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SPORTS: CRICKET
Turning Point
But miracles are
not shaped alone and as India coach John Wright pointed out, "The
turning point in the game was Laxman and Dravid's innings." When
he reached his 100, Dravid raised his bat towards the press box. Many
got the impression that the gesture conveyed anger more than thanksgiving.
Dravid had been roundly criticised by the local press, with suggestions
being bandied about that he should be asked either to open the innings
or be dropped entirely. Drained by his effort, Dravid didn't hide his
emotions and said, "We've been rubbished a lot in the media and it
hurts. This is a team which has worked really hard in the past month and
people should have more faith in us.''
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CITY OF CRICKETING JOY: (Above) as the last Australian wicket falls
at the Eden Gardens, spectators celebrate by setting their newspapers
on fire; (below) Tendulkar missed out on the runs but contributed
to the famous win by picking up three wickets
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Faith in Laxman now seems natural: soft-spoken
and humble, the Hyderabadi has a wide, toothy smile for every one and
a simple answer to each question. He enjoyed his innings, played to the
merit of the ball, and was gratified to have broken a legend's record.
He may not produce scintillating quotes, but there's a quality to his
simplicity that is heartwarming. If Laxman remains unchanged even after
becoming a brand (which he is bound to), Indian cricket will benefit immensely.
The third contributor to this "miracle"
was a 21-year-old Sardar from Jalandhar who exposed yet again the limitations
of the Aussies against the turning ball. Singled out for "chucking",
Harbhajan Singh's return to the game was truly splendid-he took a hat-trick
against the Aussies, the first ever in a Test by an Indian.
Australia's timid capitulation on the last day
has left everyone groping for explanations. Australian skipper Steve Waugh
said the series wasn't over yet. Celebrated Australian journalist and
cricket historian Mike Coward put the defeat in perspective, saying, "This
team had not faced the pressure of staving off defeat for a long time
and when the occasion arose, they were exposed.'' But, he adds, "The
Australians are not going to be too upset, as winning the series is more
important for them. Chennai will provide the real answers.'' But Coward
too, like most of us, is stunned at India's recovery. "It's amazing.
This team looked so dispirited at the start of the Test but they're beginning
to look like a team now. Maybe that's the secret of this win."
Coward could be right. In the past, India has
wrenched victory from the jaws of defeat only to snatch defeat from the
jaws of victory. After the Test Waugh said, "It's a game and nobody
died.'' Perhaps not, but in India, cricket is a matter of life and death.
One defeat and heroes become villains, one victory and the same villains
become heroes. Despite that, this victory is special.
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