2012 Adelaide vs 2021 Sydney

[Gollum]

Which is the greater achievement? For all the hype/acclaim 2012 Adelaide blockathon (148 overs, SCORECARD) gets (deservedly), I think the recent SCG draw (131 overs) we achieved was qualitatively much better. Similarities like both results kept visitors' series winning chances alive, both involved legendary stonewalling on day 5, both were achieved away from home

 

- 2021 Aus is an ATG bowling unit, 2012 Aus spearhead was Hilfenhaus and Lyon was a rookie.

 

- We had to face a fully fit five-man Aus attack in our 4th innings. In the 2012 test Pattinson got injured and didn't bowl a single ball in 4th innings. Hilfenhaus, Siddle, Lyon did the bulk of their bowling and Michael Clarke was Aus' 4th bowler who sent down 18 overs. Even Ponting, Warner bowled a few overs because of Pattinson's injury. 

 

- Both similar targets, 400 odd. RSA never threatened to win the match, in our case when Pant and Puji were batting post-lunch it looked like we were going for the win.

 

- Full strength RSA at peak power, #1 ranked team which had easily conquered Eng a few months earlier. ATG batting unit with stalwarts like Smith, Amla, Kallis, ABDV, Faf. We OTOH had a severely depleted team and not the best results in the lead up to this series. Moreover our 4th innings record had been a huge concern, worst in the world in the 2015-20 period. 

 

- RSA's stonewalling was done by proper batsmen like Kallis, ABDV, Faf (rookie). Apart from Puji we had a rookie, injured Pant who was dizzy at the crease cos of powerful painkillers. Vihari with a Grade 2 hamstring tear which is severe and takes 6-8 weeks before one can resume training( to his pain threshold). Ashwin as per HT story was in so much pain that he crawled to the physio's hotel room on day 5 morning, and didn't sit in the dressing room till his time to bat. Jadeja with pads on with one functioning hand and a fragile tail to follow.

 

- Whilst SCG was on the flatter side, Adelaide 2012 was next level flat. Day 1 Aus finished at 482/5, Clarke run a ball 230. Total 5 100s in that match and many 50+ scores. The SCG pitch was nothing like that.

 

- RSA more used to Aus conditions (and vice versa), for India the conditions down under are drastically different compared to Delhi, Chennai.  

 

- India's draw was more emphatic, RSA had a scare towards the end with 2 quick wickets falling and Morkel having to bat a dozen balls with Tahir to follow at #11. 

 

- Distractions for Team India like lockdown rules, restaurant controversy, racial abuse, gamesmanship by Smith, home umpires (may have psychological effect even with Taufel officiating)...... sledging and all that **** may be common in both matches.

 

IMO 2021 Sydney is the most monumental draw in the last 10-15 years, maybe even stretching back further in time. 2012 Adelaide was the gold standard when it came to earning draws, and now 2021 SCG displaces it. Who saw this coming? 

Edited January 14, 2021 by Gollum

[Gollum]

Hope this draw is a turning point for our team when it comes to 4th innings record. Should give our players more confidence, and inspiration when we find ourselves in similar situations in the future. Once we become a good 4th innings team, we will win a lot overseas, final piece of the jigsaw to become an ATG team. 

[Cricketphile]

To be entirely honest, this draw would have to be judged based on what happen the next few weeks. If India loses in Brisbane, then it loses a lot of sheen in my opinion as 1-2 or 1-3 isn't that much of a difference (taking nothing away from the draw). However, if India draws/wins the Brisbane test, and/or if this draw somehow helps the team get to the WTC final (and then win it), then it would be golden and better than Adelaide 2012. The beauty of Adelaide 2012 was that SA won the next test and won the series 1-0 thanks to that blockathon, which showed what test cricket was about; take in a lot of punches and when your time comes, deliver the knockout punch back.   

[coffee_rules]

Sydney wins hands down. Aus has a superlative bowling, batting for Home team was better in Adelaide, but we are comparing the fourth innings blockade, both were flat pitches to compare. 

[Gollum]

9 hours ago, Cricketphile said:

To be entirely honest, this draw would have to be judged based on what happen the next few weeks. If India loses in Brisbane, then it loses a lot of sheen in my opinion as 1-2 or 1-3 isn't that much of a difference (taking nothing away from the draw). However, if India draws/wins the Brisbane test, and/or if this draw somehow helps the team get to the WTC final (and then win it), then it would be golden and better than Adelaide 2012. The beauty of Adelaide 2012 was that SA won the next test and won the series 1-0 thanks to that blockathon, which showed what test cricket was about; take in a lot of punches and when your time comes, deliver the knockout punch back.   

Harsh man, we aren't even playing an A or B team in Brisbane. More like a 3rd string team with these many players out. I think we must look at the SCG efforts in isolation.