India's pace brigade rattle Australia
The stunning display by India's young pace attack comprising RP Singh, Irfan Pathan and Ishant Sharma, who shared eight wickets between them to bowl out Australia for 212, has made many take note
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
AFP
The stunning display by India's young pace attack comprising RP Singh, Irfan Pathan and Ishant Sharma, who shared eight wickets between them to bowl out Australia for 212, has made many take note. Peter Roebuck, in his column in the Sydney Morning Herald, praises the 19-year-old Ishant, who claimed the vital wickets of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke.
Sharma widened the breach. Already he has captured the imagination of Australian supporters. The sight of any other fellow walking out to bat in Sydney with two left-handed gloves might have provoked suspicion. But the Delhi-ite has an air of innocence that discourages murky thoughts. Presumably his cricket bag works along the same lines as his hair. Even his catching is naive and the sight of him hovering under a skier counts among the game's amusements.
But his spirit shines like a beacon from the lighthouses he resembles. The lofty paceman began by removing the home captain with a late swinger and followed by enticing Michael Clarke to push at another demanding delivery. The heat began to take its toll on the religious stringbean and before long the Australian rally was underway.
The Australian's Mike Coward appreciates Irfan's character and believes that he "still has a priceless opportunity to realise his vast potential and enjoy a distinguished career as a genuine allrounder."
In the Herald Sun, Steve Waugh calls Brett Lee "the world's No.1 fast bowler" and says it will need a strong performance by him to rescue Australia.
Ashok Ganguly is an editorial assistant at Cricinfo