Michaelmas

Australia v India, Ist ODI at Bangalore, 2007 ODI Series

Having just witnessed my first tournament of T20 games, the first ODI hit me between the eyes. To begin with, I couldn't take time off from work to see it from the beginning and then there were all those interruptions which snap the thread of concentration. A drama must be witnessed unhindered by mundane concerns.

We have watched so many ODI's since television took over our cricket, and ODI's had ceased to enthuse unless there was an outstanding plot in it with each player playing his timely and superb role in it, that more often than not one watched them simply because it is preferable to watch them than golf, fake wrestling.

So yesterday, 29th September, on the day of Miachaelmas, one was stunned by the study in contrast since the T20. All of a sudden one was able to rediscover the subtle sub-plots and delicate expressions by the various players in narrating the story to us. ODI's almost appeared like a test match! At 90-4, with Gilchrist, hayden, Hodge and that Symonds of the curious expressions, back in the hut, India were commanding the stage. But one knew this wasn't a comicbook tale whose story was done telling in four illustrated pages.

There would be another chapter, a second act and more.

Michael "The Pup" Clarke stepped on stage. He isn't just an inspired actor of the moment; he is a gifted player who sparkles with inspiration. There was Mark, the waugh twin, then there was Damien. Artistic flourishes in an Australian regiment.

The trio of Clarke, Haddin and Hopes ruled the stage till the end with their specific parts played with vision, clarity, sensitivity and excellence.

The score wasn't important...130?..131?..one just watched him play forgetting time, team, and tactics.

The third act was too brief but not without a critical twist in the plot. The fallen king had to be eliminated from the story - his role had run out. Sachin played like he didn't belong anymore and was out for duck. I wasn't surprised he was out, for he gave enough clues; I wasn't surprised he got out to the ball that came into him - it's almost tiresome now to keep pulling out that flaw in his batsamnaship over and over again. It doesn't need a Fanie de Villiers, Allan Donald, Wasim Akram or Chaminda Vaas to exploit it now. Each and every new kid on the block is lining up Sachin in those cross-hairs. And Mitchell Johnson isn't exactly green and wet. I wasn't surprised at all....almost expected it. This was the only guessable flaw in a story which had tremendous supense until then.

The spirits of Africa were drenched soon enough; the rain poured in torrents to play out the final act of this match. The suspense remains in the series; a lease of life has been given to the new champion; the veteran of many war victories has challenged hard; and the youthful Dhoni must find a way to communicate with, extract the best from, and mould somehow waning warriors into the fabric of his vision without ruffling their bristling feathers.