The Australians have a long history of sledging and unsportsmanlike conduct, but in the past few years they have excelled even by their own notorious standards. One sadly recalls the treatment of the Sri Lankans a few years ago, and quite recently, of the Pakistanis and the Englishmen. And the truth is that none of this was really necessary. The Australians are the World’s greatest team – that is an undisputed fact. How unfortunate that they should repeatedly tarnish it with such a disreputable display.
Since that series, both McGrath and the Australians have gone on to even greater things. India, on the other hand, are still trying to recover from Cronje-gate. Against this backdrop the two great warriors finally meet again to settle some unfinished business. Glenn “Natural born killer” McGrath has always boasted that it is his hobby to target the opposition’s leading batsman - in this case Tendulkar. The battle lines are clearly drawn. Who will be the undisputed King of the Jungle? Here in my living room I reach for my scotch…and eagerly await for what promises to be a most entertaining show. The plot thickens. Australia win the toss and elect to field.
Two years ago in this very tournament, an inspired India, led by His Majesty Sir Sachin, had sent Australia packing. An injured McGrath had watched helpless from the pavilion. There will be no such mistakes this time around. The Aussies knew the stakes, and came prepared. Five seamers today. No spin – just pace like fire. In the Australian dressing room, McGrath exudes confidence. In the company of Brett ”I am the fastest“ Lee, Gillespie, Harvey and Shane Lee, he feels invincible. In the Indian camp there is much cause for concern. Both Dravid and Ganguly had failed miserably against the pace in Australia. And Vinod Kambli is returning to the team after a long absence. There is the 34 year old Robin Singh, and the talented but, oh so inexperienced, 18 year old Yuvraj Singh.
India must take first strike on a rain affected wicket – ideal conditions for pace bowling. Tendulkar has good reason to be worried.
Meanwhile in the commentary booth, the topic centered on whom Australia will eventually meet in the Finals next week. India, obviously, were just a minor inconvenience to the World Cup Champions. As Ganguly and Tendulkar headed for the crease, Barry Richards cautiously reminded us not to be so quick to rule out India - not if that young man (referring to Sachin) has anything to say about it. The topic now switched to Sachin, and exactly what approach he would take. Maybe he should attack, a la Viv Richards. Try to counter the Aussie advantage, and take them out of their game plan. But what if …he gets out early? It can happen you know. His early dismissal would definitely spell disaster. India may never recover from such a crippling blow. Remember the World Cup Final when Pakistan were humbled for 120 odd? Perhaps, he should be cautious and stick around. Yes… that would be the sensible thing to do. With him there, it would calm the fears of the others. What will Sachin do? We shall soon find out.
Ganguly fends one away from Brett Lee and looks for a quick single, but then changes his mind. Brett Lee advances down the pitch to Ganguly, and glares at him in a menacing and intimidating manner. The tactics of the Aussies is quite clear. For a few seconds Ganguly and Brett Lee stand eye ball to eye ball. Tendulkar, at the other end, watches and waits. The over comes to an uneventful end and now McGrath takes up the attack to Sachin.
Star Boy pour a drink and sey: bwoi, yuh know how laang meh ah wait fuh this.
McGrath turns at the top of his mark and races in. First delivery - short pitched, outside offstump - and Sachin flashes high over third man for 6. A safe but not a very controlled shot. But it clearly signaled his intentions. He was going to take the fight to McGrath. What happened next is something for the history books. As McGrath got into his delivery stride Sachin danced down the wicket and rocket -launched him right back over his head, crashing into the sight screen for a thunderous 6!! The commentator, I forgot who it was, screamed, ‘goodness gracious me, what is this’? Spinners get hoisted back over their heads, even medium pacers sometimes, but the world’s number # 1 fast bowler, Glenn McGrath? Unbelievable, I know, but all the same, true. Sachin was taking no prisoners. Dancing down the wicket and blasting a fast bowler back over his head for 6 is not only insulting - it is downright degrading and humiliating. The next ball, Sachin again stepped into McGrath and flat-batted him like a shot out of a gun through midoff for 4. Said Paul Arlott: “this is brilliant stuff; Sachin charging down the pitch to the world’s greatest fast bowler.” 18 runs came off that over. Sachin had made up his mind. He was going to rip away that aura of invincibility from McGrath right before his very eyes. My Jamaican brethren tell me: bwoi Sham, this is what you call ‘rastaman manners’, …yes sirrr.
The plan seemed to be working as Ganguly got into the act in the next over cover driving Brett Lee for 4. But everyone was restless, eagerly awaiting Mc Grath’s next over. What will McGrath try next? Surely he is not going to let Sachin get away with this - natural born killer and all that. Well the first ball, as expected, was a bouncer and Sachin – true to form - hooked him ‘out of Africa’. It was a humongous hit that went many miles out of the stadium and into the jungle. Star Boy started jumping up and down and shouting to McGrath: Yuh ah play bowl man, yuh meet yuh meeta now – yuh backside pon fire!! McGrath looked a beaten man. Later in the over, Sachin again dispatched him with absolute disdain, this time to the extra cover boundary for four.
Sachin finally went caught in the slips to Brett Lee. It simply could not last. It had to come to an end, and when it did the score was already 66 for 1 from 10 overs. Sachin 38 from 31 balls (3x6 and 4x4). Mission accomplished. True, not completely accomplished, but the damage was done, the Aussie aura of invincibility destroyed. India would go on to register a stunning upset of the World Champions – knocked out in the first round of the ICC Tournament. McGrath finished with none for 61 from 9 overs. And as my nephew Brian remarked: “lets look on the bright side, McGrath can go back to Australia and compare notes with Shane Warne.” Warne - you recall - had gotten a similar treatment from Sachin 2 years ago.