Why did India win the Mohali Test against Australia during Australia’s tour of India and had to satisfy themselves with a draw against New Zealand? Does this indicate that New Zealand is a better side than the Australia? Or does it portray that Indians did not push hard enough to win against the Kiwis?

The Australian Effect

The Mohali Test match was certainly one of the epic test matches of the decade because India stole the match from the jaws of the mighty Australians. Indian team was among all praises because of the heroics of VVS Laxman. After a month or so India was facing an inexperienced New Zealand side and the match situation was almost similar to the Mohali Test, again Laxman with his second innings blistering knock brought India back in the game with a strong chance of a win but the result was a draw.

The unseen factor behind the Indian win against Australia was the Australian attitude, so does it mean that the famous Indian win had an Australian hand to it? The answer is yes and the fact is Australians play to win at any cost even though it is pretty clear to the World after the recent ashes that they are sore losers. If Ponting wanted, he could have set a defensive field at the latter part of the last day, dragging the test to a draw rather than an attacking field that allowed tail ender Ishant Sharma also to score runs with a motive to get wickets until India won.

Though I do not fancy Australian mindset and attitude too often but I had to convince myself to praise this character of the Kangaroos that it is better to lose trying to win rather than lose trying to square it!. The same is illustrated in the Adelaide Test of India’s tour of Australia 2003-04. Australians mounted 556 in the first innings and collapsed like a pack of cards in the second innings to a mere 196 taking nothing away from a majestic spell by Ajit Agarkar, in an effort to put India to bat before the close of the day with a good target. Ultimately Dravid took India home with some initial hiccups in the run chase.

This dominating spirit of the Australians and the never ending hunger to win, in my words is the Australian effect.

Tags: Australia, Australian Effect, Cricket, India, Mohali Test, New Zealand, Test Match, VVS Laxman