Full marks to Bevan

Finally, we had an exciting one- dayer in the decider at Goa, with fortunes swinging one way, then the other, before Australia clinched the series 3-2. It was crisis time for Australia after Darren Lehmann was dismissed, but full marks to Michael Bevan, who, despite all the pressure, was never desperate in his methods, picking up his runs cleverly with ones and twos; he is such a marvellous runner between the wickets.

He might not have played too many big strokes, yet it was a brilliantly paced knock, in what was basically a `Cup Final.' The left-hander is surely among the coolest customers at the crease.

India had posted a challenging total, the pitch was affording help to the spinners, but Bevan's canny ways saw Australia through.

Earlier, openers Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden provided a fine start to Australia with scintillating strokeplay. A blazing opening partnership is essential in chasing a stiff target and the two left-handers did just that. Their onslaught in the initial overs removed some pressure off the later batsmen.

And Hayden, who was not even in Australia's original squad for the one-day series, ended up with the Man of Series award. The kind of twist to the script that makes cricket such a fascinating game.

Rather strangely in the one-day series, Harbhajan Singh seems to be bowling better on flat pitches. On turning tracks, he appears anxious to succeed, is striving for too much, and has not quite delivered the goods.

One also feels Sourav erred in brining on paceman Ajit Agarkar during the climactic phase. Here, even part-time spinners like Rahul Dravid - he bowled usefully against South Africa earlier this season - or V. V. S. Laxman could have been more effective.

Australia required about 60 runs in the last 10 overs which was certainly not easy on this pitch. Moreover, Ian Harvey did not appear a good player of spin, but the Indians ran out of ideas.

In the Indian innings, Andrew Symonds, sending down off-spin, had been extremely effective, enabling Australia to check the flow of runs in the last 10 overs. And when Australia batted, Tendulkar performed a fine job.

V. V. S. Laxman produced a lovely, elegant hundred and the manner in which he has blossomed in both forms of the game is indeed good news to Indian cricket. He is dominant at No. 3 and has surely taken some load off Tendulkar's shoulders with his approach and consistency. It was also a welcome return to form by skipper Sourav Ganguly, who made much needed runs for himself and his team.

Though India lost a close series, the side has nothing to be ashamed of. Both, in the Tests and the one-dayers, the Indians dished out positive cricket, revealed a good, combative attitude, and showed a lot of character. The signs are good for the future.

K.SRIKKANTH

www.krishsrikkanth.com

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