Its Only Cricket

Filed under IndvAus Adelaide 2008

It's utterly important India don't read too much into their win at Perth, that could be a fluke.
It's important Australia make couple of changes to their playing XI - which is never a good sign.

So, in short -- first time in a long time, a touring cricket team has raised question marks over Aussie dominance on test cricket, and if India could win Adelaide test to end the series 2-2, coming from 0-2 behind -- world better starts looking for new champions in test cricket..

Mind you - Border Gawaskar trophy remains with Australia. why? see notes below.

Do you know that TRP rates for the telecast of this 4th test match at Adelaide has doubled. TV channels showing this series will be making more money than they did for previous three tests and only requirement is good test match pitch. Now previewing this India vs Australia fourth test match, I assure every cricket fan that Adelaide is probably the best cricket pitch you can ask for.. some swing, some bounce, some spin & plenty of fours & sixes. 'Oval' used to be the shape of a cricket field, but most grounds around the world are circle today.. not Adelaide, and thus the full name - Adelaide Oval.

Last time India played Australia at Adelaide - they beat'em even though Australia scored 556 runs in first innings. Reason was - run rate. Australia made 400 runs off the first day itself, and Indian team were batting by the middle of Day 2. India too batted well, conceding only 23 run lead & then bowled out Australia in second Innings inside 57 overs. Result - good total of 230 was chased down by India on the last day..

India vs Australia, Adelaide test match score card December 2003.
Australia 556/10 = Ponting 242, Katich 75, Langer 58, Gillespie 48.
India 523/10 = Dravid 233, Laxman 148, Sehwag 47, Chopra 27, Patel 31.
Then,
Australia 196/10 = Steve Waugh 42, Gilchrist 43, Ajit Agarkar 16-2-41-6.
India (target 230), 233/6 = Sehwag 47, Dravid 72, Tendulkar 37, Laxman 32.

Now the question is can India look into Australian team's eyes, challenge they're better than home team & then win this Adelaide test.. we'll know in 5x24=120 hours!!

Notes before start
**When did Perth test match start from the time you are in? subtract 2 & half hours from it and you've the start time of this 4th best match between India and Australia at Adelaide Oval 2008. in figures, 0530am India time, 7pm a day before in Toronto Canada & 4pm in California USA. it will be midnight according to London in England when Australia and India began their last test match of 2008 series.
**Did you notice the intentional slow over by Australian team in the 3rd test match. Itsonlycricket did note it, and so did the ICC match referee. Result - Ricky Ponting was give a 20% match fee panelty and 10% to all his team members!
**The norm in all cricket series between two countries who play test series after certain period of time - like Ashes (Eng v Aus), Chappell-Hadley (Aus v NZ) & Border-Gawaskar trophy (Ind v Aus) is that a team has to beat the other to win back the trophy. If latest series ended in a two - the trophy remains with the team who last won it! and since Australia had beaten India in India 2 years ago - they keep this trophy until India beat them either at home or again in Australia when they again arrive downunder in year 2011.

Masha-allah : what a cricketer

Preview : Who's best in tests, Adelaide to test

Day 1 : Century No. 39 for Sachin Tendulkar

Day 2 : India put substantial total on board

Day 3 : India pushes : Australia resists : Draw pops up!

Day 4 - India : Australia : Draw = 2:8:90.

Australia win series, India win hearts