The Melbourne Cricket Test Match ended on the 4th day itself with India putting up a miserable show of impatience, losing to to the Aussies by a whopping 122 runs. Sensible display of cricket from Indian side could have changed the results altogether.
THE INDIANS had two full days to score 292 runs and, if they had proceeded slowly, they could have finished up on the winning side - there was no reason to panic. This was not the shorter version where time is a premium. This was a test match - a match to test one’s patience, stamina, ability to stand tall in the middle and to remain unruffled.
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Unfortunately, our experienced batting line up of stalwarts like Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Gautam Gambhir, VVS Laxman – all failed miserably. They have played in Australia in the past and are quite familiar with the conditions and the expectations from their fans.
But it appeared that they panicked and rightly so, paid the price. They cut a sorry figure and have put India on the back foot again.
Sachin Tendulkar is overburdened with expectations and is desperately trying to achieve his goal of 100 centuries that keeps eluding him. The state of his mind can easily be understood. Every time he approaches the milestone, something happens and he has to begin all over again.
It is for the selectors to decide on whether the time has finally come to induct new blood in the test match squad – there are many young and energetic faces waiting on the sidelines for the call.
