A Grimms Tale For The Fairies At The Bottom Of The Garden

The Brother's Grimm -
fairy tales do come true

Just about all the fairy tales that had been written for the SCG 100th Test came wonderfully true: Ricky Ponting finally slew his dragon; Michael Clarke wooed his reluctant princess; Michael Hussey killed the big bad wolf; and Rip Van Hilfenhaus woke from his slumber.

These were tales that expected a happy outcome but their time was coming sometime, not necessarily in Sydney but for Sachin Tendulkar and the tens of thousands that watched him bat, the chance for the perfect outcome was denied by the tenacity of the Australian bowlers and his own timidity. Again on what proved to be the final day, the two facets of Tendulkar showed: the brilliant, audacious stroke making Little Master who made a mockery of the constant threat from the pace attack and the shy, reluctant boy who tried hard to protect his things from the older boys but had them looted anyway. If it were possible to offer advice that might filter through the multitude of solutions being offered the best batsman the game has so far known, Ian Chappell's sage might be the a singularity to rule the highlight pen over. Ignore the wishes of others and bat for yourself. That hundredth 100 looked to be inside the next cupboard door yesterday as Tendulkar rattled through a quick search in the morning but when he reached the seventies after lunch and with the new ball looming, he became too careful and Clarke removed him via Brad Haddin's gloves to Michael Hussey.

It was another wasted opportunity for a man who wasted so few in his first twenty years dominating bowlers across the planet. Twelve months have passed since his last hundred and he is now enduring his longest walk through the batting desert of his career. Two 90's have teased him further and with Sydney having been his oasis over the years, he looked likely to drink deeply at the run well. As it was, he proved his quality in a team of new stars and fading super novas, averaging 60 for the game but his second innings 80 wasn't enough for team or Tendulkar. Someday The Prince will find his Cinderella.

Hilfenhaus bowled wonderfully well on a flat wicket which was slower again on the fourth day. Having dismissed Dravid on the previous afternoon with a peach, he bowled Laxman when he was set and in complete command of the bowling, with an even better delivery. Hitting the top of off stump, defended by a class batsman who is set on a plum wicket is the best of achievements and not too much later in the afternoon, Hilfenhaus held the cherry aloft signifying a second five wicket haul in as many Tests since his recall.

thecricketragic was wrong about him. His variations of pace, his controlled use of the bouncer as a shock weapon, the late outswing and an off cutter which does no more than hold its line, are all more of a new year package than looked possible.

Siddle was Siddle and long may he be so. First bloke to chose, last man to discard.

If there were concerns, they would be Pattinson and Lyon. Post match scans have revealed stress fractures in the big man's left foot, so cotton wool will be wrapped around him and he'll miss the remainder of the Indian series. The selectors will want him for the Caribbean. India will no doubt be relieved but the quick rotations bought on by injury mean that Australia has others to call on who have already had some Test experience. For Lyon, a defensiveness has crept into his bowling in the last two Tests. He hasn't been needed as much as the quicks as India's much vaunted batting line up has been shattered often enough and his bowling yesterday had no loop or drift but was flat and drilled in at off stump. Without doubt, it was a dead wicket, but Clarke, no more than a handy part timer, bowled with air and gained spin. Perhaps Lyon needs to be given some sunshine and attention and a specialist spinner bought in to work with him for a week and turn him back to earlier pages of his story book.

It was a magnificent and moving game of cricket. Despite the crippling deficit, India batting defiantly in the later chapters and scored 400. Gambhir, Dravid and Laxman all showed improved form and Tendulkar was as good as he's been all tour. In Ravi Ashwin they have the allrounder most teams are looking for and batting him at eight gives the order great depth. Zaheer and Inshant will be better bowlers in Perth, with the Freeo Doctor blowing but Zaheer must develop resilience when attacked and Ishant must bowl a fuller length. After a good game in Melbourne, the youngster Yadav was ordinary here, unable to maintain a consistent length or line despite his pace. Their greatest problems, like Australia, appear to be the top three and a lack of penetration by anyone except Zaheer.

It was a near perfect game by Australia but it needs to be remembered that Dave Warner, Ed Cowan and Shaun Marsh were all gone inside nine overs on Tuesday afternoon before the Brothers Grimm told their tales for the next two days. That errant spell of bowling late on Thursday afternoon can't all be blamed on Pattinson's cracked metatarsal. India were allowed to play at only one ball an over for the last fifteen overs before stumps at a time when they were most vulnerable.

These are small details in the storyline. Those lucky enough to find the readies and attend on multiple days saw an innings that is unlikely to be repeated in their lifetime. Clarke's 329 set all sorts of records but it beat the oldest record in Australian cricket, Reg Foster's 287 in 1903 so it's unlikely it will be beaten full stop but in the lifetime of even the most wide eyed youngster even less likely. For an old timer like thecricketragic, who saw Doug Walters score the next best Aussie score of 242 against the West Indies in 1969, this was the stuff to make my eyes water and the chest swell with appreciation for the event and the game that can still throw them up. Hussey was magnificent: the exactness of his strokeplay and power drawn from timing was reminiscent of Adam Gilchrist and he was able to accelerate when Clarke had periods of stymie.

Ponting's innings almost faded behind Clarke: in some ways appropriately as the young bull dominated the stage. He was glorious, with on driving as good as at any time in his career. His square cut and back foot drives forward of point were as good as have ever been seen on this ground or anywhere and his pulling and hooking was trademark Ponting. That last, nervous, misjudged single to break the bogeyman's back could not have been more perfect, nor Dravid's reaction, one champion to another. As he stood, all the sarcasm and tiredness of twenty years of touring and media calls and pressure to remain the best was gone, replaced by a boy's smile and the innocence of a first century and first dreams realised.

To be informed during the Ponting-Clarke partnership that a poem written to recreate a boy's first experience of Test cricket which reinforced the hero-worship previously lavished from afar, was icing plied thick on an already tasty cake. The poem would hang beside the hero's Baggy Green at the SCG. Having desired to play there but fallen woefully short in the ability required, then still having any sort of parity - even if gained through a backdoor entry - was an unanticipated pleasure. The timing could not have been better.

For one reason or another, like me, there will be smiles on faces for those who read fairy tales for some time to come.