Team India have played a total of 15 matches on the Melbourne Cricket Ground. They have won seven encounters of which five victories came under the floodlights.
The next One-day against Australia would be a test of skills, character and cricketing acumen for Dhoni and his band of boys.
Team India have played a total of 15 matches on the Melbourne Cricket Ground. They have won seven encounters of which five victories came under the floodlights. The last three encounters of the Men in Blue on this ground were all against their new top spot rivals Australia. None of which were won by Team India.
The last time Indian team played a game of cricket at this Victorian venue was not too long ago.
We lost the test match against Australia by a mammoth 337 runs in the last week of December 2007. But the approximately 100,000 capacity green base has always had a balanced pitch. It has neither been a belter or a bowler’s paradise too.
With the sudden shift in the power balance of the Indian team from batting to bowling,our bowling should no longer surprise the Aussies.
With India proving itself to be the great adapters of the Australian conditions, a comeback of sorts can be on the cards.
Ishant Sharma bent his back hard and bowled his heart out at Brisbane. Sreesanth was as usual every ball self motivated and the two wickets especially that of Ponting would have done a world of good to the Keralite.
On the other hand the middle order of Dhoni and company is a matter of concern. In both the games played till far, they have failed to live up to their reputation. With one of the best ODI players in cricket, Yuvraj Singh not in form, the worries of team India are justified.
But the pair of skipper and his deputy has to do justice to their positions by holding the innings if situation demands. Too much cannot be expected out of youngster Rohit Sharma. But he has shown what he is capable of.
Gambhir at one down has given a new option to the Indian team. Sachin and Sehwag at the top have showed a glimpse of coming in form. The lower order has also shown some teeth led by Irfan Pathan.
But the way Oz blew off the lid of the Sri Lankan team in Sydney; it seems they are in no mood to relent. After setting up a target of 250 plus, the Australian’s got Sri Lanka team on the back-foot by scalping both openers early. Their bowling had a variety which would have always threatened any team in the world even with a score of 220.
Brett Lee has ably led the charge with man of the match Nathan Bracken who switched from swing bowling to off and leg cutting deliveries. Mitchell Johnson provided the much needed fire brand in the attack.
Chinaman bowler Hogg was in his usual ways rushing through. James Hopes stemmed the flow of runs. Result, Sri Lanka team surrendered for a meek total of 125 in 31.1 overs giving Australia a deserved bonus point.
In less than 24 hours from now on we would see the battle between Ponting’s punters and Dhoni’s demons. By the way,the last ODI played in Melbourne was lost by Australia to their ashes rival England by four wickets.
But the most interesting part of the game was the both the skippers of the respective teams made merry. Ponting scored run-a-ball 75, while Collingwood scored a match-winning 120. This happened exactly a year ago on the 9th of February 2007. What a co-incidence!!!
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