Australia v India, 1st test match in Perth

by Geoff Wellsteed

Am l a dinosaur? 

I prefer Elgar to Oasis, Tiffany to Murano and, without doubt Test cricket to the slogathon so heavily promoted by the cricket authorities and TV. 

This magnificent Test match was first-hand evidence of why it must be supported.

The match was a classic and will be long retained in the memory. At 73-6 on Day 1, an eventual Indian lead of 522 runs, and a subsequent emphatic victory by 295 runs looked extremely unlikely, but such are the vagaries of the longer form of the game.

Of course, lndia had Bumrah and Jaiswal the new darling of his cricket-mad country. Some will argue Jimmy Anderson is/was the best swing and seam bowler in the world, but Bumrah has a much better average (20.06 against 26.45) and is a rare gem, a genuine match winner. He has a relatively short, ungainly stuttering approach to the crease but releases exocets that move deceptively late, and crucially only by millimetres, and are prone to take the edge or pin a batter in front of the timbers. Anderson consistently moves the ball appreciable more and strikers can regularly play and miss. These measured margins make a significant difference.

Jaiswal batted superbly in the second innings. When he reached his hundred he placed his helmet, bat and gloves on the pitch and raised his outstretched hands to the heavens. It was if he was saying 'I am currently the best batter in the world and everybody knows it'. And we do.

King Kolhi also returned to form with a well-made century and is clearly reluctant to handover his title to the new heir apparent.

Given the futility of their situation Australian did well to take the match into the final session on Day 4. Head and Marsh, big-hearted, and with big moustaches (but hardly comparable with that Merv Hughes beaut) offered some belligerent resistance. Hazlewood bowled meanly throughout, but there is significant work to be done if they are to be competitive in the four remaining matches.

The crowd played its part in making this a cracking match. There was a large contingent of Indians present and clearly a significant number of Aussie-Indians who preferred to cheer for the land of their forefathers rather than their birthplace. There was much frenzied excitement, jigging, flag-waving and banal banging of drums. It felt like Pune rather than Perth, but it all added to the excitement of the occasion.

So the bandwagon now moves on to Adelaide for a day/nighter with a pink ball. Rohit will reclaim the captaincy, Shami, Gill, Ashwin and Jadeja will be vying for places. The lndian production line is never-ending, but for Australia the cupboard is bare(r). Can Smith and Labuschagne find some form? will McSweeney be retained? Can Warner be coaxed out of retirement!
This epic Test March had everything the cricket purist desires - drama, elite performance, vulnerability, a decent pitch, a healthy enthusiastic attendance in a great venue. Perhaps the testcricosaurus is not quite so close to extinction after all?