A Mouth-Watering Proposition...

I love contests that continually confuse an Indiancrowd and the second Test was high on my favourites list. Going by crowd noiseand response, the Chennai crowd gave up on the match regularly but thankfullytheir team are so much better than that.

They displayed their resilience from the firstafternoon on a wicket which looked as if it would break them not to mention therampaging Australian openers. In India the pattern has been that the Australiansdominate the first Test but then that is it for either side. It is struggle,scratch and scrape your way through every session, trying to sleep at night. Amouth-watering proposition for us as spectators but I would be surprised if someplayers' mouths are drier than a lime burner's boot.

In such incredible heat with so much difficult cricketto play on deteriorating pitches, someone is again performing magnificently whenall others are struggling. The dominant match-saving performances in this matchbelied just how tough it must have been in the middle. Kumble, Sehwag, Warne andMartyn all unfortunately did not get the chance to see what effect they had on aTest match result. To repeat such magnificence is the toughest part.

I hope both Sehwag and Martyn do it all again becausethey are so good to watch. Judging from heresay, they have similarpersonalities. Low key, laidback but not lacking in desire. Smooth movers on thepitch, crashing strokeplayers of simplicity and grace. Both men have had theirform questioned this year and I believe unfairly. There is a real impatience inthe game today which demands higher performances more often than in the past andwhat a shame it would be to rest match-winners because of hiccups.

Martyn put my mind to rest during the tour to Sri Lankathis year. He was in a slump all last Australian summer, had a perceiveddifficulty with spin having grown up on the bounce of Perth and yet was themainstay time and time again, against the might of Muralitharan.

Australia fought back three times in three Tests fromserious trouble, Martyn had made it, so Chennai did not surprise me at all. Itmerely impressed me again and when he was ready to set a proper total forIndia's second innings, having played catch up for hours, he was gone. Howquickly it happens in India which should remind everyone watching just howcarefully each ball has to be treated.

Bowlers like Warne and Kumble can and do turn thesematches upside down at times. Other than statistically where they shareremarkable tales of performance and longevity, I see these two men as opposites.Both are truly respected globally, Kumble probably loved and everyone takesdelight in his 13-wicket performance.

He is one who stays under the radar wherever he playsand yet always competes. Publicly he is seen as humble, courteous andunder-stated. His real ability may well be controlling the tough, irritable andsometimes cranky demeanour we have heard about but rarely witnessed. Warney incontrast displays the combative, chatty nature and hides his softer side. He toois polite, charitable and fun but does not tell anyone. Both men were tirelessin Chennai reaping rewards and I still think you will see more from Shane.

Saurav Ganguly as a captain held things together quitewell when India were on the back foot. He is impossible to fluster, outwardlyanyway and he is confident in his players' ability to get out of trouble.

He has some world-class strikers now but he better getthrough some of the workload himself very soon, before he wears them out. Laxmanand Yuvraj also look heavy on their feet and bogged down in thought. 'The powerof positive doing' is what it is all about, not thinking.

Adam Gilchrist has earned his three or four days' rest,hopefully he uses it well. The world's toughest wicket-keeping conditions,batting pressure and a game that goes all the way as captain is too much foranyone. He has got it all again next week, so let's hope it gets easier. So muchtime spent over the stumps to spin and bounce inconsistencies and then standingunnaturally close for the late-swinging quicks puts great stress on footwork andrhythm. Neither keeper got on top of it and both must find ways to relax andenjoy so that their skill shine.

Pathan, Patel and Kaif for India, Gillespie forAustralia played out some great rescue missions too. Men who love what they aredoing and who they are doing it for. Was it a case of 'win the toss, win thegame' by Australia? Even in good form they wobbled for too long under greatpressure and that tells me how hard this cricket series is. There is nothingeasy given or requested, someone always seems able to put their hand up whenneeded. It may not last, but who will crack is everyone's guess. The passionateand fluctuating Indian crowds will be frenzied and hairless if it does persist.I wonder just whose nerve endings were spared by the last day's washout.

PTI