Come October, the World's #1 ranked test team play a disproportionately short test series (due to lack of fixture space) that would redeem their status as the best in the world. Having clinched the top of the board slot at the beginning of the year, India silenced critics (me included) who were questioning their status, by winning against Sri Lanka at home, and holding contender's South Africa to a draw after conceding early in a two match series (After clearing space for two tests in a schedule of 5 odis and zero tests, surprisingly). And of late they held Sri Lanka in their own backyard in a series played for most part without the substantial Muthiah Muralitharan. They now enjoy a healthy, i dunno, 7 i think, point lead over second place South Africa. India are riding the bubble.
But the story is different in the opposite camp. After literally owning the #1 spot for almost the whole decade, Australia now are a mediocre 4th in the points table. And it is very well reflective of their performances in the recent past. The Ashes slipped away in 2009, mustered up a couple of victories against lower ranked teams, before recently managing to only level their two test series in England vs Pakistan, the second of which exposed the cracks in the line up pretty clearly when getting skittled out for a paltry 88.
India has always been a tricky place for the Australian touring party, having had only one series victory in a 50 year period in 2005, in a 4 match series led by Adam Gilchrist ( don't i just love saying that...!!!). But nonetheless, there was always high levels of energy and optimism in their camp regardless of history, which took a severe beating in their previous tour here in the October of 2008. Their expectations are expectedly much lower this time, evidenced by their captain Ricky Ponting's displeasure at the timing of the series vis-a-vis next year's Australian Ashes. The mood of the Indian viewer reflect the same sentiments. For the past decade i have, as have many of you, noticed the uncertainty expressed by fans over India's chances against the Australians amid the high fervour and support for the Indian team. This time around, it's very much different, something almost visibly vibrant. Whether it is confidence of India's ability, or over the fall of Oz's supremacy, local expectations and anticipations are sky high. Anything other than a 2-0 victory would be a disappointment, judging the mood. What a change from just a couple of years ago...!!!
Analysing the team strength too would give a clear verdict. Openers Sehwag/Gambhir vs Watson/Katich clearly gives the Indians the hand at least for firepower. Dravid vs Ponting too would go to Dravid going by Ponting's lean run. Tendulkar vs Clarke is a no-contest. Raina vs North cannot be judged just as for Dhoni vs Haddin. It is in the bowling department that Australia will hope to scuffle India's strengths. But on subcontinental wickets, it too remains to be seen. Johnson and Bollinger will have to sweat it out as will Ishant Sharma for India, while Hilfenhaus will try to put best use of the early overs. Most Importantly, India rate over the opponents in the spin department (Hauritz/North vs Harbhajan/Ojha), and come day 4, a lot will matter regards this. Lastly, individual confidence levels will rise high over their counterparts quite surely, and one can expect a domineering performance from the home side. It has never been so much of an Advantage Men in Blue ( ok white..). The only thing that India should pay extra care now is, well Yuvraj's axing reminded me of it, fitness. About time the Saurashtrian Pujara got to share the dressing room. With three IPL teams in the ongoing Airtel Champions League,it would be a setback of sorts for a big gun to develop a problem. One has to pay extra care to that.
In the One-Day department, Australia gave India an unexpected eye-opener in their last series here last year. India with the clearly stronger side failed to produce the goods. It was an injury hit series for both sides, but the Australian's pulled themselves together to upset India 4-2 (well, it was an upset, accept it. It's strange to call an Australian victory so, but that series was. Due to the confidence put up by channels before it). Three ODIs this time. India wouldn't be repeating the same this time one feels, with Australia having taken a beating at England's hands in that too.
It may be a very short tour,but its importance cannot be underestimated. It is a tour that will provide an indication to the tilting power balance in cricket. It is important for both teams keeping next year's 'real' world cup in mind. The onus is now on India to stamp their authority on world cricket other than on sponsorship and viewership terms. And all sides point that they will emerge on top very surely this time. Apropos the title, this series will be a testimony to India's claim to be the top gun in test cricket.
It's a shame that a series of such magnitude is so short. Blast...!!!
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