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May 2017 Edition of Power Politics is updated.  Happy Diwali to all our subscribers and Distributors       May 2017 Edition of Power Politics is updated.   Happy Diwali to all our subscribers and Distributors       
Issue:May' 2017

TEST CRICKET

India is No. 1

K.R.Wadhwaney

Bhuvneshwar Kumar Me e r u t ' s B h u v n e s h w a r Kumar bagged three centurion in eight innings Steve Smith Bradman's (17) dismissal in the second innings.
The skipper went for a pre-determine shot, the ball swerved a bit, stood up, and hit inner edge before uprooting bails.
It was a beautiful ball. Smith's early walk back rendered lesser fries in dress room, 'self-sledged, brain dead' and care-worn. They did not have a stomach to bat as Indians were ferocious tigers. Earlier, Umesh Yadav bowled an inspired spell. He was teasing and tormenting the Australian openers with a lively overs to raise a possibility of the debacle of the side. The tourists were in a state of disturbed heart and panic. Most of the batsmen were completely befuddled. The 'complete' player of the series and now a responsible all-rounder, Jadeja, and a regular 'mover and shaker', Ashwin, excelled in mopping up operations to push the visitors further Down Under. . The march to middle and retreat to pavilion was un- Australian-like. They were dismissed for 137 leaving India to get merely 106 to win the Test. The track was worn out in sessions of 10th and 11th but the target was too small The real heroes of the decisive turn around of the intricate plot were, however, maverick Jadeja and resolute Saha, whose work behind the stilts and batting.
His doings had the stamp of maturity. His d e t e r m i n e d defence and style of compiling runs were delightful. Jadeja was not a stylist but the ball raced to the boundary behind or he sent it in stands, to the great delight of spectators. He had no prescribe canonical way to execute his shots. His forte was composition and not the grammar. He was not governed by batting fundamentals. His aim was the minimum effort, the maximum effect. His assets were balance and natural instincts. The pair first extricated the side from 'danger of death', took the team to safety with a lead and then placed the team in the position to rejoice. The lead had a 'twin edged' effect on contesting teams: India was rejuvenated and their body language suggested their 'killer intent'. In contrast, Australians were mighty demoralized and dispirited. As usual, the crowd's behaviour was of mob— ecstasy one moment and loud appreciation of the home team. A group of cricket followers from England expressed restraint and adhered to cricket etiquette.

India stayed undisputed king, number one. They won seven successive series and emulated Australia and the West Indies. Team India finished No 1 in ICC rankings for second straight year, got ICC's mace and cash award of $ 1 million. India achieved four consecutive series wins against Australia at home.

Before the start of the series, the general view was: India top-dog and Australia under-dog. The prediction went haywire. Both teams were evenly matched, evenly motivated and evenly placed even in spin department. Offspinner, Lyon, was no inferior to Indian spinners in any sphere.

India won the fourth Test by eight wickets and four-match series 2-1 against Australia The 2017 February-March series that India won 2-1 against another powerful Australia was one of the most throbbing, exciting and memorable extravaganza events in the long and enduring history of Test cricket. India lost miserably first at Pune, came back roaring in the second at Bangalore to make it 1-1, the third at Ranchi was drawn and the fourth India convincingly and emphatically won by eight wickets at Dharamshala to make a loud statement that it had rightly bagged 19 Tests without loss before the start of the much soughtafter contest. Every Test was different providing a high-voltage competition, controversies and drama without a dull moment. Every mach provided thrills and pathos to all—players, officials, spectators on grounds and on television sets. Every match sent shock-waves as if it was an instant game of 50 overs or 20.
From Test cricket point of view, the series provided every thing—brilliant batting, outstanding strokes, sixes, ups and downs, severe swing and seam pace bowling, a barrage of bouncers and bumpers, subtle spin, including Chinaman, first class fielding, sledging, gamesmanship, collapse, recovery, stonewalling and drama. The Decision Review System (DRS) provided all the needed lustre. There was also barracking , although largely partisan, and hullabaloo.
The series was as dramatic as two 'tie' Tests between West Indies and Australia at Brisbane in 1960 and between India and Australia at Chennai in .
India stayed undisputed king, number one. They won seven successive series and emulated Australia and the West Indies. Team India finished No 1 in ICC rankings for second straight year, got ICC's mace and cash award of $ 1 million.
India achieved four consecutive series wins against Australia at home. Two champion batsmen with strong personalityes, Virat Kohli and Smith, were rival captains in three of the four Tests. Kohli suffered a shoulder injury in the penultimate game. He was unable to play. He was replaced by Rahane, although his presence from the pavilion was noticeable.
Had he been on the ground, some more gamesmanships, dramas, taunts and sledging might have taken place as both captains are aggressive by instinct. Barring Richie Benaud, most Australians as captains in India have been known to be bad losers.
They are as bad as England teams.
Smith is no different. His lips twitch and queer under pressure and his red face becomes more red in difficult situations. The tattoo-master Kohli is always ready with gestures. Also both have 'love-hate' relationship, although both are great admirers of each other's prowess and perseverance. Sadly, the series turned out to be controversial and awfully difficult.
This divided the teams. Australians behaviour on ground and off left much to be desired. The friends have turned foes. Kohli has gone saying so in his usual unambiguous style. He 'unfriends the Aussies for good. Smith said:"...at times, I lost control over my emotions. I apologize for that".
Apart from a rip-roaring series' win, Team India's gain are many. There was mistaken impressive in Indian corridors that India was a team of two—Kohli and Ashwin. India won the series without Kohli playing the last Test and Ashwin (82 wickets) has a strong rival in Jadeja (71 and bulk of runs in exacting situations.
Lokesh Rahul is an excellent opening batsman—a solid defence and wide range of strokes in addition to his temperament. His five 50s in the series bears the testimony of his skill and ability.
Umesh Yadav with 30 wickets is pacy enough to cause concern to top batsmen. Pujara is a durable one drop batsman, though he takes time to settle down. The arrival of the first evern Chinaman in the side, Kuldeep Yadav, took four wickets for 68 in his debut Test. He was third 'Chinaman exponent to claim four wickets. The batsmen played one way, but the ball breaks the other way. should lend variety to bowling unit. He has sparks but he needs to be groomed meticulously. Stumper Wriddhiman Saha secured 441 runs in 10 outings with two defiant 50s. He also grabbed 25 catches.

Two champion batsmen with strong personalityes, Virat Kohli and Smith, were rival captains in three of the four Tests. Kohli suffered a shoulder injury in the penultimate game. He was unable to play. He was replaced by Rahane, although his presence from the pavilion was noticeable.

The origin of the term dates to the 1930s when Ellis Achong, a West Indies spinner, with Chinese roots, bowled a left-handed 'googlies' to dismiss England batsman Walter Robins who said: "Fancy, being done by a bloody Chinaman".