After a mesmerizing display of cricket in Hyderabad on Thursday, India and Australia are going to face each other in the sixth ODI of the series at the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on 8 November 2009. Winning the thrilling fifth game of the series by 3 runs, Australia has taken a 3-2 lead in the series. So, India must win both of the two remaining games to win the ODI series. Following a run-feast in Hyderabad in the previous game, cricket fans are expecting another highly exciting match in Guwahati too.
Match: India vs Australia; 6th ODI, Seven-match ODI Series 2009
Date: 8 November 2009
Venue: Nehru Stadium, Guwahati, Assam, India
Time: 08:30 Local Time (03:00 GMT)
Live TV: Neo Cricket, Fox Sports, Sky Sports, DD Sports
There are many who would not forget the Hyderabad game that saw 697 runs being scored in 100 overs. Sachin Tendulkar played an epic innings of 175 off 141 balls, hitting 19 boundaries and 4 over-boundaries, and in the process, he became the first ever batsmen who reached the 17000 runs mark in ODI cricket. Hyderabad wicket did not have anything for the bowlers and Australian batsmen capitalized on that, putting on 350 runs losing only 4 wickets. Still, it was a huge total to chase, despite the batting friendly wicket. However, Australia emerged winner, despite Tendulkar’s magnificent 175. India was very much in the game even when Tendulkar got out off a slower delivery from debutant McKay as India needed 19 runs off 17 balls with 3 wickets remaining in hands. However, young Australian bowlers remained calm and composure till the end, and eventually clinched a thrilling 3-run victory, wrapping up Indian tail-enders pretty quickly.
The 36-year-old Tendulkar became the first player to score 17,000 runs in one-day internationals when he reached seven. Hitting four sixes and nine boundaries, he and Suresh Raina put on a brisk 137-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
After Tendulkar's departure, the Australian players kept their nerves and claimed the last three wickets for 15 runs. Praveen Kumar's run out in the final over sparked onfield celebrations for the injury-hit Australian team, which has seen five players return home due to injury midway from this tour.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said that India lost the mental game in the previous game, besides admitting that it was really very disheartening to lose the game after coming so close. Tendulkar has said that it was one of his best innings and losing the match was disappointing. Well, the problem with Indian team is that they lose too many wickets in the middle order. Specially, Gambhir, Yuvraj and Dhoni- three key batsmen failed to lend any support to well-set Tendulkar who single-handedly kept India in the game, and thus, once again proving that age does not matter, if you have class.
There is no doubt, Indian batsmen battled very well because chasing 350 is not a very easy task; no matter wherever the match is going on and whoever the opponent. However, Indian batsmen to some extent needed to become a bit more clinical. Specially, either Sachin Tendulkar or Suresh Raina, who shared a 137-run partnership for the fifth wicket, should have carried on till the end. However, it is also true that Indian tail-end did not show enough resistance in the game and you may not expect a lot from the likes of Nehra or Praveen Kumar, but, if India wants to become no. 1 side, they must know how to finish off games of this sort successfully.
For Australia, it was an excellent performance. Scoring 350 and then winning by 3 runs, despite someone’s contribution of 175 on opposition camp, is what that captain Ricky Ponting should be happy with. Australia was missing almost half of their regular players due to injuries. Five players went back home with injuries from India, and the bowling line up lacks experience too. Overall, Ponting could not ask anything more than what his players did in Hyderabad. Specially, debutant pacer Clint McKay bowled with brilliantly without giving much room to Tendulkar even when he was well-set in the wicket. All rounder Shane Watson once again contributed both with bat and ball as he scored 93 and picked up 3 wickets.
The most important thing that made the difference between the two sides is the fielding. Indian dropped three catches, while Australia capitalized on the half chances. Voges took one of the best catches of recent time to get rid of Indian captain Dhoni, while Praveen Kumar’s run out was also an excellent combination between Hauritz and Manou. Moreover, Australia’s electrifying ground fielding, catching and throws always posed threat for the home batsmen. On the other hand, India dropped Shaun Marsh twice on 29 and 51 and Watson also got a life. To be honest, I do not think India deserves to be no. 1 team in world cricket with such poor fielding.
Another thing is that India is badly missing experienced pacer Zaheer Khan who is currently out injured. In his absence, India’s pace department lacks experience and quality. Praveen Kumar and Nehra have been inconsistent, while Munaf Patel was given a chance, but failed to make the best use of it by conceding 73 runs in 9 overs without picking up any wicket. I am not sure if he will be given another chance or not, but I think, India can consider playing 2 pacers in the next game and can play an extra spinner because spinner have been doing better than the pacers so far in the series. Harbhajan Singh bowled considerably very well, and Yuvraj Singh and Jadeja are doing their job very well too. In that case, India could feature leg spinner Amit Mishra who did very well against Australia in the last year’s test series in India.
I think, India should play Suresh Raina at no. 5 just after Yuvraj Singh because Raina is a natural stroke player who can rotate the scoreboard as well as execute the bad deliveries for boundaries. He can play big shot whenever needed. Sending him for the last 10 or 15 overs does not utilize his talent to the fullest.
The good news for cricket fans is that Guwahati wicket could also offer lots of runs, and thus, luring the batsmen of both sides. Sunil Barua, the chief curator of the local cricket association, has said that team batting first could score above 300.
“The wicket is a sporting one and the team batting first is likely to score more than 300 runs,” Barua said Friday.
“I don’t want to guess as to whether spinners or pacers would get purchase from the wicket, but all I can say is that the wicket is compact and it should be a entertaining match,” he said.
Well, I think, Ricky Ponting should be happy with the way his young team outplayed the home side. Batsmen were really impressive, while bowlers also did their job successfully. I think, Clint McKay could become dangerous for the Indian batsmen in the sixth game. Hauritz could not perform well in the last game, but he could be dangerous in the next game too. Watson is always an excellent player whom any opponent would keep an eye on, and I think, Australia is slightly favorite ahead of the sixth game mainly because of their confidence booster win in Hyderabad.
The sixth match will not be day/night, so there will be no dew factor in the second innings. The match is scheduled to start from 09:00 in the morning, but the organizers have decided to start the game from 08:30 in order to finish the game by 04:10 pm in an attempt to avoid any problem regarding bad light because in Guwahati sun sets little early. As the match starts half an hour early, team bowling first could find some assistance from the morning dew.
Online Live Score and Updates
You can get the live score and updates of the match from the following websites:
Cricinfo
Action Cricket
Stickiewicket
Thatscricket
I think, Australia has a slight edge on confidence level, but India has all the chances to come back in the series by winning the match. Australia, on the other hand, would like to wait for the last match to decide the series. They will be determined to clinch the series by winning the sixth match of the series. Anyway, cricket fans can expect another match that they can enjoy to the fullest.
