Vandals Of History Afghanistan's Taliban regime remains undeterred from its hard-line agenda of destroying historically valuable Buddhist idols. A look at the present regime and its slide to orthodox fundamentalism at a time when a drought has ravaged its economy and people.

Taking On the Family
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Yadav is once again facing a tough fight for survival--this time prompted by a near revolt in the RJD fuelled by rumours of a dynastic takeover. Ranjan Yadav has emerged as a potential rival to Rabri Devi, enjoying the support of both the party rebels and the NDA allies.

Chennai Confusion
The upshot of the great Tamil circus: Jayalalitha needs Moopanar, but not the Congress.

Creepy Acquisition
With Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha determined to bring corporate payslips comprehensively into the taxman's dragnet, the salaried class is having a few palpitations. For them, it means that a long era of tax-free emoluments is coming to an end.

"Indians lack unity"
Two of cricket's finest brains met for a rare conversation:Bishen Singh Bedi takes on the role of interviewer for Aaj Tak, seeking to get into the mind of Australian captain Stephen Waugh.

Revenge Of the Bears The sudden fall in share-prices points to yet another rigging controversy, and raises questions about the efficacy and credibility of SEBI as a regulator.

VIEWPOINT: CRICKET TALK

Getting A Head Start

How the Australians got the wheels of their juggernaut turning in the Mumbai Test.

By John Buchanan

Strength does not come from physical capacity," said Mahatma Gandhi, "it comes from an indomitable will." It is this "will" that typifies the current Australian team. As I look back on the first Test there is another saying which comes to mind, about hindsight making a world of difference. And so it is for the Indian and Australian sides, probably for different reasons. I believe Australia will be a better side from this first Test not only because of the tough victory, but also because we have a better appreciation of where Indian Test cricket is at the moment.

People were surprised by the vast difference between our two warm-up games and our cricket in the Test. Our lead-up form before the Test had not been been too special in terms of results. But during our training and through the preliminary games we were concentrating on being as well-prepared for the Test as we could. Apart from the physical side to the game, we were able to ensure that the early tour games provided virtually all our batsmen and bowlers with at least two innings to ply their skills in foreign conditions.

Sachin Tendulkar adds a new chapter to the saga of his tussle with Warne

We were also working extensively on the physical side in the run-up to the Test. Our physical performance manager, Jock Campbell, worked with all players. Those not involved in the game would be with Jock doing weights, running or in power sessions, depending on their specific roles. Jock is, for instance, working with Shane Warne on strengthening his knee, using the exercise bike, among other things. Warm-up games notwithstanding, the tactical approach to the Test therefore was sound. Players worked in specific groups prior to our main team meeting. We came back together as a group for the final team meeting and dinner on the eve of the Test.

The more cricketers play each other, the more familiar they get with each others' games, but it is still essential to keep looking closely. And to this end I was very interested to watch Tendulkar's technique against both our quicker bowlers and Warne. While our first innings bowling to him went basically according to plan, the second innings saw him continue the adjustments we had witnessed in the first innings. Some of these were to resist the sweep against Warnie unless the ball was wide and full on leg stump, preferring to wait back for a cut or pull/hook. It may be he was mindful of the bounce of the wicket and also the control that Shane displayed with his pace and variety. Tendulkar's approach may well be different next Test due to different wicket conditions. This is the true art of a champion player.

Overall though, we were pleased with the execution of our plans and it enabled us to maintain control of the game for most sessions. In particular, it was important to begin well on winning the toss. We thought our best option was to exploit the bounce of the wicket against the Indian batsmen who had shown a dislike for the bouncing ball during their Australia tour. Our bowlers, backed up by the fieldsmen and Steve Waugh's generalship, did this effectively.

While much has been said about the Adam Gilchrist innings and his partnership with Matthew Hayden, I thought the 50 partnership of Justin Langer and Hayden was of greater importance to our final first innings total. They absorbed a lot of the early sting of Srinath and Agarkar, plus the vicious turn and bounce from Harbhajan Singh, while keeping the scoreboard ticking.

But you must realise that at 5 for 99 midway through the second morning, Singh having the ball under a spell like a snake charmer's cobra, the situation demanded something special. If Steve Waugh epitomises the indomitable will Gandhi talked of, Gilchrist was its personification on this occasion. It is an innings that those who were fortunate to witness its authority will long cherish.

As in Hobart, where Gilly was also involved in a match winning partnership against Pakistan last year, he needed a strong anchor and ally. This time it was not Langer, but a "Rock of Gibraltar" from Queensland, Hayden. Haydos, as he is known to us all, allowed Gilly the freedom to attack and that onslaught provided Haydos opportunities to play his sweeps and drives. The two lefthanders, unorthodox at times, were the perfect tonic for each other. Warnie's cameo went unnoticed at the end but ensured us a lead, which meant India would have to bat extremely well to pass and set a competitive chase.

On the third day, our plans were reviewed and reinforced, our mood was clear and uncompromising, our bowling was spearheaded by a dizzy Jason Gillespie spell that was quick, accurate and menacing with each ball. Rahul Dravid and Tendulkar lasted through the first session on the last day but before leaving the dressing room after lunch on the final day, Steve Waugh told the boys, "Continue to do what we have been doing and we know the wheel will turn ..." Tendulkar's dismissal was freakish, but credit must also be given to the alertness and athleticism of Ricky Ponting to make a catch that few, if any, could have grasped. Soon after Slater demonstrated the same awareness and agility to run out Ganguly and as Steve had predicted the wheel did turn.

M. Scott Peck, in his book The Road Less Travelled, says, "Life is a series of problems. Do we want to moan about them or solve them? Problems are the cutting edge that distinguish between success and failure." I believe that this approach to our cricket is what we are beginning to do better and better-wanting to extend ourselves by confronting the challenges, not being content with our current circumstances.

Before finishing, I should like to comment on the death of Sir Donald Bradman who, I believe, would have greatly enjoyed watching some skilful displays from batsmen, bowlers and fieldsmen from both teams-it was good, hard competition. It was generally played in good spirit-honestly, with a fair degree of integrity and a respect for the traditions of the game. Beyond his unsurpassable record, it is these legacies that the Don has left indelibly imprinted on the game and whose custodianship now passes to players, administrators and the media.

It's onward to Calcutta now.

(John Buchanan is the coach of the current Australian cricket team.)

MetroScape
Triple Act
What I would love to do more than anything else in the world is to write another play," says Gurcharan Das. "But I don't know if I have the courage." He should have dollops of it, going by the audience reaction to his 9 Jakhoo Hill--performed to mark the release of Three English Plays by Das --at Delhi's India Habitat Centre
last week.
more...

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Polo, like many other events, is bringing about the resurgence of the almost forgotten royals. A chance, writes INDIA TODAY's Principal Correspondent Anshul Avijit, to say Maharaja again with an unctuous post-modernist gusto in Despatches.

"The only obvious competition is in bhangra," say the Pakistani duo of the music group, Strings, in conversation with INDIA TODAY's Sonia Faleiro in
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