Australia win covers cracks
December 30, 2011 08:29:12 UK
Having cruised past India in the first Test, Australia are on course to whitewash their opponents, according to home commentators.
The fact that touring sides are rarely fully prepared for the opening Test appears to have been ignored. New Zealand, who even a Kiwi would admit are not as strong as India, were summarily dismissed by the Aussies in their first Test, but came back to win the second.
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Sri Lanka, who had not won a Test since Murali retired, were hammered by South Africa in the opening gambit but cruised home in the second game. Australia did the same against the Proteas in their two-match series.
Rahul Dravid was bowled twice in the first Test and that is unlikely to happen again. Zaheer Khan eased his way into the tour and will be a much more deadly opponent in the later games. Virender Sehwag is another who under-performed and will improve while Umesh Yadav has already decided he likes bowling to the hosts' top order.
Add to this the fact that the key stand between Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey saw four genuine appeals turned down and India can have hope. This will be multiplied by the fact that the next venue is Sydney where Sachin Tendulkar averages 221.33 while VVS Laxman averages a paltry 96.2.
Both players have hit three centuries there and Sachin has only failed to hit a first innings ton in four visits. It is also the 100th Test at Sydney, so what better occasion for Tendulkar to register his elusive 100th international century.
India are 3.10 to win the second Test while Australia can be backed at 2.15 and the draw is 3.80.
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