Sledgehammer

NAGPUR: In these days of instant SMS jokes, there was one in the morning. “How could Sreesanth drop Andrew Symonds? Because he was glaring at the batsman and not the ball.”

Going by the reports emanating from Australia, one thought the mercurial and volatile Indian bowler has unsettled the Aussies with his pent-up fury and aggro. But it was the Indians rather than the Aussies, read Symonds, who looked unsettled on Sunday.

The only time one could see emotion on Andrew Symonds’ face was when he reached his century. He jumped like a child, punching the air and raised his bat towards the dressing room.

During the rest of his 139-minute knock he was ice cool, focused and composed. Interestingly enough Sreesanth was one of the few Indians who went up to him to congratulate the 32-year-old Queenslander after his innings which was a heady mix of poise, purpose and power. There was little doubt as to who deserved the Man-of-the-Match.

Symonds and Matthew Hayden are known to be partners when fishing. On Sunday Hayden sat out because of an injury and Symonds ensured that the absence of the burly opener, who has been a thorn in India’s flesh in the series, was not felt by his team. The only damage Symonds may have done to Hayden was by overtaking him as the prime candidate for the man of the series award. Hayden may not complain.

But few can question if Symonds walks away with the award finally in Mumbai. Scores of 7, 87, 89, 70 and 107 not out are not about consistency but about domination. Few Australian batsmen have dominated the Indian attack, including skipper Ricky Ponting (barring, of course, Hayden), the way Symonds has done. He has been India’s chief tormentor.

“He was the difference. Not just in the match but in the series too,” said the Aussie skipper.  Symonds has taken over the mantle of a finisher in the Australian team which was earlier worn by Michael Bevan.

Though, Bevan was not as aggressive as the Birmingham-born Aussie. “Symonds is a perfect finisher like Bevan but with much more power and effect,” says Michael Slater, a former Australian opener.

Not for nothing, Ponting insisted on taking even a semi-fit Symonds to the West Indies for their World Cup defense. “Andrew has been doing the job more consistently than he was five years ago. He works hard and values his wicket,” said Ponting.

At the VCA Stadium, Symonds resembled a warrior, wielding the willow like a sword, hitting, driving, cutting and lofting with ridiculous ease while treating the Indian bowling like a club attack.

After the lucky escape from Sreesanth when he mistimed a sweep off Harbhajan Singh when he was only 2, he settled down to build his innings. Initially he was chipping and charging while hitting an occasional boundary. But after he crossed fifty, the big man went for the big shots.

His power and pugnacity could be gauged from the fact that his second 50 came only off 28 balls with four fours and three sixes. A six off Murali Kartik, the best among the Indian bowlers on Sunday, cleared the sprawling VCA complex forcing the umpires to look for another ball. His 107 came off only 88 balls with nine fours and four sixes with an awesome strike rate of 121.9.

If that was all not enough, Symonds came back to torment India further. Turning his arm around, he emerged the most economical bowler among the Aussies, conceding only 39 runs in his 10 overs. Could a captain ask for more?