Having whipped Australia, the Indians now look set to take on England. Is cricket headed for a new world order, asks Rob Steen in the Financial Times
When Australia’s cricket team flew to India early last month they had their sights on matching one of the game’s longest-standing records. When they flew home this week, they had been soundly beaten and captain Ricky Ponting faced fierce criticism. Even those with a poor sense of smell scented an era’s end.
A ninth consecutive victory in a Test series would have equalled England’s sequence between 1884 and 1892. Instead, Australia dominated the first two days of the opening Test but allowed India’s eighth-wicket pair to save the follow-on. Then they were drubbed in the second Test and spent the last two chasing shadows.
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Harsha Bhogle in The Indian Express
Indian cricket has taken giant strides in the world’s toughest testing ground. Some wonderful cricket was played on the ground and it was the attitude that fuelled it as much as the ability. This might be the turning point in our cricket, though the assessment must be made a little later — every event seems momentous in the hours immediately following it.
But as far as I recall, it has been a long time since a set of youngsters took the opportunity that was offered them so spontaneously and that is why I believe the reason for this success goes beyond training on a cricket ground. It has to be symbolic of a larger force, a greater movement. Something bigger than what we saw on a cricket field is taking place in India and that is what makes the present moment so terribly exciting.
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