Batting capitulation proved Australia's undoing

Daniel Laidlaw

To defend a low target, almost every run of play must favour the bowling side. On the final day of the series that did not quite happen, and India won despite a magnificent fightback by Australia's bowlers. More specifically, fast bowlers Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie.

Australia's pre-series philosophy was to attack the Indians with pace. They did. Australia's two leading quicks put in an enormous effort and formed the most successful part of the tourists' series. Despite falling two wickets shy of a dream, the fast bowlers could not be faulted. The batsmen are to blame for not providing enough runs or resistance to win the match and series.

Australia lost the third Test, and therefore the series, in the first session of day two. With a precious opportunity provided by Matthew Hayden's century platform, Australia had its chance to come back from the demoralising Kolkata miracle and score the 500-plus runs that would have given it absolute control. Steve Waugh's 'hand-of-god' dismissal, and Harbhajan Singh's wicket-taking wonders, combined with reckless batting threw it away. The collapse of 7/51 in 110 minutes felt pivotal at the time and proved to be so.

Steve Waugh mentioned at the end of it all how proud he was of Australia's effort on the final day, and there could be no question of that. The unspoken condemnation was of the batting, and the rapid and momentous slides it suffered. If Australia were to identify the key moments where the series was lost, they would be the final session of the second Test and the first of the second day in Chennai.

The last time Australia lost a series, in Sri Lanka two years ago, was due to a batting capitulation. It proved their undoing again.

It was appropriate that Harbhajan hit the winning runs. After all, he'd done just about everything else for India in a phenomenal one-man show. In a remarkable series of superlative matches and record accomplishments, Harbhajan's performance stands out. Australia lost a total of 50 wickets in the series, 49 of them to bowlers. Of those bowlers, Harbhajan claimed 32, the rest of India claimed 17. Often statistics are misleading, but those stats accurately reflect his predominance.

The quality of cricket, the competitiveness of the matches, the record achievements and the sudden, continual switches of momentum and ascendancy made it a unique series. If there has been a better three-match series in the history of Test cricket, then I would like to see it. For all the lamentations over player behaviour, umpiring standards and corruption, you would think cricket was in depression. In truth, it's in a golden age.

Controversy is an omnipresent part of the game. It is impossible to imagine Test cricket played better than it is by Australia and its adversaries right now.

For India, it would have been impossible to script a greater comeback and result. The continual drama and excitement allied to the fact Australia virtually had its holy grail by mid-series must make it one of India's best ever victories.

On the last day, India surely had to expect that Australia would defend its target as fiercely as it could, and would be looking to seize upon the slightest opening. In keeping with the theme of the series, each time it appeared India was finally safe, Australia grabbed another wicket to keep the flicker of hope alive. At seven down with 20 runs remaining, the match was as even as it had been for the entire five days.

Nevertheless, the perfect run of play Australia so desperately needed did not eventuate, as fate decreed that not one of Dighe's innumerable play-and-misses would be an edge that went to hand. What it would have given for even 20 runs more worth of the commitment from the batsmen who failed to stick with Hayden in the first innings.

India's greatest asset and smartest policy in the run chase was its run rate. Teams which become shotless facing small targets are the ones that stumble. There is no higher pressure on the bowling team than that of runs. The less number of overs you give them to take wickets, the less likely they are to bowl you out. Only allowing Australia 41.1 overs, and scoring at four per over for the majority of the innings, was the factor that saved India.

Hopefully, the self-belief generated by the series triumph will make India a better team. With Srinath and Zaheer Khan, India has a pace attack to make use of livelier pitches in the rest of the world. In Kumble and Harbhajan, it has a spin combination to win matches at home. With Das at the top of the order and a confident Laxman having made No. 3 his own, India has a smoothly functioning batting line-up. Whether it is one that will stand up away from home remains to be seen. As Australia still suffers on slow pitches that turn, so too does India remain vulnerable on faster ones that bounce. Both sides have areas upon which to improve.

For Australia, there is not one mitigating factor in its performance. The final frontier was just too much. Flaws, hidden on friendlier pitches and against weaker opponents, were harshly exposed and then exploited. At least it now knows exactly where it stands and what it has to work on to be better.

The series loss does not change Australia's current world standing, only puts its recent achievements into proper historical perspective. It may be the most consistent team, but can't beat the rest of the world in its own backyard, and hence shouldn't be classified as "great." The batsmen must be able to adapt successfully to varied conditions before that label can be applied.

The series was an educational experience. As with some of the best lessons, for the Aussies it was an unpleasant one. The final frontier, so near yet so far, remains unconquered.

More on Day 5 of the third Test

For Australia, it is the Lost Frontier
Magical 'Bhajji' thanks Kumble, Wright
Adam Gilchrist in Real Audio -- Day 5
Images of Day 5 - third Test

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