WORLD CHAMPIONS DOWN UNDER.........

The most anticipated test series will kick off on Boxing Day (26 Dec) at 5:00 (IST), when most of the Indians fall asleep. But die hard cricket fans will be waiting for  the rising sun. This is the India’s tenth tour in Australia. India never won a test series in Australia and also a Boxing Day test. First time on down under tour, India are looking favourite to win this series. Possibly, it is the last tour of India’s batting treble on Kangaroo’s land. So they would certainly want to leave it on a high note. Both team have meet in 78 test matches, in which, India won 20 and lost 35 matches. Whereas out of 36 played in Australia, India were able to win 5 and lost 22 matches.

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure. Success is never ending, failure is never final. Australian cricket is being criticized all around the world. After the retirement of the some legend, undoubtedly, Australian Cricket is going through a rebuilding phase. Always remember, building phase is the most beautiful phase in this universe. It is just a cricketing cycle where a country has some of the greatest players in the world and they keep winning so their team appears to be the best. When the team is doing well, it doesn’t matter, but when the results are not on your side, things begin to look ugly.

World Champions India proved that teams don’t grow strong without a struggle. Fine form of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid can humiliate the vulnerable and inexperienced Aussies pace attack. Visitors triple batting maestro’s average surges at their career averages, in Australian conditions. Sehwag is also looking on career best form. Both Australian openers are rookies southpaw and left handers are the favourite bunny of Zaheer. This left-arm medium-pacer will have to bear the burnt of India’s bowling responsibility throughout the tour.  Fitness of Zaheer khan and Ishant Sharma is the main concerns of Indian side. Star-studded team India looks formidable like Australian aura of invincibility.

Amid a sea of new faces in Oz squad, James Pattinson can create a danger to India’s experienced hand. A young bowler with well aggression and raw pace can amaze the Indian batsmen. Brittleness in batting line up and Big Bash tournament are the main niggles of hosting side. Perhaps, this is the last gamble of Australian selectors on two experienced players Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey. Remember experience always comes in handy in the long run. It is the moment of reckoning for Ponting and Hussey. Repetition of Ponting shows that Aussie side have a lack of bunches of adept batsmen. Former captain can take inspiration from Sachin’s and Dravid’s comeback and move one step ahead.

Last tour of India in Australia is famous for Monkeygate scandal and poor umpiring. Innovation is being applied in almost all the sports. But Indian team doesn’t feel comfortable with UDRS. India’s refusal to accept the technology has upset players as well as viewers. In the absence of the UDRS, the on-field umpires will once again be the masters of a cricket field.

This series is the contention between former and current World Champions. Champions are not supernatural, they just fight one more second when everyone else quits; sometimes one second of effort gives you the victory. Finally, the battle for Border-Gavaskar trophy will be over at the end of January. The team that will remain ahead in the closed contests between bat and bowl will win this trophy. But remember, fielding skills play such an important role in the game & often proves the difference between winning and losing.

After all, the top three highest run-getters in tests- Sachin Tendulkar (15,183 ), Rahul Dravid (13,094) and Ricky Ponting (12,656)- will all be playing in this series. For cricket fans, it is a great pleasure to see the three batting heroes on a single turf.