Currently: Day four, India 260-3, trailing Australia by 208.
Last night, before lunch, I experienced one of my favorite cricket moments ever. (Admittedly, my experience is limited.)
Michael Clarke was in the 280s. He had taken his helmet off as India had brought spin into the attack. The commentators were silent (still not sure if they were actually quiet or if there was a technical glitch.) There was the softest of buzzes from the stands.
And there stood Clarke, in his baggy green hat, and his label-free bat, looking exhausted but focused, like a cricketer from another era, another century.
Some cynics will say that Clarke was playing up the part, hamming it up in order to regain the favor of the fans and the press, and well, no matter, he won me over. It was a wonderful moment, and it brought out the romantic in me.
At this moment, however, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar look not like cricketers from earlier time, but like themselves from just a few short years ago.
Their partnership today is at 92 runs, and they look to be in good enough form to maybe, just maybe, keep India in this match.
Unfortunately, there looks to be no chance of rain today or tomorrow in Sydney, so if they want to earn a draw, they are going to just keep on batting.
And, really, once they lose their fourth wicket, that really could be it for India. Next is Kohli, who has had a terrible series, and Dhoni, who as we saw in the first innings cannot carry this team all on his own.
So the partnership of VVS and Sachin is India’s only hope.
Thankfully, for India, they are in good hands. Tendulkar, of course, has over 15,000 test runs, and Laxman has almost 9,000…
And just like that, just as I was looking into the partnership totals of Laxman and Tendulkar, the Captain Clarke strikes: Tendulkar: OUT for 80 off of 141 deliveries.
It is surely Michael Clark’s test match.
A lovely knock under pressure for the little man, but India needed more.
And that is probably it. I was hoping to be able to have one more night of cricket viewing tomorrow evening, but I have a feeling will all be lucky if this match makes it to the tea break.
And with that, I am going to sign off an enjoy it while I can.
Until next time.
Limited Overs 