Indians Manage a Draw at Bangalore

The much anticipated first test between Australia and India has ended in a draw. It was a very good contest between bat and ball. The pitch was certainly a big factor in this match and the team batting first definitely had the advantage. I am pretty sure that the result would have been different if India had batted first on this wicket. The Aussies certainly did not have the spin ammunition in their team that could trouble the Indians.

But the thing that worried me the most was the failure of the top and middle order Indian batsmen in the first innings. I am sure they could take a cue from Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan and perform better in the following tests. Dravid should be out of the team as he is no longer the force in Test Cricket like before. Tendulkar is still hanging on to his legacy and it pains me to see him struggle so much in Test Cricket while performing consistently in One Day Cricket. Is his concentration on the wane? All said and done, it was heartening to see the Indians play well on the final day of the test when the pitch was crumbling apart.

Ishant and Zaheer bowled really well in this Test and they have been quite consistent in the past few matches. Ishant looks like he has got a bit fitter and stronger and is able to work up a good pace to trouble the likes of Ponting and Co who are used to facing Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson at the nets. Hayden cut a sorry figure and was not his usual "boom boom" self. It definitely looks like Australia is missing the services of Andrew Symonds who could have been quite a handful with the ball as well - especially in the last day.

All said and done, the first Test has lived up to the expectations that fans have for an India VS Australia duel. Let's hope that Kumble and Ponting play more attacking cricket in the next Test. It would be nice to see a result at Mohali.