MCG Test: Kumble triggers Australian collapse
Indian captain Anil Kumble splintered Australian hopes of amassing a mammoth total by claiming five wickets on Day 1 to leave the hosts perilously placed at 337/9 at stumps. The marvelous bowling effort prompted the opposition to crumple from strong positions.
Matthew Hayden (124) struck his 28th century in his typical belligerent approach, to lead his team to an authoritative position, gaining able support from fellow opener Phil Jaques (66) and lower-middle order batsmen. None of the other Australian batsmen surpassed the half-century milestone.
Stuart Clark was unbeaten on 21 runs from 17 balls as he and fellow tailender Mitchell Johnson (10) encountered the final overs to see out the day on a flat, but deteriorating pitch. Zaheer Khan (3/93), RP Singh (1/77) and Harbhajan Singh (0/61) plugged away and bestowed huge support to captain Kumble (5/84).
Hayden was eventually dismissed in the 63rd over when he spooned a Zaheer Khan delivery to Sourav Ganguly at mid-on for a simple catch, leaving Australia at 241-5.
The demanding Indians had to wait until the 34th over to assert the initial breakthrough when Kumble dismissed Jaques to end the 135-run partnership between the Australian openers. The young left-hander surmounted a wobbly start to smash a half-century before stepping down the wicket to a flighted Kumble delivery, stumped by wicket-keeper Dhoni. Jaques’ 108-ball knock featured eight glorious boundaries.
Australia went into lunch at a comfortable 111/0. After combining with Jaques for a steady first-wicket stand, Hayden brought up his century when he cracked an R. P. Singh ball to the boundary in the 43rd over. The century was his 19th scored in Australia, surpassing Donald Bradman and Ponting with 18 each.
Principal scalpsRicky Ponting and Michael Hussey have formulated a fearsome number three and four in the batting order over the past few seasons, and are likely to create a huge impact in the four-Test series against India. In what was doubtlessly the turning point of the first day’s play, the visitors snapped the two premier batsmen in the space of just four deliveries.
Ponting managed just four runs before he was bowled by paceman Khan in the 39th over, ushering Hussey to the crease. Hussey faced three balls and scored two runs when he became Kumble's second dismissal, trapped LBW in the 40th over with the score at 165-3.
Post-Tea session
The dismissals brought Michael Clarke (20) to the crease who shared a 60-run partnership for the fourth-wicket with Hayden. The latter continued to play his full array of strokes, refusing to refrain despite the constant fall of wickets at the other end.
Clarke was dismissed when an away-going RP Singh delivery infused an outside edge and the catch was cleanly pounced by VVS Laxman at second slip. The post-Tea session was the most productive one for the Indians – claiming six of the nine wickets to fall right through the day.
Symonds compiled a quickfire 35 off 42 balls, including five boundaries, before he became Kumble's third victim when he mistimed a pull shot and was caught by substitute fielder Dinesh Karthik at mid-on with the total at 281-6.
Gilchrist followed shortly after, caught by Sachin Tendulkar off Kumble, and Lee was sent packing for a duck off Kumble's 19th over of the day. Brad Hogg (17) was caught by Rahul Dravid off Khan at first slip. The Australians were in totters at 312/9 at the juncture. During the closing stages, Clark and Johnson frustrated the visitors courtesy of 25-run unbeaten stand.
The Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is a ritual with at least 70 to 80 thousand people turning out to watch high-quality cricket a day after Christmas. Ricky Ponting was unhesitant concerning his choice after winning the toss – “We will have a bat, mate,” he said with utter conviction.
Ponting’s verdict was centered on three basic factors – 1) Batting last at the MCG is a tricky undertaking, 2) Totals in excess of 500 have become a norm over the last two seasons, 3) The opposition had picked two spinners in the playing XI.
The first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is associated with specifics that make the occasion all the more special –1) It was the 100th Test match at the oldest venue (for international cricket) in the sport,2) Former India captain Sourav Ganguly made his 100th appearance, 3) The hosts had achieved fourteen victories on the trot prior to the start of the MCG Test.
Ganguly joins Dilip Vengsarkar, Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid in an elite group of Indian players to make 100 Test appearances.
India has never won a series in Australia, but is buoyed by recent wins against England and Pakistan, and is looking to better its effort after drawing the Test series during the ’03-’04 tour Down Under.