It's the same story all over again

Another wasted start by India.

Another first day of an overseas Test is underway and it’s the same old story for India’s illustrious batting line-up. The side is almost bundled out with more than 30 overs to spare on day 1. Pathetic scenario and the ghosts of the England tour continue to haunt the team.

• Most of the top order batsmen are struggling in the corridor of uncertainty, whether to leave the ball or play it. This is what separates the good from the great. Players like Gautam Gambhir have failed miserably and Virat Kohli seems to follow Gambhir’s footsteps. Some easy pickings were available for Kohli else it would have been a single digit dismissal for sure.
• VVS Laxman‘s love affair with the Australian pitches seems to have taken an abrupt halt. He is flirting at good length deliveries on the off stump and as the result, provides catching practice for the slip cordon.
• There was a lot of rebuttal to Glenn McGrath for his comments that Sachin won’t make his 100th century on this tour and that this series is going to see a 4-0 whitewash in favor of the Aussies. But the happenings at the SCG this morning don’t suggest anything different. SCG is supposed to be one of the Indian team’s favorite hunting grounds, where they have posted big scores regularly and where they have at least managed a draw on previous tours. That doesn’t seem to be the case on this tour though.
• Sachin attempted a cover drive from a full length delivery pitched on off stump. It seemed the perfect choice of shot. But, on this day all Sachin could do was drag the ball on to his stumps to give young quick James Pattinson another wicket. He is just a wicket short of his 4th 5 wkt haul in 4 tests. Remarkable. Are we going to see another long tour without this “100th century burden” lifted off the little master’s shoulders?
• The application shown by the likes of R.Ashwin is admirable but in the absence of a top order batsman at the other end and in the face of some quality, consistent bowling from the Aussie quicks, a no.8 batsman can only do so much.
• M.S.Dhoni is attempting to save some face and this inning might just boost his meager average by a few points. He has had some luck going his way and he has also shown assurance in dealing with the quicks. The team is going down, MS. Urgent rearguard action is needed from the think-tank

Time to pull up the bowling socks and see if we find some success atleast in this department. The previous Test saw some admirable application from the likes of Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav. But in the absence of runs on the board, the bowlers start on the back foot straightaway. In nice sunny conditions and on a pitch with just a tinge of grass, much more was expected from Team India.