Ahmed_B
April 16, 2006, 09:35 AM
Yes, at the end of the 1st day’s play of the 2nd Test, it can be said comfortably that both the teams are in quite a reverse position in comparison to the first test match. But that is not just in terms of results or domination in match... it’s actually far deeper than that.
Even the mindset of these two teams at the beginning of the 2nd test was reversed compared to the Test-1 resulting in opposite conditions.
Before the first Test match, Aussies were practically flying high with the plan in their minds for total dominance and they went out in the field hoping to crush BD to the sand. On the other hand, BD knew it could be a very tough match for them and went out there with all the cautiousness possible. Australia was brought back to earth soon with BD completely dominating the first two days and the Aussies had to sweat till the last hour of the match.
Now just take a look at the second match. Situations reversed so fast and this time Aussies were prepared on the back of their minds that it might not be just a cakewalk for them anymore... but BD, on the other hand, had already been utterly pleased by their first match performance and this time they thought they could ‘Crush’ the mighty Aussies with their new-found confidence alone. After the first two days of play in first match, Aussies were totally frustrated because they failed to dominate BD as planned. And today, the BD bowlers (specially Mash & Rajib) looked frustrated because the BD batsmen failed to make any impression as they were expecting.
Result? Well, what else can complacency produce other than ugly downfalls? You can say it fairly enough, that the Aussies will completely dominate the match for atleast the first two days and maybe even the third day.
But just because the starting of the two matches are reverse in appearance, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the ultimate result will be reversed as well. Aussies are the top guns and by the fourth day of the match, they could get back in the game fairly enough and ultimately could take away the match.
The fact is that the Tigers neither have the experience nor the temperament to crawl back in the game and take control as the kangaroos did in the first test match. Where the Australians only became more stubborn on the 3rd and 4th day of fist match BD might just crumble under pressure.
Unfortunately enough, we might just end up struggling for another face-saving ‘respectable defeat’ this time around.
Even the mindset of these two teams at the beginning of the 2nd test was reversed compared to the Test-1 resulting in opposite conditions.
Before the first Test match, Aussies were practically flying high with the plan in their minds for total dominance and they went out in the field hoping to crush BD to the sand. On the other hand, BD knew it could be a very tough match for them and went out there with all the cautiousness possible. Australia was brought back to earth soon with BD completely dominating the first two days and the Aussies had to sweat till the last hour of the match.
Now just take a look at the second match. Situations reversed so fast and this time Aussies were prepared on the back of their minds that it might not be just a cakewalk for them anymore... but BD, on the other hand, had already been utterly pleased by their first match performance and this time they thought they could ‘Crush’ the mighty Aussies with their new-found confidence alone. After the first two days of play in first match, Aussies were totally frustrated because they failed to dominate BD as planned. And today, the BD bowlers (specially Mash & Rajib) looked frustrated because the BD batsmen failed to make any impression as they were expecting.
Result? Well, what else can complacency produce other than ugly downfalls? You can say it fairly enough, that the Aussies will completely dominate the match for atleast the first two days and maybe even the third day.
But just because the starting of the two matches are reverse in appearance, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the ultimate result will be reversed as well. Aussies are the top guns and by the fourth day of the match, they could get back in the game fairly enough and ultimately could take away the match.
The fact is that the Tigers neither have the experience nor the temperament to crawl back in the game and take control as the kangaroos did in the first test match. Where the Australians only became more stubborn on the 3rd and 4th day of fist match BD might just crumble under pressure.
Unfortunately enough, we might just end up struggling for another face-saving ‘respectable defeat’ this time around.