Remembering Sehwag at Chennai

[goose]

No not that one, this one …

 

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-india-2004-05-61430/india-vs-australia-2nd-test-64100/full-scorecard
 

Needing 228 to win in a 4th innings chase against arguably the best test XI to ever play test cricket, Sehwag cracked 3 fours off McGrath, having just smacked a peerless 155, in what ended up being the final action in the test, as the rain descended on day 5. A chance to draw level 1-1 gone. Aus took the series 2-1.

 

Probably the most gutted I have ever been watching test cricket. India pulling out due to covid comes a close second.

[Lord]

Aus were too good in that series. No reason they couldnt have won

 

[vvvslaxman]

Tendu was missing in a couple of Tests right? If i remember right they planned well ahead. THey assimilated themselves much before the tour. Yoga and all those things. Australia was super determined to win the series in India. 

[Serpico]

7 hours ago, Lord said:

Aus were too good in that series. No reason they couldnt have won

 

Sehwag vs Warne on day 5 Chepauk would have been good battle, still 

[Gollum]

This game, and the 2002 CT finals (both) against Lankans. We weren't favorites in either of those games but thanks to rain Gods, more opportunities for us to delude ourselves. India's chasing ability (in both formats) and ability to choke was well known to all in that period. 

 

In the 2004 series, we just had Sehwag in rhythm, and his 4th innings record was a joke, all other stalwarts were either out of form or hampered by injuries (Yuvi as opener, Kaif in place of Sachin ). I mean we all know how our famed batting lineup (full strength, by then even Gambo was opening) fared against Pak in Chinnaswamy a year later on that day 5 pitch which was way flatter than this Chennai one. And if people here believe that joke attack of Sami, Razzaq, Kaneria, Afridi was more formidable than McWarne, Gillespie, Kasper.........not even getting into other comparisons like fielding, fitness, mental strength, ability to intimidate both opponents as well as umpires (Aussie gamesmanship at its peak). Aussies would have made that 220 look like 300-350 on day 5. In a different format earlier that year even Bracken, Bichel, Brad Williams, Harvey, Symonds, Clarke made 230 look like 300 in the tri series final at Eden Gardens!!!!!

 

PS: In that Chinnaswamy game also we ended day 4 confidently with Viru hitting 3 boundaries off Sami/Razzaq, next day we saw how we batted, I mean even Tendu was getting bullied by trash Sami, that minnow Pak bowling lineup toyed with us for most of the day. Imagine what McGrath would have done to those mental midgets. Even Warne was bowling well in that series. Gillespie and Kasper too at the peak of their powers. 

Edited July 9, 2023 by Gollum

[Gollum]

We must consider ourselves lucky that we didn't lose the 2004 BGT series 0-4. Never seen India play that poorly at home, granted the opponents were pretty good. Even in 2012 against Eng, we crushed them in 1st test and took 1st innings lead in Nagpur.

[Gollum]

Anyway good that we avenged this series loss in 2020-21 BGT, inarguably the greatest test series to have ever been played in the history of cricket.

Edited July 9, 2023 by Gollum

[Lord]

5 hours ago, Serpico said:

Sehwag vs Warne on day 5 Chepauk would have been good battle, still 

 

We need a Sehwag 100 to get anywhere close. It wasn't a given

[Lord]

1 hour ago, Gollum said:

We must consider ourselves lucky that we didn't lose the 2004 BGT series 0-4. Never seen India play that poorly at home, granted the opponents were pretty good. Even in 2012 against Eng, we crushed them in 1st test and took 1st innings lead in Nagpur.

The team was marred by injuries,rift and politics. Ganguly backing out of Nagpur Test symbolised everything. Imagine it happening in this age.

[sandeep]

On 7/8/2023 at 11:55 AM, goose said:

No not that one, this one …

 

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-india-2004-05-61430/india-vs-australia-2nd-test-64100/full-scorecard
 

Needing 228 to win in a 4th innings chase against arguably the best test XI to ever play test cricket, Sehwag cracked 3 fours off McGrath, having just smacked a peerless 155, in what ended up being the final action in the test, as the rain descended on day 5. A chance to draw level 1-1 gone. Aus took the series 2-1.

 

Probably the most gutted I have ever been watching test cricket. India pulling out due to covid comes a close second.

I still remember those shots he played and how he walked off after stumps.  

[vvvslaxman]

On 7/8/2023 at 11:30 PM, Gollum said:

This game, and the 2002 CT finals (both) against Lankans. We weren't favorites in either of those games but thanks to rain Gods, more opportunities for us to delude ourselves. India's chasing ability (in both formats) and ability to choke was well known to all in that period. 

 

In the 2004 series, we just had Sehwag in rhythm, and his 4th innings record was a joke, all other stalwarts were either out of form or hampered by injuries (Yuvi as opener, Kaif in place of Sachin ). I mean we all know how our famed batting lineup (full strength, by then even Gambo was opening) fared against Pak in Chinnaswamy a year later on that day 5 pitch which was way flatter than this Chennai one. And if people here believe that joke attack of Sami, Razzaq, Kaneria, Afridi was more formidable than McWarne, Gillespie, Kasper.........not even getting into other comparisons like fielding, fitness, mental strength, ability to intimidate both opponents as well as umpires (Aussie gamesmanship at its peak). Aussies would have made that 220 look like 300-350 on day 5. In a different format earlier that year even Bracken, Bichel, Brad Williams, Harvey, Symonds, Clarke made 230 look like 300 in the tri series final at Eden Gardens!!!!!

 

PS: In that Chinnaswamy game also we ended day 4 confidently with Viru hitting 3 boundaries off Sami/Razzaq, next day we saw how we batted, I mean even Tendu was getting bullied by trash Sami, that minnow Pak bowling lineup toyed with us for most of the day. Imagine what McGrath would have done to those mental midgets. Even Warne was bowling well in that series. Gillespie and Kasper too at the peak of their powers. 

 

Actually Tendu was bullied by Afridi. He was given a repreive during that painful 19 run knock. Ball was turning. Chase was in control until Gauti ran Sehwag out. Also India just had to survive 6 more overs. Match would have ended in draw. Balaji couldn't do on that track. But against Australia we had a shot given that India batted deep. Target was gettable given that Warnie hardly showed up against us.

[vvvslaxman]

Laxman always showed up against Australia in crunch games like at the wankede. He was not in touch whole series. Cometh hour cometh the man. Made an invaluable 69 in the 3rd innings which gave semblance of chance to force a result in favor of us.

[putrevus]

Indian team with their best batting talent in their history  got bullied by a so so fast bowling attack, Mcgrath while great was not running thru any batting side in India.

 

Dravid in that series showed , why he was always a supporting act rather than main batsman.

Edited July 10, 2023 by putrevus

[R!TTER]

On 7/8/2023 at 9:25 PM, goose said:

arguably the best test XI to ever play test cricket

Categorically no, peak Windies were better!

[Lord]

9 hours ago, R!TTER said:

Categorically no, peak Windies were better!

 

they didn't have ATG spinner 

[putrevus]

7 minutes ago, Lord said:

 

they didn't have ATG spinner 

They did not need it.Those fearsome foursome were enough to batter and bruise every team.

[Lord]

1 minute ago, putrevus said:

They did not need it.Those fearsome foursome were enough to batter and bruise every team.

Yes for that era they didn't 

 

But Aus were more rounded team covering all bases.

[putrevus]

12 minutes ago, Lord said:

Yes for that era they didn't 

 

But Aus were more rounded team covering all bases.

I don't think so, in any era those fearsome foursome would be enough to bruise and batter any team.

 

They would smash any Australian team into submission.

[Lord]

11 minutes ago, putrevus said:

I don't think so, in any era those fearsome foursome would be enough to bruise and batter any team.

 

They would smash any Australian team into submission.

Only if there are no helmets and seam friendly pitches.

[putrevus]

17 minutes ago, Lord said:

Only if there are no helmets and seam friendly pitches.

Are you kidding, One Mark Wood won a test with all helmets and protection.

 

Those four bowlers are 1000 times better bowlers than Wood. Great fast bowlers will always be handful.