Wizards of Oz look for revenge
As you read this, Australian captain Mark Taylor leads his
team
to India tomorrow for a tour which may prove a defining moment of
his successful reign.
Under Taylor, Australia has in recent years made a fair claim to the title of the world's best cricket team, with triumphs in England, South Africa and West Indies.
Noticeably absent from Taylor's collection of scalps, however, are Pakistan and India.
Australia's last victory over either of its subcontinent rivals
was 28 years ago, when Bill Lawry's team beat India 3-1 in the
1969-70 season. In Pakistan, Australia's last triumph was in the 1959-60 season -- but again, Taylor will get his chance later this year, when the two countries are slated to go head-on.
So determined is Taylor to add both India and Pakistan to his list of victims that he used the upcoming series against India to motivate him during a personal low last year, in course of Australia's tours of South Africa and England.
Aware that his own batting form -- or lack thereof -- might deprive him of captaincy before he had a chance to set the sub-continental record straight, Taylor thus gritted it out and held on to his throne with a fine century in England.
His ability to win Tests despite poor personal form was the only
reason he held his place, and he has since responded with centuries
at home against New Zealand and South Africa after the come from behind series win in England. In the process, Taylor also led his country to series wins against both the Kiwis and the Proteas.
"I was thinking about our recent record the other day, and we've
beaten the West Indies away, South Africa away, England away and
the last time we went to Sri Lanka we won as well, so our recent
away record has been pretty good,'' Taylor said in Melbourne before taking the flight to India.
"But the only places we haven't won in are India and Pakistan, and we get the chance to rectify both this year. I think that will
hold us in good stead, and it certainly ensures we will have plenty
of motivation.''
If Taylor and his men need any more motivation, there is the fact that in the one-off Test in Delhi in 1996 for the newly instituted Gavaskar-Border Trophy, the Aussies came a cropper despite chasing a low fourth innings total.
The last full series Australia has played on Indian soil however was way back in 1986-87, when the record books witnessed two draws, and a famous tie in Madras.
Of that team, Steve Waugh is the sole survivor, though several other members of the current squad have played one day cricket in India over the years.
"Remember we won the World Cup in India in 1987 and we were runners up in 1996, when most of our matches were played in India, so there again our record is pretty good," Taylor said. Again, this omits mention of the fact that in the Titan Cup of 1996 featuring Australia, South Africa and India, the host team pulled off a superb upset win to go into the final ahead of Australia, and in fact went on to win the cup.
Australia's major concern is the absence, because of injuries,
of main strike bowlers Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie. The pace attack thus will be led by Michael Kasprowicz and Paul
Reiffel with assistance from newcomers Adam Dale and Paul Wilson.
This is a largely inexperienced attack, with Reiffel, the most experienced, being actually support bowler when the lineup includes McGrath and Gillespie.
It is the presence of ace leggie Shane Warne that provides the cutting edge. Interestingly, his career record shows that he has just one single wicket of an Indian batsman, in his collection of 302 Test scalps.
After spearheading the Aussie win against South Africa, Warne was rested for the low key ODI tour of New Zealand, in a bid to keep him fresh for the Indian challenge.
"I think it was a good decision by the selectors to rest Warney
from the New Zealand tour and knowing Shane, I'm sure he has either
had his feet up or been down at (the) beach,'' Taylor said. "He did look jaded in Adelaide but I think you will find he will come
good in India.''
The three-Test series will be followed by a one day series that also includes Zimbabwe.
Australia kicks off its campaign with a three day warm up game against Ranji champions Bombay, beginning February 24. The first Test is slated to begin in Madras on March 6.
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