India v Australia
Paul Weaver
15-Apr-2005
At Chennai, October 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 2004. Drawn. Toss: Australia.
There were some fine performances in this match, most notably the batting of Sehwag
and Martyn and the bowling of Kumble. But it will be remembered, chiefly, for the
tortured conjecture that followed its soggy ending. The fifth day's play was washed
out without a ball bowled and with the match tantalisingly poised.
With all their second-innings wickets in hand, India, probably, would have knocked
off the 210 more runs they required to level the series. They certainly thought so, and
Australia's acting-captain Gilchrist sheepishly admitted as much. But on the fourth
evening McGrath and Warne were still confident the game could be won and wore fierce
gleams in their competitive eyes. Still, McGrath had already been lashed for 18 off two
overs, and when play was called off at 1 p.m. next day, the Australians departed for
their mid-series break in high spirits, clinging to their 1-0 advantage, while the Indian
dressing-room looked a sullen place. The happiest man was probably the quick-thinking
Australian journalist who opened his curtains early that morning, saw the drenched city
and immediately secured odds of 13 to 1 against the draw with a Sydney bookmaker.
Australia had been the more assured side at the start of the match, when Langer
and Hayden added 136 for the first wicket. But then they lost ten wickets for 99 runs,
the last eight tumbling for a mere 46. They were savaged, as at Sydney ten months
earlier, by Kumble's brisk top-spinners. He took seven wickets for 25 runs in 61 balls,
doubtless encouraged by a pitch that had more pace and bounce than he had been able
to divine at Bangalore. He finished with 13 for 181 in the match, taking his total to
42 in five Tests against Australia since December 2003. India were assisted, though,
by Australia's peripatetic tendency. Three of their players - Gilchrist, Gillespie and
Kasprowicz - walked without waiting for the umpire's decision. Some interpreted this
as an attempt to regain the moral high ground, for their players had been stung by
criticism of Sehwag's controversial dismissal in the First Test. Kasprowicz had already
been given not out for a catch at silly point, and his decision to go, after a moment's
hesitation, so bewildered the umpire, David Shepherd, that he shook his head until
perspiration flew from his florid countenance. Shepherd was already chatting to the
non-striker Katich when he looked up and saw to his amazement the batsman heading
off.
Warne bowled almost as well as Kumble. His record in India had been a poor one,
with just 24 wickets at 51 before this match, and a lack of form and fitness had blighted
his previous tours. Now, though, he took six for 125. His second wicket came in his
fifth over of the second day when he had Pathan caught by Hayden at slip. It was his
533rd Test wicket and for the first time in his wonderful career he was the outright
leading wicket-taker in the game, one ahead of his great rival Muttiah Muralitharan.
"I would have been happy to take one Test wicket when I started my career," he said
afterwards. One of his victims was Sehwag, who scored a blistering 155 out of 233,
an innings which included 21 fours. There were also half-centuries for Kaif and Patel,
who added 102 for the seventh wicket.
India led by 141. And they had the chance to win inside four days. But they were
frustrated by a fine century from Martyn, his eighth in Test cricket, though he was
missed behind the wicket before he had scored. His four-hour stand with the nightwatchman
Gillespie enabled Australia to take the match into the fifth day, when the
unexpected arrival of the north-east monsoon confirmed their safety.
Man of the Match: A. Kumble.