A passage to India

Australia leaves for a much-anticipated tour of India. Awakening from a rare winter solstice, there’s a real sense of anticipation. Australian cricket fans needed this (relatively) long break from cricket to re-ignite their interest in a game that was becoming all-too-predictable because of their continued dominance for so long.

The series against the West Indies barely registered on the radar, a combination of inconvenient time zones and an almost foregone conclusion. Bangladesh registered no real interest whatsoever, once again a victim of a remote location (Darwin), football finals fever and not even the hint of a genuine contest.

The India series though is an entirely different kettle of fish (with apologies to Symonds for mentioning fish). Almost every club cricket fan I have met recently has been talking about what the make-up of the team will be and who will win. I haven’t heard this sort of excited chatter for a long time. It’s infectious. And fun.

Part of that anticipation is undoubtedly a sense of unfinished business (from both sets of supporters). The events of last summer are not yet buried and injustices, perceived or real, provide that bit of extra needle. No sense denying the obvious.

The real interest though lies in the realisation that this trophy is up for grabs. Not for a long time has Australia gone into a Test series feeling they have to fight tooth and nail to merely scrape home. Any team that no longer has the combined firepower of Warne, McGrath and Gilchrist is entitled to feel nervous. When you add Hayden’s uncertain injury status, Symonds’ absence and a inexperienced spin bowling attack against the best players of spin on Indian pitches, there is every reason for Australia to covet the underdog tag and take the pressure off themselves.

It is this sort of unknown territory that is suddenly becoming BBQ conversation in Brisbane backyards. Will our ageing (but highly credentialed) batting line up still be able to score big scores at over 4 runs per over? Will we ever find another Gilchrist at No 7? No one really expects the spinners to dominate the series but the hope is that they will be able to play their part in neutralizing the Indian batting order whilst Lee, Clarke and Johnson can reverse swing the old ball on abrasive pitches.

Australian fans also know that India too face their own demons when it comes to picking the right moment to blood youth. It’s a fascinating question to ask from afar. Will India have the guts to dispense with loyal servants like Dravid, Laxman and Ganguly in a big series like this? Or will they take the soft (safer) option of experimenting with youth at a later date when the stakes are not that high? The general consensus is that India will choose the more conservative approach and opt for the tried and tested warriors. There’s a sense that India will simply not have the courage to make wholesale changes just yet.

And why shouldn’t they? India are entitled to pick their best team to win this series. Let the future look after itself. We’re a pragmatic bunch over here and fully understand that winning this trophy is more important to India than looking too far into the future. That’s what makes these conversations so interesting….I can’t remember the last time we dissected and debated an opposition team’s selections so closely. It’s a reflection of the level of interest that is being generated.

The fact that there will be no ODI’s actually adds to the excitement I believe. It’s almost like stepping back in time. Stripping cricket back to its original roots – Test match cricket, played hard, played fair and may the best man win. No distractions, no excuses, no surrender.

It’s a reflection of India’s strength that the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is now assuming the level of status that used to be reserved for The Ashes and the Frank Worrell Trophy. This is a piece of silverware that Australia treasures.

It would be interesting to know if anyone from outside Australia, and not just India, is taking a close interest in this fascinating contest that looms. In an era of mismatches, this one shapes as a genuine 50/50 proposition. That has to be good for cricket.

Can't wait ...