Aussie aggression pays off

Daniel Laidlaw

Entering the third Test, there was concern over Australia's confidence and mentality. How much would the amazing reversal in Kolkata take out of the World champions, and could they regroup in time for the critical decider in Chennai?

The answer was provided in a display of remarkable courage on the morning of the third Test. In Australia's most important match since the fourth Test against the West Indies in the Caribbean two years ago, you might have expected the tourists to be somewhat tense, guarding against a sudden loss of wickets that would have doomed their aspirations of a series victory. Instead, they responded more audaciously than ever.

Having won a critical toss, the Australians decided that the best method of success was to confront the bowling head on. A couple of reckless shots were part of the reason for the second innings collapse in Kolkata, but rather than bat a little more circumspectly, the Australians came out blazing. Evidently, they thought they had not been aggressive enough, and left no-one in any doubt as to their strategy in the third Test. If they were going to go down, they were going to go down swinging.

The first over was a microcosm of the first session, and to a lesser extent the day - 11 runs and a wicket. It did not let up in one of the most daring openings to a Test match imaginable. There was little suicidal about it, though, as Hayden and Langer picked the deliveries to hit and proceeded to do so with extreme confidence.

Matthew Hayden has been a revelation on this tour. With his long-term position far from secured before the series, Hayden has batted like an experienced Test opener accomplished at playing on all kinds of surfaces. Hayden must have quietly worked on his play against spin in recent times because his handling of the slow bowlers has been particularly impressive. A large part of his planning clearly revolves around the sweep, a shot he played with considerable control. Hayden's steady accumulation through sweeping was punctuated by some magnificent straight hits as he dominated from the outset.

Unlike Hayden, Justin Langer hasn't batted with the same control and his continued assault on Harbhajan had an air of vulnerability to it. Langer's sweeping has been more wild than calculated and his risky approach, while admirable in its intent, has seemed slightly beyond the abilities of the pugnacious No. 3. Doubtlessly feeling Langer had got away with more than he deserved, it's no wonder Harbhajan was fired up when Langer tried to cut one he shouldn't have. Nevertheless, Langer's 35 off as many balls was statement of intent and set the innings on the desired course for the tourists.

By selecting three spinners, or more accurately one genuine seam bowler, India gambled heavily upon winning the toss and bowling last. With the ball coming nicely onto the bat early in the day, Hayden and Langer took advantage of India having to bowl its slow men virtually from the start.

In the two days between matches, the Aussies must have decided that the problems incurred by Harbhajan resulted from playing him half-heartedly, rather than with too much zeal. So with runs having to be scored from the spinners anyway, they felt they might as well get them from India's No. 1. The way they did so was extraordinary.

An all-or-nothing strategy takes a great deal of courage, yet they pulled it off for minimal loss. Australia would have been happy to accept a score of 2/140 after two hours of a one-day international, with the irony being it was mainly provided by two batsmen who won't be around when the shortened games begin.

Mark Waugh's knock was an effort of substance over style but he could only suppress his instincts for so long. The junior Waugh may not like to be compared with his brother but in this case it is deserved. Where you can be sure the elder Waugh would have done everything in his power to ensure he capitalised on a good wicket against an inexperienced attack, Mark Waugh threw his innings away. Bahutule was bowling for a mistake and Waugh provided it, skying the ball to mid off as he lost patience and attempted a big hit to the leg side. Considering he was in the middle of a dominating partnership of 150, thoroughly in control, and that a similar shot by Hayden had precipitated a slump in the first innings of the previous match, it was inexcusable.

Due to Hayden's discipline and Steve Waugh's similar self-control, Mark Waugh's error did not precede a middle order slump this time. With the boundaries protected in the final session, it is a credit to Australia's approach that it did not concede any wickets attempting to maintain the impossibly high standards of the previous two-thirds of the day. Ominously for India, Hayden looked like the batting machine he has been for Queensland and the partnership with Steve Waugh was more merciless than anything seen thus far.

India lacked a second fast bowler to exploit the early bounce and had paid for it by the end of the day. It is an indictment of the three spinners chosen that Tendulkar flighted and spun the ball more than they did and generally presented greater menace. It might have been a different story bowling second but stuck in the field first, it already appears that Kulkarni would have been enough to maintain pressure for Harbhajan, with Tendulkar available for variety. At this rate, India will need an encore from VVS Laxman.

Match report

Hayden grinds India on day one

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