da winzada777： Capitalising upon the opportunities afforded them by a significantimprovement in Melbourne’s weather, it was two players at oppositeends of the Test cricketing spectrum who emerged as the stars on amagical day three of the Second Test between
John Polack28-Dec-1999Capitalising upon the opportunities afforded them by a significantimprovement in Melbourne’s weather, it was two players at oppositeends of the Test cricketing spectrum who emerged as the stars on amagical day three of the Second Test between Australia and India atthe Melbourne Cricket Ground today. In his first Test, paceman BrettLee dramatically provided the spark on another brilliant day for thehome team and in response, Sachin Tendulkar composed a gloriousinnings amid the sheer wreckage of India’s first innings score of 235in response to the home team’s 405.On a day when the quality of Melbourne’s weather finally reached theverge of acceptability for Test cricket, so this turn for the betterwas indeed replicated by a considerable improvement in both the amountand the general quality of the cricket which was played.Almost immediately, the pitch again showed itself to be on thecapricious side, and the opening passages of the morning’s playbelonged almost exclusively to India as a result. In conditionsconducive to swing bowling, Javagal Srinath (4/130) beat the edge ofthe bat at least twice in the first over of the day, and similarlyfalse strokes were n frequent evidence as the first half hourunfolded. That Adam Gilchrist (78), Ricky Ponting (67) and ShaneWarne (2) were all forced to beat a hasty retreat back to the pavilionrepresented the ultimate confirmation of this pattern.But for the next seven captivating hours, matters did not so easilyfall India’s way. Indeed, the tourists’ aspirations of finally comingout on top at the end of a day’s cricket in this series were more thanadequately stymied from the moment that Lee (27) entered a Test arenafor the first time to indulge in an unexpected, ungainly and effectivehalf century stand for the ninth wicket with Damien Fleming (31*).Fleming again underlined the notion that he is gradually on theimprove as a Test batsman, while Lee overcame some early nerves to hitout forcefully.Although its effect was unlikely to have been greatly consequential,there was then time for another curious umpiring decision. UmpireDavid Shepherd ruled Glenn McGrath (1) to be run out even though ithad appeared that Tendulkar had dislodged the bails before an incomingthrow from Hrishikesh Kanitkar at cover hit the stumps at the bowler’send.This then set the stage for a nerve jangling 28 minutes of batting forthe Indians in the lead-up to the lunch adjournment. And, whilst VVSLaxman (5) and Sadagoppan Ramesh (4) did not experience too manytremors in that time, disaster for the tourists – and utter jubilationfor Lee (5/44) – duly ensued when the New South Wales speedsterpitched only his fourth ever delivery at Test level on an impeccablelength and induced the latter to inside edge it into his stumps.Matters became even more auspicious for Lee after he was switched tothe Members’ End for a second spell in mid-afternoon. It was then thatRahul Dravid (9) gifted him another wicket in his fifth over with ahalf-slash, half-cut at a short delivery which held its line wideoutside the off stump. Around two wickets to McGrath and a dubious lbwdecision which afforded Warne his 350th Test wicket, it was Lee’sthird spell (and more specifically, the fifth over of it) which thenapplied the icing to his by now delicious cake. Forty minutes beforestumps, the paceman spectacularly reduced the chasm between ambitionand reality with three breakthroughs in one over. India plunged from5/167 to 8/169 in the space of six balls before a rapturousaudience. The off stump of Mannava Prasad (6) was lost to a thunderingfull toss, Ajit Agarkar (0) was trapped lbw for his second successivegolden duck by a fierce inswinging yorker, and then Javagal Srinath(1) parried a ball torridly aimed at his throat into the gully.Somewhat unsurpisingly, it was yet again the brilliant Tendulkar (116)who was answering the unenviable call to shore up India’s battereddefences in the meantime. After an engrossing battle with abouncer-hungry McGrath had kept him subdued through the early part ofhis stay, he gradually began to increase his scoring rate with anumber of beautifully crafted strokes. Of these, none was moreoutrageously brilliant than a superb lofted off drive from Warne whichsailed well over the fence and into the midst of a delighted Indianthrong sitting in the lower reaches of the Southern Stand. But eitherside of that stroke, there were many to please the eye. Quite simply,his sense of assurance and sheer range of shots against an adroitlyrotated attack were perfectly applied in these hostile circumstances.In the course of registering a chanceless hundred (his 22nd of alltime, his fifth against Australia and his first at this venue), henever seemed ill at ease and he played shots to all parts of theground. He was probably never more at home than when he was drivinginto and through the covers – and he did so in both a forthrightmanner and on a serial basis until the moment in the shadow of stumpsat which he skied a hook to Justin Langer at deep backward square legoff the bowling of Fleming.As he began to lose support with rapidity at the other end, so he hadopened his shoulders and toyed with the bowling to maintain the strikein even more emphatic style, some of his straight driving and pullingespecially audacious. In this mindset, the use of his feet and thesheer craftsmanship of his batting were a pure joy to behold. Thisstood in complete contrast to the efforts of most of his battingteammates, whose inability to command him the support he deservedregrettably left a considerable amount to be desired.