Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

When the proceedings of the last day open at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore today, for the Indian fans it would be a whammy. India has never won a match at Bangalore and it would be with a great sense of foreboding anticipation that fans would reach the ground today! Can the Indian team buck the trend?

Let’s check the odds! The ground is behaving rather erratically and the cracks on the pitch have developed into fissures and the ball is not coming to the bat and it is stopping in between so the batsmen have to hurry through the shot.

Now such being the ground scenario the excitement of the kind that unfolded on the last day at Mohali is being anticipated at Bangalore as well. Australia have taken a lead of 185 runs and they still have 3 wickets in hand and if their batsmen are able to hold on to their nerves in the first hour in the morning today and add another 30-40 runs to their score card, we indeed would have a match on our hands.

While the Indian team exalted at the wickets that they got yesterday, they would also be in heart of heart be grappling with the monster of meeting the same fate. For starters, this time around Laxman is not there to hold the innings together, nor is there a Gautam Gambhir at the top of the order. In such a scenario can Sehwag take the control in his hands and blast the way out for his team. We also have two centurions from the previous innings Murali Vijay and the god Sachin Tendulkar.

So, on the face of it we have really an interesting match on our hands. Indian captain is due for a good match performance and he would also be waiting to flex his muscles. Besides, with Suresh Raina in good form, it is hoped that India would not be bangalored but it is Australia who will have the taste of being bangalored. But cricket is a funny game.

Now let’s check the Aussies out. Aussies are not having a world class spinner but they have a Michael Clarke who thrives in such conditions and could turn out to be the dark horse. But the moot point is that Aussies would have to stick to the basics and bowl on stumps. Unless that is done it would be difficult to emerge victorious. Frustration of Ponting against his bowlers in the first innings would be operating at the back of the mind of Ponting. So folks lets play.

Tags: Australia, Bangalore, Chinnaswamy Stadium, Cricket, India, Sports, Test Cricket