The more things change, the more they remain the same..

So in a little under four days, the Indian team is back on familiar territory. At the end of the first test in an away series outside of the subcontinent, they find themselves 0-1 down. And the pattern of their defeat is strikingly similar to many in the past i.e. the bowlers keeping them in the hunt throughout only for the batsmen to squander away the chance. And here in Melbourne, it happened not once, but in both innings.

Can India bounce back after this ? I think it can. They have got the most difficult part of the series out of the way. The first test has always been a stumbling block for the Indians. And this time, like the last, it was at their least favourite venue. India now has lost its last 5 tests at the MCG (from 1991-92 onwards). So MSD and his men would want to believe that things can only get better from here. If one were to look at the entire match, the first sessions on Day 3 and 4 turned out to be key ones. One over before the end of day 2, India were 214/2, just 119 behind. This was as good a position as they will ever get. From there to be all out of 282 was criminal, especially against a team like Australia who, irrespective of the quality of their team, do not give you a second chance. Surprise surprise, the Australians actually gave us a second chance, by being 27/4 and then 166/8 in their second innings. But what I saw early today morning was absolutely baffling. The No. 10 batsmen James Pattinson looked around and saw a deep extra cover, deep point etc. He would have felt he was a No. 3 batsman at 150*. Once the Australians escaped from jail a second time, the match was as good as over as our batting came apart in the second innings. While I am not an expert on batting technique, there are a couple of things I obseved. Gautam Gambhir tends to poke at those short ones outside the off, possibly as an effect of one-day cricket where he so loves to just tap it on the off side and take a single. But in a Test match in Australia, the bounce ensures that the ball goes to the slips. His manner of dismissal was similar in both games, just that today, he got a much better ball. Then there is VVS Laxman. For a person as experienced as him to score 2 of 21 and 1 of 14 balls betrayed a lack of form. I think he tends to stay on the backfoot far too much at the start of the innings (ever remember a Laxman straight drive ?). And with the ball on a full length and at pace, he becomes vulnerable, in my opinion.  He goes to his favourite venue, the SCG now and must be hoping for a big one there. Kohli can be excused since this is his first experience of Australian conditions. What was encouraging, though, was to see Ishant and Ashwin put a price on their wicket and score some runs.

Now onto the positives. I mentioned in my pre-series post that a lot will depend on the fitness and form of Zaheer and Ishant. And they have made a very good Test match comeback. Hopefully, they will keep that fitness for the remainder of the series. I mentioned that Umesh Yadav would provide decent backup but he turned out to be India's find of the game. He is a big lad with broad shoulders and seems to get good pace and bounce. The speed gun was not shown on Star Cricket but I have read that he was regularly clocking 145kmph. In Zaheer, Ishant and Yadav, India have a very good attack capable of paying back the Aussies in their own coin should they prepare fast tracks in places like Perth. And while Ashwin was below par in the game, especially in the 2nd innings where, from the little I saw of the innings, he bowled too short. He should get much better as the series progresses, starting with the spinner-friendly track at Sydney.

To sum up, while the result was not what India wanted, the series is still not over yet. The Australian top order looks vulnerable against Zaheer and co. and India need to make early inroads in every innings. And most importantly, the batsmen need to step up to the task. Personally, I do not see any changes happening for the New Year test. Rohit in place of Kohli might be one option but may not change things that much.

Happy New Year to everyone !!

Cheers
Amit