A complete reversal of fortune

Sometimes, when watching a match one team appears to be dictating, one can sense an imminent breakthrough that may change the course of play, or at least a gradual transference of momentum. Other times, a complete reversal of fortune comes from nowhere like a savage tornado. On the opening day of the second Test, it was unquestionably the latter.

On a flat pitch against a depleted bowling attack toiling on a ground made for high scoring, the Australians were fulfilling their goal of asserting authority over India from the first ball. India, needing to create and then take all possible opportunities, had missed a vital one when Dravid dropped first Test centurion Hayden on 67. Hayden, in supreme form, had then marched to the brink of his second successive hundred as Australia, scoring comfortably at almost four runs per over without having batted extravagantly, completed two sessions of authoritative batting to be 1/193 at tea and in firm control of its series destiny.

In ideal batting conditions against an Indian team struggling to make an impression with the ball, and with two ensconced top order batsmen, the final session, which was to be a tiring 37 overs due to the hosts' dreadful over rate, was set up for the Australians to drive home their hard-earned advantage by pushing towards a total of 350. What followed, from whichever angle you analyse it, is what makes Test cricket a great sport.

With the trend of play seemingly set, Harbhajan Singh became the unlikely bowler to dramatically shift the balance of power and, in the process, achieve the highest individual bowling feat. The Australians, with the series there to be won, threw away a golden opportunity by experiencing one of the calamitous sessions they talk about avoiding.

It began innocuously enough, with Hayden attempting to reach what would have been a glorious century with a big hit, lofting Harbhajan to deep mid wicket as India doubled its wicket tally. Zaheer Khan, who had appeared the most likely to make an impact, earned his second wicket by having the scratchy but eventually settled Langer drive loosely at a wide ball. This, of course, came after India had seemingly blown another opportunity to gain a foothold when Tendulkar spilt a difficult diving chance at square leg off a mistimed Langer pull shot. But with Langer departing anyway, becoming the third of the Aussie top three to get out without fully converting a start, India had brought a new pair to the crease, even if it was the formidable Waugh brothers.

It must be remembered here that Harbhajan, after beginning to spin the Aussies into a hole at Mumbai, had been dominated by Gilchrist and Hayden as they mercilessly swept him away. It was thus important to begin well against the main batsmen in the second Test. But he did not. Harbhajan's first four overs cost 29 as Hayden dished out more of the same treatment.

Despite this setback, Harbhajan persisted and became the catalyst behind India's revival. Mark Waugh, in top form after his romp in Delhi, was pushed onto the back foot and edged a straight one, the first true indication that the loss of a couple of wickets was not an aberration to be brushed aside in the drive to a massive total but a sign that ascendancy was changing hands. So, with the last pair of specialist batsmen at the crease in Steve Waugh and Ponting, the point had arrived where one has come to expect to see the Aussies defend for a short while, then counter-attack towards the end of play as they build another solid partnership on the way to a score of around 400. But no, that was not going to happen either as Ponting became Harbhajan's victim again, trapped in front by a quicker one as Harbhajan proceeded to become India's inaugural hat-trick hero.

Gilchrist, wreaker of so much havoc in Mumbai, lasted just one ball. It's amazing to recall him batting so destructively when it all it took here was one simple delivery, even if it did pitch outside leg. The hat-trick dismissal was also contentious in mode, but not in brilliance of execution.

Shane Warne, who claimed his own hat-trick seven years ago thanks to an exceptional diving catch by David Boon at short leg, watched as Ramesh pulled off a similar feat of stunning reflexes. Just why it was referred to the third umpire is uncertain. There was no doubt over the legitimacy of the catch itself, but it was an extremely close call as to whether Warne jammed the ball into the pitch before it reached Ramesh. However, it is not within the third umpire's jurisdiction to rule upon that aspect of a dismissal, which must be why he viewed only one replay of the catch being held, rather than the ball squeezing off the toe of bat, before confirming the deed. It was yet another case of confusion reigning over a third umpire's involvement in a catching decision, but nothing could detract from Harbhajan's performance.

Harbhajan proved that quality spin bowling remains the art with the most potential to shred the Australian batting. It has been done by Kumble, Muralitharan, Saqlain and now him. No matter what the score, danger seems to lurk behind every interval when it comes to Australians facing spin, especially on tour. Harbhajan showed that spinners have the greatest chance to capture wickets in quick succession against the Aussies, and what better way to claim a bunch of wickets than with a hat-trick? It was even more creditable on a pitch not yet offering appreciable turn.

Another wicket was to fall courtesy of the villain-turned-hero, Sourav Ganguly, who had a memorable first day in charge at home after all. But the majority of the damage had already been done in a surreal final session. What had begun as two set batsmen irresponsibly conceding their wickets turned into a rout. A sub-300 total looks grossly inadequate on this pitch so Australia may require an unpredictable turn of events itself to stay competitive. That, though, would not be quite so surprising.

Daniel Laidlaw

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