No rancour, India and Australia focus on game

MOHALI - The usual mind games between India and Australia are not there as the first Test match got underway at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium here Friday.

In the run-up to the match, both sides refrained from any aggressive posturing or running down the other side or even targeting any particular player, giving the series a low-profile start, though the Australian team has been in Chandigarh since Sep 20.

This is in stark contrast to the spats between the two sides in the recent past.

The run-in between off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and Austalian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the 2008 tour Down Under had nearly brought cricketing ties between the two sides on the brink.

Harbhajan and Australian opener Mathew Hayden were also involved in a spat. Hayden had later described him on a radio show as “an obnoxious little weed”.

This time though, the Australian side, against whom Harbhajjan has been quite successful in recent years, has virtually been heaping praises on the spinner.

“He is a very good player. If he didn’t play (as was speculated earlier due to Harbhajan’s doubtful fitness), it would be a huge bonus for Australia. He loves to play against Australia and has been quite successful,” Australian test vice captain Michael Clarke said here.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting said here: “There’s enough negativity around the world at the moment about international cricket that we have to do the best we can in this series to ensure that people want to watch the game again. There’s no doubt that things have been tarnished a bit the last few weeks.”

About the lack of fireworks this time between both sides, Ponting had his own take.

“Whenever I have spoken about this series over the last couple of weeks, I have said how important it is for the international game that this series is played in the right spirit.”

He added: “You have got to expect that it’s going to be a fierce contest because you have got two very good teams playing international sport. But both teams will understand that they can’t overstep the line.”

Indian cricket team captain Mahender Singh Dhoni too talked more about the on-field game.

“They (Australia) are aggressive and look for results. They always come up with good plans and they will be up for the challenge. But we know which areas we need to improve,” Dhoni said here.

“It’s always good to play against top teams because there’s a fierce competition on the field and at the same time you see where you are at that moment as far as form and talent are concerned. It will be a good series,” he added.