Scratching Your Head - No, It's Test Cricket

It's interesting how often the media report with baited eulogy and gleeful blame, that Test cricket is dead. Were science fiction a factor, journalists might well have emerged from a worm hole, fresh from the late 1950's or perhaps the middle 1960's or anywhere in the 1980's. In those time frames, cricket was either dull or dominated and results were predictable. The other certainty to bring to such fantasy is that none of those time travelling journalists would be Indian.

Reports of its death, based on the Test cricket of the past three weeks, have been greatly exaggerated. In fact, based on the Test cricket since the mid 1990's, Test cricket is unlikely to die. If one man can be held responsible, look in Mark Taylor's direction. His mantra of playing matches for a result was based on the belief that the approach produced better cricket for spectators and players. When administrators legislated West Indian tactics from the game, the deceit of slowing play down so that four fast bowlers could cripple a day's play was removed and the opportunity for a Shane Warne or a Murali was opened.

Test cricket has produced more results in the last fifteen years than at any time in its history post timeless Tests and uncovered pitches. When the cycle of dominance of one team is broken, it also produces oddities - unexpected twists and turns as players lift from being brow beaten and into self belief.

At Mumbai in the last week, 1153 runs were scored in four days of cricket on a pitch imported from the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Twenty two unlucky fellows lost their jobs at a bowler abattoir, usually because they tired of the slaughter.

On the last day, runs were still scored by wickets tumbled aplenty, as India and the West Indies played out the closest draw that 2019 Test matches have yet thrown up. None can ever be closer, with India needing one run, the West Indies one wicket and the last wicket of the day falling after its final ball, as Ashwin was run out trying  to return from a deadlock holiday. This was a match that was dead and predictable after the West Indies made a million in their first innings and India replied making a million less 108. At stumps, West Indies were batting comfortably toward an extended net session.

Someone forgot to tell the Cricket Gods and didn't they strike with punitive vengeance on Day 5.

Samuels stumped for 0

Pragyan Ohja and Ravi Ashwin did the hot knife through butter trick in a West Indian Calypso Collapso morning. Both took four wickets but Ohja snared five of the top six. Brathwaite and Bravo both got balls which jumped of the track a little more than expected and Samuels played a penny dreadful, jumping down the wicket to be stumped in Dhoni's sleep. Ashwin got Powell with the only lbw of the match and what a brave decision it was! Replays suggest it was out but there are few who will give such as these any more, preferring to say no and let technology make the call. Of course DRS is a dirty acronym in India.

The tail surrendered meekly - Ashwin taking nine for the match to go with his lower order century and India's improbable victory which may have been in Dhoni's dreams when he woke, loomed as easily possible.

Kohil made 63 in the chase

After 90 minutes of Sehwag's creativity and Dravid's unflappable solidarity, the win was a certainty. The runs required v overs left equation had the West Indies grasping at what ever was left after the straws were exhausted. Then some luck. The tireless Bishoo bowled too full to Sehwag who was shaping to reverse sweep but played through too quickly and back edged instead to Sammy at conventional slip. It was bizarre. Soon after, Dravid and Tendulkar lobbed to mid wicket where first Ramdin and then Edwards held screamers. The win was still on but then Laxman top-edge a pull to Barath and Dhoni drove uppishly to short cover where Edwards held another beauty. Kohli, holding things together through the crisis, joined with Ashwin to put India back in the picture and just 19 from victory. Bishoo claimed him with an ordinary ball when Kohli tried to give it too much in a cut shot and sent it Sammy for his third catch of the innings. Nineteen to go and three wickets left. With four required, Rampaul moved one back in at Sharma and bowled him. Seven balls left. The new batsman, Aarun, got singles at the end of the Rampaul over and with Fidel Edwards bowling, another off the fourth ball of the last over. 1 required. Ashwin survived a massive lbw appeal of the fifth but he had wood on it. He sent the last ball to long on but was beaten to the keeper by Ramdin's return.

Five days of cricket came down to one ball, a bowler, a batsman and the skills of the fieldsman.

As for those that want to write of death, the dirty dancing they intend for Test cricket's wake will have to be wall flowered for the time being. If you can't wait, pop back down that worm hole. Ken Barrington and Bob Simpson are waiting for you there.