CricDigs Blogs

The ongoing test series between old rivals West Indies and Australia has thrown up some riveting sessions of classic cricket. There are certainly signs of some resurgence in the West Indian team. For the sake of cricket let us all hope and pray that they don’t falter to deceive ( as they have done several times). Some amount of the resurgence can be directly attributed to the departure of Lara, whose retirement seems to have re-ignited the ‘team spirit’. A lot of it though, has got to do with that unsung hero of our times, Shivnarine Chanderpaul. He has single handedly bailed out his team , time and again, in test match after test match. ( akin to Daniel Vettori, who has been surprisingly one of the most consistent test batsman in recent times - again an unsung hero).

It may also point to the decline of the Aussies, after the mass exodus of great players. Although India gave them a run for their money ( but for the ‘Sydneygate’, I feel that India were the real winners in the series), it was on expected lines. The West Indies making them sweat is something that is heartening to see.

It is also time to appreciate Ricky Ponting’s captaincy during this crucial juncture in Australian cricket. He has held the team together even after the mass exodus of several of their matchwinners, Damien Martyn, Justin Langer, Glenn Mcgrath, Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Bradd Hogg and now Stuart Macgill. Remember, Australia were down in dumps after the retirement of Greg Chappell, Rod Marsh and Dennis Lillee during the mid 1980s. I still remember Kim Hughes, the then captain quitting cricket amidst tears, as he could literally win nothing , with a new look Australian team. It was left to the great Allan Border to tailor a turn around along with the equally great Bobby Simpson.