Revelry in Rivalry

Grudge series, Honour series, Race for No.1, Bigger than the Ashes… The India-Australia series seems to be living up to all what the promos had stated. The race for ICC’s No.1 ranking in ODIs has also hotted up.

Marketing-wise, the series seems to be a hit already. The TRP ratings have not come yet but authoritative sources in the trade claim they will be much higher than the ratings for the Champions Trophy and Champions League Twenty20.

According to E-map, the TRP ratings hover around 5. The number could be much bigger in the accepted Tam ratings. A 10-second commercial slot is being sold for Rs4 lakh for the series and for Rs3.5 lakh as far as bulk bookings are concerned. The price may go up as the series goes further down the wire. A 2-2 scoreline is a dream for the broadcasters, advertisers, spectators and, not the least, television viewers.

“The series is going to do to ODI cricket what the 2005 Ashes series had done for Test cricket,” says Harish Thawani, the chairman of Neo Sports, which is telecasting the series. “It will break all TRP records. The ratings are going up after each match and it will cross 10 by the end of the series,” he comments. Thawani says the success of the series is a triumph of international cricket over club cricket. “I never had doubts that nation versus nation is bigger than club cricket. This series has proved that point,” Thawani said.

The broadcaster believes ODI cricket needed this kind of a series to be alive. “ODI cricket is complete cricket. It gives equal opportunity to batsmen and bowlers much unlike the T20 where the game is unifocal.”

Thawani’s marketing team is confident that it will meet the target set for the seires. “We had a target of Rs150 crore from the series. We are confident of achieving it,” said Abhishek Verma, the marketing head of Neo Cricket.

The expectations from the series were high even before a ball was bowled. India was coming off an average Champions Trophy, where they lost the game against Pakistan, had the match against Australia washed out and beat West Indies.

However, the washed out game against Australia in Centurion meant there was some unfinished business between the two sides. The seven-match series provided the perfect platform for the two competitive sides to lock horns.

There was a lot at stake in this series. The No.1 ranking was there for the taking and along with it a lot of pride and bragging rights. Though the Australians subdued their pre-series aggression, it was clear they meant business when the action started.

The Australians came out all guns blazing in Vadodara. Tim Paine, Cameron White, Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey hit centuries to post a competitive total. However, India showed gumption as Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar added 84 runs for the eighth wicket to run the Australians close.

India went onto to win in Nagpur and New Delhi, while Australia struck back in Mohali while defending a rather modest total. Even with their depleting resources, Australia proved that they can hold their own.

They came without Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin and have now lost fast bowlers — Brett Lee and Peter Siddle — and also wicketkeeper batsman Tim Paine. The good news for skipper Ponting is that the half-strength side has managed to hold their own so far against the Indians at home.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has played out of his skin to ensure that India are neck-and-neck with Australia. Harbhajan Singh, who loves to get under the skin of the Australians, has performed with the willow even as his poor form with the ball has come under intense scrutiny.

However, with the most important stretch of the series still ahead, it is time for Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar to fire on all cylinders. With three matches to go, the series is turning out to be a bookies’ delight. Wanna bet? Do it at your risk, don’t blame us that we have not warned you.