It seems that the way Australian team has played in the first half of its tour in India, there are plenty of issues, niggles and reserve problems that are yet to be solved. Human tendency is to generally frown at anything that comes from the opposing camp and to look down upon it as either a baseless allegation or an invalid theory. But sometimes even you opposition can actually make sound points that go much beyond the realm of a ploy to gain psychological advantage or win war or words. When Zaheer Khan said at the end of the first test in Bangalore that he had not seen an “Australian Team play this defensive cricket”, he might have had a valid point.
But what was more surprising was the way in which Matthew Hayden led the charge in the second innings of the second test when Australia still has 145 overs to play and a good 516 runs to score. There is a reason why no team has ever chased that many runs in Test cricket and despite being supremely confident, the Aussies should have played with a bit more sense. Playing your natural game and being aggressive is all well, but there is a fine line between aggression and anger. Matthew Hayden seems to be missing the line for now.
Hayden’s approach in the final innings in Mohali looked more like an effort from a desperate survivor on a sinking ship. He just seemed to be angry at the ball rather than aggressive. He was in a hurry to get all he could from his innings before the final death knell sounded. The problem with Hayden’s approach was that his effort that lasted over barely 8 overs set the tone for the innings. Not only did Hayden fall, but he dragged Simon Katich and Michael Hussey with him. Katich played an uncharacteristic cut and Hussy pulled equally against his grain.
Test Cricket is much like life itself and that is the amazing beauty of the game that makes it so appealing to those who really appreciate the game in its purest form. Like life, it is more about winning the important moments and those who win more of those important moments end up on top. In the very same way, anger is something that only ends up destroying your own world while being creative aggressively helps you gain the advantage. There is a point where that aggression mellows down into sober consistency.
Matthew Hayden and Virender Sehwag are two very important players for their respective teams and their own unique style makes sure that they can take the game away from the opposition in a session and set up a test match. They both play in a very simple and uncomplicated way but the difference is the batsman that comes in below them. For India, Dravid brings a stability and calmness after Viru’s departure while Ponting seems to either struggle for form or continue in Hayden’s style. To ask Matthew Hayden to change his approach is stupid, but the others around him must realize that they are not like the opener themselves. Australia could do well for once to be defensive when needed and aggressive, but not angry, at other moments.
