Big Three questions loom on pitch promising pace, bounce

Five of sachin tendulkar’s seven hundreds against Australia have come between 1996 to 1998, at a time when the Mumbai batsman....

Five of sachin tendulkar’s seven hundreds against Australia have come between 1996 to 1998, at a time when the Mumbai batsman had been in imperious form, perhaps the best in his 18-year-old international career. The only other time when Tendulkar managed the feat again was once in 2000 in Indore and then again in 2003 in Gwalior.

Sourav Ganguly’s only hundred against the world champions was an effort that ended up in a losing cause, a chase in Melbourne.

Rahul Dravid has never managed to get into triple figures against the Australians.

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These statistics, however, would be the last things playing in the minds of the Big Three when they walk out in the third one-day international to be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, on Friday. The primary thought, instead, would be to let those questioning their looming presence know that it is not over for them, yet.

The Twenty20 victory has suddenly thrown to the fore a bunch of enthusiastic youngsters, now eager to mark their presence in the 50-over format.

And the selectors have also begun to indicate that the acid test has begun for the seniors in the team. Chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar is not willing to speak on the subject yet, but his arrival in Hyderabad on Wednesday evening is an indication that things will be watched carefully. The ground here, still in the final stages of construction, and the pitch—based on Hyderabad Cricket Association’s (HCA) four-year-old initiative of having faster and greener tracks—had assured the Proteas (the last team to play here), and the likes of Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel, enough bounce and pace in the first innings.

Team India will need to keep that in mind when they walk out to face Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clarke here on Friday. While Yuvraj refused to confirm, it is unlikely that the team winning the toss here might look to bat first, given the overnight moisture on the field and the early morning conditions.

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Whether India bat first or second, the focus will remain on Tendulkar and Ganguly, the latter fit to open once again and the start that they will provide. At number three, a position that Dravid has seemed so comfortable with, the former captain will need to provide the required impetus to the line-up.

India’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been lucky with the toss so far, but when he walks out with Ricky Ponting on Friday morning, the trio will be justified in expecting another one in their favour.

In Kochi, while Ganguly stayed out, India lost out after receiving early blows that accounted for Tendulkar along with Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh. Tendulkar managed a mere 16 before Symonds took a quick reflex catch at covers to send him back. Later, Dravid struggled to find his feet against the Aussies in rhythm, inching his way to 31 before getting caught in the deep.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting’s statement, when he says “we are playing well and will be looking to get better” should be ringing in India’s ears. Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly, especially, will need to give it back to him, for theirs and Team India’s sake.