Heroes miss out on history

Oddly enough, his brooding was a good omen, his refusal to quickly self-congratulate suggesting an unsatisfied side of powerful ambition. Not since 1986, when England was beaten in the old country, has an Indian squad played with such composure and class. But evidently, this team’s expectation exceeds even our own.

Australia, chasing (scarcely the accurate word for the chase was never on) 443, finished at 6-357, and rarely did India threaten history, and so much of it was its own making. The pitch was mostly full of true bounce and false hopes; some of the Australians forsook flamboyant shots and actually pottered around. But it was a bowling attack of frustrating bluntness that ensured victory would not arrive. Before the tour began, Ganguly asserted the key was 20 wickets and it has now become his epitaph.

If the rules could be bent, Anil Kumble would be bowling from both ends at the same time. Nevertheless, from one he bowled 42 overs (4-138), while Karthik, Pathan, Tendulkar, Agarkar and Sehwag bowled 52 overs (collectively 2-206).

As Ganguly said: ‘‘The (bowling) ability was better than what was (shown). Karthik is a much better bowler than what he bowled. Pathan was outstanding (but strangely was limited to eight overs). Kumble was amazing, he kept on running in. (But) yes, we expected better performances to support Anil.’’

Luck, without whom such tasks are not easily accomplished, wasn’t around to lend a hand either. LBW shouts against both Justin Langer and Damien Martyn that appeared especially unarguable, especially to the biased eye, were turned down. One catch whizzed agonisingly past Sehwag’s pleading hand, another dropped a yard beyond Agarkar’s desperate chase. And keeper Patel looked too much the fumbling schoolboy.

At 126/2, just after lunch, the game poised, he missed a stumping off Martyn off Karthik, an error whose cost we shall never know. ‘‘He is the future’’, Ganguly said, and perhaps he is, but at present he has got the wicketkeeper-batsman label backwards. It was not a good day for Patel, for even his gentle sledge at Steve Waugh was met with a teasingly, beautiful reply.

As a smiling Waugh told it later, Patel told him ‘‘C’mon, let’s have one of those famous slog sweeps before you finish’’, trying to egg him into a fatal flourish, to which Waugh said he replied: ‘‘Shut up and show a bit of respect, you were in nappies when I debuted’’.

Rarely a sentimental man when wearing his baggy green, for once, in this last Test of his, there was a softening. The crowd did not acclaim him, it bayed its adulation, it hollered its respect, rising constantly as one for a man who is a legend even among his peers. The game stops for no man, but with bat in hand, and badge of leadership on his chest, the memory of Waugh will remain indelible.

Always for Australia team is primary but today, as he chased his century in tune to the crowd’s plea, it seemed even he, out for 80, was seduced by the moment. Later, on the ground, he attempted to stay stony-faced as tributes were handed out, but when he began to circle the ground, to give thanks and take them, cricket’s ice-man went into a slow melt. ‘‘That lap of honour’’, he said, ‘‘on my teammates’ shoulders, was as good as it gets.’’

Of course, Waugh is not incapable of deceit. When asked if this series reflected better on India, since they had traveled here to engage in cricketing fisticuffs with a team whose steel and skill is written into history yet managed not to lose, he shook his head in denial. ‘‘I don’t see it as a bad result for us’’, he said.

It was the sweetest of white lies. India, despite Tuesday’s disappointment, have earned more headlines this tour, made an impact whose echo will be heard around a cricketing world that has till now trembled the moment it passes through Australian immigration.

As Ganguly admitted later: ‘‘Doing well here has been really special. I said this tour would be a true test of our abilities and we have stood up well.’’ They may be dejected, but a defiant team has never been disgraced.

To paraphrase a line from the film Remember the Titans, which John Wright took his team to see before the 2001 series, Australia will always remember the summer Ganguly’s Indians invaded their island.