Sham Samaroo

Mar 16, 2009

 

Prior to this series, India had not toured New Zealand in almost seven years - a reality many attribute to the humiliation they suffered on their last tour in 2002-03. Back then India were whitewashed in the two-test series before losing the ODI series 2-5. Both tests finished inside three days, New Zealand winning the first by 10 wickets and the second by four wickets. The much talked about Indian batting of Tendulkar, Dravid, Sehwag, Laxman and Ganguly was humbled repeatedly. Though the weather and pitch conditions each played a part, it was the sheer pace and bounce of Shane Bond that decimated the Indian line-up. In the first test India were dismissed for 161 and 121 with only Dravid (76) and Tendulkar (51) able to  negotiate a rampaging Bond. At one stage in India's second innings, Bond had figures of 8-5-8-3 - the wickets being that of Dravid, Ganguly and Sehwag. Bond finished with match figures of 7 for 99 as New Zealand romped home by 10 wickets.

Worst was to follow in the second test as India surrendered meekly for 94 and 154. Once again the only two batsmen to offer any sort of resistance were Dravid (39) and Tendulkar (32). The batting averages best tell the story. Dravid topped them with 32. 75 followed by Tendulkar 25.00. For the rest, the less said the better - Laxman averaged 6.75; Ganguly 7.25 and Sehwag 10.00. Only Dravid and Tendulkar managed a score above 50 in the series.

It comes as no surprise then that India might feel they have some unfinished business here in New Zealand. Oh yes, and there is too, that small matter of not having won a series in New Zealand in 41 years. Ganguly has since retired, but for Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman and Sehwag this is the last chance saloon. The tour got off to the worst possible start as New Zealand, without Shane Bond, clean-sweep India in the 20/20 series. The question making the rounds was: Can the Indian batsmen, brought up on the flat tracks of India, handle the pace, bounce, and swing in New Zealand?  India answered in spectacular fashion winning the ODI series 3-1. Though New Zealand managed a consolation win in the final game, the result does not really reflect the complete dominance by the Indian batsmen led by Sehwag, Dhoni, Yuvraj and Raina. Tendulkar too joined in the run spree after missing the 20/20 series. But the 20/20 and ODI series were only appetizers for the real deal - the three-test series which starts on Wednesday. Can India bury the ghosts of 2002-03 by finally winning a test series in New Zealand after 41 years?  The last time India won a test match in New Zealand was 1976, and Tendulkar has never been on the winning side of a test match in New Zealand after eight tries.

This is one blemish on his remarkable career that he will want to remove. Stay tuned.