Filed under Ind v Aus-Melbourne test

It was new, strange, but heartening to watch Captain Kumble talk so enigmatically to Gautam Gambhir & Murali Karthik at the end of last test match India played (3rd test vs Pak).

Result : Gautam Gambhir & Murali Karthik not making this 2008 tour downunder. That day, for sure, captain had given Gambhir & Murali the lesson of sacrifices & struggles a cricketer must do before playing test cricket for India.. but the truth is - sacrifices & struggles increase as you regularly play for your country..

Ask Rahul Dravid! we called him "Captain Courages" for the wicket-keeping, slogging, bowling & captaining he did for Indian team. Even today, when Yuvraj Singh is forcing into Indian test team - Rahul has agreed to sacrifice number 3 and open for India!

Fact : Rahul Dravid has, so far, opened in 8 test matches (13 innings) before this Boxing test match. ave = 33.54, highest 128* whereas his overall career has ave = 55.97 with best of 270.!

Another (debatable) fact is : Dravid, presently, doesn't appear as fluent as he is known for. Post captainship, Rahul has, so far, struggled to absorb the time in the middle & goes impatient. (his scores against Pakistan = 38 & 34, 50 & 8 and 19 & 42). To tell the truth, its good to have a batsman open for you who's full of experience but missing the tough of smashing boundaries! Such batsmen, nearly always, find a way to stick to the wicket & defend lots of balls.

With the batting lineup India has, next 5 batsman (Laxman, Sachin, Sourav, Yuvraj & Dhoni) will ask nothing more but to play their shots with rock-solid Dravid at the opposite end. While playing in Australia, making runs isn't a problem for India - negotiating enough overs is! If Dravid can play out 30 odd overs (180 balls) every time India goes in to bat in this 4 test match series, even if he scores 50 runs (strike rate = 28)... Indian team should be able to play over 100 overs everytime & thus, post a satisfactory total on board!

One last test of Dhoni's abilities!

Preview : It's time India wakes up, & early.

Not another brick, but the WALL himself

Day 1 : In-form Indians gallop first 9 wickets

Day 2 : Great Indian batting collapse, revisits..

Day 3 : Aus bets famous Indian bats - Target 499.

Indians blown away at Melbourne, series 1-0.