India-Australia: The rivalry of the decade revisited

Australia and India have produced enthralling cricket since the turn of the millennium, with the Aussies barely keeping their noses in front with a 6-5 scoreline – courtesy Bucknor, if India’s billion conspiracy theorists are to be believed, pun intended. The cricket has been of the highest quality and seen some of the best cricketers the world will ever see compete with each other. It has arguably been the best cricketing rivalry of this decade and comparisons with the Ashes are understandable. Let us tersely recall the exchanges between the two (the current series has not been summarized).

“Operation Final Frontier”
When Steve Waugh’s men landed in India, during the sweltering Indian summer of year 2001, to conquer what Waugh called the Final Frontier, the Indians looked ready to be overrun by the Aussie juggernaut. The marauding Australians won the Mumbai test and series was deferring to the script. But just then there was a legendary twist in the tale, as India had an unlikely hero in V.V.S Laxman in the Calcutta test, who along with Dravid won India a historic test. The Aussies didn’t relent even then and only lost the third test match by the narrowest of margins. What a hammy series that was! It can safely be regarded as one of the best test series ever.

“Under Dog Down Under”
Then, in 2003-04, India, still smarting after their embarrassing defeat at the hands of Australia in the 2003 World Cup final, went to Oz and were presumably dismissed as easy prey for the Aussie team and the bouncy tracks. But it was clear during the rain-curtailed, drawn inaugural test at Brisbane that India weren’t intimidated and their skipper set the tone with a blistering ton. Both teams lost many of their players to injuries before and during the series.  If Australia were sans the workman McGrath and the necromancer Warne, India fielded a raw bowling attack with Zaheer Khan going back after the first test. The batsmen from both sides cashed-in on the depleted bowling attacks (actually lineup would be a more honest term). A commentator famously remarked on air, “It is a very happy world if you are Ricky Ponting,” when Punter plundered a double century during that series. Laxman and Dravid made batting seem like a stroll in the park. India found that the precocious Irfan Pathan was a talent worth betting upon, and Anil Kumble was India’s best bet even abroad. Both sides registered a win each and Steve Waugh bid adieu to international cricket after the Sydney test – perhaps reluctantly – and the SCG crowd gave their hero a deservingly schmaltzy farewell.

“The Conquest”
The Aussies finally conquered the “Final Frontier” after a long hiatus of 35 years in 2005-06, when they won the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2-1. They looked a class apart from the Indians, who appeared ruffled and intimidated by the Aussie bowlers. McGrath was true to his billing and made short work of the Indian top order. On the other hand, Shane Warne produced his best performance against the Indians, who had previously treated him with disdain unlike the batsmen from other teams that afforded him almost a ritualistic respect. Michael Clarke announced his arrival on the international scene with an amazing hundred in the first test at Bangalore, and an incredible 6-9 in the last. However insipid, lopsided the series might have felt, it could have been closer. Yes, if it was not for Damien Martin, supported by a resilient Gillespie, Australia might have lost the Chennai test. Martin deserves a special mention for his effort during the series as he showcased his newly acquired skills against spin bowling. India hung on to the skin of their quivering teeth to clinch a consolation win on a crumbling Wankhede pitch.

We all know what transpired during the recently concluded series down under. There was a lot of end to end stuff. But the million dollar question: will the rivalry register a trough when the remaining greats on both sides hang their boots? Tell us what you think.