TEST CRICKET AT ITS ECSTATIC BEST

Wellington’s Basin Reserve was home to one of Test cricket’s best spectacles ever as England and New Zealand found themselves in the center of a nerve-wracking contest. The hosts, after a roller-coaster of emotions on the final day, came out on top, winning by a solitary run courtesy of a ‘short’ blast from the speedsters. And that was after the Kiwis were made to follow on after a dismal show in the first innings. In the almost 150-year-long history of international cricket, this is only the fourth time that a team has won a Test after being asked to continue batting. Such was the magnitude of the win, that cricket freaks from not only England and New Zealand but from all over the globe were glued to their screens.

Being reduced to 80/5, English captain Stokes joined forces with his predecessor, Joe Root to pull off a 121-run partnership with the latter ironically being the aggressor and scoring the bulk of the runs. However, New Zealand brought their perennial workhorse, Neil Wagner into the attack and there was no looking back since. Wagner removed Stokes and Root in quick succession, and the wicket of Broad too followed. With more than 50 still needed, the English hopes rested on keeper-batter Ben Foakes. To his support, was perhaps their most dependable tail-ender of late, Jack Leach. Reminiscent of his 1*(12) heroics from Headingley not long ago, Leach had to fend off an on-song bowling attack, once again. And boy, he did that so well.

Fighting back, England had it under control until this man stayed at the crease

But so much has changed between the two Leach’s for England. ‘Bazzball’ as they like to call it has only known one gear, which in turn, arguably, led to their downfall. It was a consuming game of cricket for all, nonetheless. The likes of Root and Brooks took charge in the first innings as the visitors pounded down a massive 435-run score. In response, New Zealand was bundled out for a mere 209 and boldly put to bat again by England. The follow-on, as also their drubbing loss in the previous game, seemed to spur the Kiwis on as they went on to score in excess of 450 in their second innings – led by a fabulous Williamson century, setting England a 258-run target. A flurry of haste in the final hour had already cost New Zealand dear with the bat and it was up to their bowlers to keep the Bazz-ing Englishmen in check.

Now back to where it all started to take a turn, at 201/5, England looked comfortable. But as he has done so many times for his team in the past, Neil Wagner came charging in from one end, hitting the deck hard and extracting everything that a Day 5 pitch had to offer. From that moment to the last ball, almost 1 hour and 15 odd overs later, the intensity just did not drop. Neither did the pace that kept the Englishmen, literally, on their toes. The match was far from lost till Foakes held his ground though. Farming Leach for as long as he can while attacking the ball whenever possible, Foakes played a crucial 35-run knock before being held at Third Man off Tim Southee by, none other than, Wagner himself.

By this time, the entire world woke up to admire and experience the thrill of a Test match, and millions stuck around to witness a result. Tea was pushed further down by another 15 minutes, for the gravity of the situation had to be counted. Come the 75th over, Wagner was once again at the start of his bowling run-up with only 2 to defend – against Anderson who had just agonizingly pulled him for a boundary on the last ball of his previous over. Even still, the plan was simple and as clear as ever. The red cherry banged in, short, was left alone by Anderson – who demanded a wide – but (debatably) ignored.

74.2 from over the wicket (surprise surprise) also dug in short and targeted at the chest, is possibly angling down the leg, but Anderson attempts the flick anyways – the tail-enders’ instinct perhaps – gets a tickle on the way and is smartly and safely taken by Blundell behind the stumps. It’s only the 4th time – 1894, 1981, 2001, and today – that a team has won after being imposed a follow-on. A rigor at its heart, fierce competition at its core, and a miracle through and through – TEST CRICKET AT ITS ECSTATIC BEST.

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TESTing, Fierce, Competitive – A Promise, BGT 2023

India and Australia, the last three times the two nations met in Tests, the former have come out triumphant – historically, twice in the latter’s den. As the two lock horns once again, in a virtual World Test Championship Finals decider, cricket’s oldest and the most traditional format is slated to regain popularity and interest. It is the build-up, background, and the unending speculations and controversies, from even before the start of the First Test, that have kept the tour in the cricketing circle. Perhaps, even beyond.

A full-fledged Indian setup played a depleted Australian side in 2018, with captain Kohli making his mark as the first Asian captain to lift a Test Series trophy down under. Arguably, that was one of India’s best performances in the island nation despite the hosts missing a few of their specialist batters. And if that did not do enough justice, Indians topped it up with another commanding win 3 years later, this time with the hosts at their full potential, and Indians – battled, bruised but not lost. The 2021-22 Indian Tour of Australia was not just about the wins, but about the character, determination, and growth of Indian cricket over the years. The emergence of youngsters in the series, with a sane balance of experience and skill, laid the foundation for arguably the best-ever Test cricket presentation in the modern day – beyond what any other team had ever achieved till then. Needless to say, to be beaten twice in their own den including the fortress of 33 years – the Gabba, Australians faced flak and great humiliation.

Under Cummins, Australia has been impressive making them the best unit to have traveled to India in recent times

And just as India rose from being beaten down then, the downfall had its own impact on the Aussies too. Their redemption started with making some critical changes in the leadership and they went on to take giant strides in world cricket being the first to book their slot at the WTC Finals later in the year. The likes of Smith, Labuschagnee, Green, Hazlewood, Warner, and Lyon all came to the fore under the able leadership of Pat Cummins securing crucial wins against South Africa, England, West Indies, and Pakistan. The team also looked in great shape in the couple of ICC tournaments that they featured in. In preparation for the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023, Australian players were seen practicing aggressively under simulated spinning conditions. While Labuschagne was seen practicing in a taped backyard, Smith and others made use of some Indian domestic talent in the nets. The Australian cricket team bought in an Ashwin look-alike spinner amongst others and practiced on curated rough patches. They also opted against a tour game, prioritizing the nets and individual practice.

Marnus Labuschagne practicing for a spin at his home in Australia

Even as it comes to the bowling, the spinners on either side will look to counter the batter’s tactics  The Indians have been vulnerable to the spin of late and Australia bringing one of their largest spin bowling contingent ever to the Indian shores is an indication of what the fans could expect. Meanwhile, India themselves flocked with all their frontline spinners will look to turn a web against the watchful Aussie batters. Ashwin vs Labuschagne has been one of the most talked about duels after the last tour down under, and the buildup to the current series had only added on the excitement to witness the same, yet again. The last time Australia visited India in 2017 – Steve O’Keefe turned the tide away from the hosts in the first game before an Ashwin-inspired India pulled it back from there on. The reality check not only did help India come back stronger in the games to come but also, turning back, maybe it laid India’s foundation of being invisible at home. 

You talk about India Australia, and you associate it with the aggression and fierceness the rivalry has to offer. Some days referred to as a rivalry even greater than the Ashes in Tests, one team struggling against the conditions in home conditions of the other has been a constant feature. Perhaps, a TEST in a real sense, the Border Gavaskar Trophy perennially comes with a promise of hosting some of the world’s best cricket. 

Rohit Sharma has been at the helm of India’s fightback in the first innings vs Aus

India is already a day and a half in, fighting their way out for a decent first innings lead by the time this piece comes out and if the action has been any indication, the competition is only meant to increase in days to come!!