India taste sweet ‘reverse’ at Mohali

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Mohali, March 13: He wasn’t thinking too much about it; Andrew Flintoff preferred to chill out with a beer at the hotel bar last night and watch South Africa make history in dramatic fashion. The England skipper knew exactly his role on Monday morning, but it called for multiple contributions of miracles to happen.

Thus after Munaf pitched in one short for Geraint Jones to fend the fifth ball of the day onto his stumps, it was always an Indian victory; Flintoff at the centre was just trying to lengthen statistical calculations. The crowd was there, beating the drums and honking the horns; the festivity of Holi and grandeur of colours was advanced by two days.

India’s victory has been simply brought together because of the team’s understanding of the problems they have encountered in recent times and showing the courage to go in with five bowlers. Not that Piyush Chawla made a big impact, but from the start India made the statement to take 20 wickets. Spin or pace, rain or bad light, they quietly knew they stood a greater chance of bowling out England. Five bowlers means a captain has more combinations to play with and the variety to out-think the batsmen.

“Piyush didn’t get much of a ball but it happens sometimes when you play five bowlers. But we tried to be positive to take 20 wickets, we saw what impact it had for England in the Ashes,” says Rahul Dravid. “When you play with five bowlers, you get a good combination and luckily for us our lower order contributed. If you have to get consistent with this you have to be flexible and sometimes need to take chances.”

At a time when India are slowly tilting towards the ‘standard’ Kookaburra balls, Munaf’s spell explains the need for India to ignore that temptation. Nothing will happen in the first seven to ten overs with the new ball but the old SG ball will reverse a lot and that adds to the beauty of the game that is laden with heavy willow. On bald pitches, someone with an ability to bowl quick can make a difference.