer also compiled 250 in an Ashes triumph.
For South Africa, Jacques Kallis made it three consecutive Boxing Day hundreds in 2004, having fallen one short in 2001! Bowlers have had less notable success at this time of the year. Sri Lanka have played only three Boxing Day Tests in the past 11 years, but inevitably Murali plundered 29 wickets! Admittedly two fixtures were against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh , but you can't keep a good man down! In 2007, there were elements of last week's Pakistani encounter, as Shakib al Hasan claimed 122, six wickets and the Man of the Match award, while losing to Murali and co. New Zealand haven't started a Test on 26th December since 2003, when they were undone by Shoaib Akhtar's pace, and Jason Gillespie's nine wickets helped Australia to a 352-run slaughter of the Windies in 2000.
At least history is on the side of a clear result in the approaching Test encounters. Of the 24 Boxing Day matches played since 2000, only two have been drawn, testament perhaps to Aussie dominance but also a sign that the weather gods also shine benevolently on Christmas pitches.
So who will emerge with an extra Christmas present by the end of December? Monday sees Australia entertain India in Melbourne in the first of four Tests, and that could be a close one. Even with some top batsmen injured or out of form, I reckon the home nation may have the bowling firepower to unnerve the veteran Indian batsmen. I won't even mention S_T_'s hund****h hund**d.... Over at Kingsmead, I really can't see Sri Lanka causing South Africa many problems. The bowling contest looks so one-sided, and the visiting greats Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jayawardene seem to forget how to build an innings these days. Suicidal against Steyn, Philander and Morkel.
Anyway, I hope the players serve up to the fans a feast at least as good as the meal they may well have enjoyed over the weekend. Happy Christmas - and Boxing Day - to all!
This December 26th, South Africa welcome Sri Lanka hoping to improve their recent poor record in Boxing Day Tests. Last year they came a cropper against India thanks to Laxman's runs and Harbajhan Singh's wickets, although dependable Dale Steyn took 6-50 in the first innings. In 2009, Cook and Bell helped themselves to hundreds as England destroyed their hosts by an innings, practising for their Ashes success the following winter when Trott's patient unbeaten 168 and Graeme Swann's nine wickets earned them a crushing win in Australia. Even West Indies beat Graeme Smith's men in 2007 but they were in fine fettle against India in 2006 and the Aussies in 2008, when Ricky Ponting's 101 not out and 99 were overshadowed by Steyn's 10-wicket haul and 76 runs.
Australia have fonder memories of their last Boxing Day encounter with India in 2007, bowling them out twice for under 200, while two years later, Shane Watson scooped more than that on his own as his team beat Pakistan by 170 runs. Between 2000 and 2007, the Aussies won every Boxing Day Test at the MCG, most of them pretty emphatically. In particular, Matthew Hayden seemed to have been routinely spurred to great heights in the festive season. He reached three figures in an innings five years out of six between 2001 and 2006. Ricky Ponting often enjoys a post-Christmas century, peaking eight years ago with a 257 against India. How he could do with another right now! The previous December, team-mate Justin Langer also compiled 250 in an Ashes triumph.
For South Africa, Jacques Kallis made it three consecutive Boxing Day hundreds in 2004, having fallen one short in 2001! Bowlers have had less notable success at this time of the year. Sri Lanka have played only three Boxing Day Tests in the past 11 years, but inevitably Murali plundered 29 wickets! Admittedly two fixtures were against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh , but you can't keep a good man down! In 2007, there were elements of last week's Pakistani encounter, as Shakib al Hasan claimed 122, six wickets and the Man of the Match award, while losing to Murali and co. New Zealand haven't started a Test on 26th December since 2003, when they were undone by Shoaib Akhtar's pace, and Jason Gillespie's nine wickets helped Australia to a 352-run slaughter of the Windies in 2000.
At least history is on the side of a clear result in the approaching Test encounters. Of the 24 Boxing Day matches played since 2000, only two have been drawn, testament perhaps to Aussie dominance but also a sign that the weather gods also shine benevolently on Christmas pitches.
So who will emerge with an extra Christmas present by the end of December? Monday sees Australia entertain India in Melbourne in the first of four Tests, and that could be a close one. Even with some top batsmen injured or out of form, I reckon the home nation may have the bowling firepower to unnerve the veteran Indian batsmen. I won't even mention S_T_'s hund****h hund**d.... Over at Kingsmead, I really can't see Sri Lanka causing South Africa many problems. The bowling contest looks so one-sided, and the visiting greats Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jayawardene seem to forget how to build an innings these days. Suicidal against Steyn, Philander and Morkel.
Anyway, I hope the players serve up to the fans a feast at least as good as the meal they may well have enjoyed over the weekend. Happy Christmas - and Boxing Day - to all!
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