Disciplined Aussie attack steals the show at Mumbai

If the second string Australian attack could do this, imagine what would have been the Indians’ plight if the likes of Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and Shane Warne had turned up. It is a testimony to the abilities of Bracken, Brad Williams, Andy Bichel, Brad Hogg and Clarke that they have a firm grip on the baton passed over by their illustrious predecessors.

If Bracken’s accuracy yesterday would have made Glenn McGrath proud, Khan’s erratic ways could have driven stand-in captain Rahul Dravid mad. An 11-ball, 12-run first over set the tone and since then Khan failed to plug the run flow. He hovered on the 10-run per over mark throughout. The Aussies had managed to sink their teeth into the Indian offering as Khan, the spearhead, had been blunted. From there on, the Indians were always defending a run charge.

Anil Kumble, with 243 one-dayers and 310 wickets under his belt, too came up a cropper, especially in his second spell when he was taken to the cleaners. A welcome change was Ajit Agarkar, who bowling in his back yard, judged the length right from his first ball and was rewarded for his efforts. His was the only silver lining on a dark day for the Indian bowlers.

At Gwalior, the Aussies were done in with the low bounce while the Indian were nailed by the bounce in Mumbai. These are ominous signs keeping the forthcoming Australian series in perspective.

Because a clinching factor in Saurav Ganguly and Co’s recent successes, especially overseas, has been the ability of the bowlers to dismiss the opposition. In that context, the Aussies seem to have managed to have got some wood on Khan. Besides, the India could do well to remember that the Aussies bat in the same manner in the Tests too!