Bouncer-sized blokes wearing stolen headgear?
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
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After Mohali, India is somewhat bewildered: is this the world’s No.1 team or some other bouncer-sized blokes wearing stolen headgear?, writes Sharda Ugra in India Today. Things have surely not gone according the type, she says.
Before a ball was bowled, it was Virender Sehwag, rather than any arriving Aussie, who forecast the result: “Either 3-1 or 3-0 to India.” Bangalore Man of the Match Zaheer Khan heckled the Aussies for not scoring quickly and being unable to take 20 wickets. In Mohali, Dhoni asked first slip Rahul Dravid to check out the scoreboard: Australia 22 off 13 overs.
At that moment, an on-field landing of Martians in a flying saucer would have caused less shock. In their four innings in India, Australia have scored their runs at 2.86, 3.12, 2.63 and 3.10 per over, this when their batting is the stronger and more experienced component of their team.
Usually meticulous planners, Australia appear surprised that the Indian SG Test ball acts differently from their familiar Kookaburra and does not do as they want it to, but turns into a stump-seeking missile in Indian hands.
In another article, the magazine says "Australia must do an India, must do what was done to them in 2001: return from the dead."
Mathew Varghese is sub-editor (stats) at Cricinfo