What is the best way to celebrate an anniversary? Simple - recreate the original magic.
Test cricket in the year 2006 has so far been generally disappointing. If we delve deeper for reasons we find that most of these Test series were afflicted by at least two of the four principal causes behind nondescript matches: mismatch in strengths of rival sides, loss of key players through injury, pitches that are unconducive to rivetting cricket (bat dominating ball being the bigger problem) and safety first approach from skippers.
Logic suggests that the above list sequences those causes in their descending order of impact. Now let us designate those reasons as A (team mismatch), B (loss of players), C (unconducive pitches) and D (defensive approach) and rate a few series on those shortcomings.
India v Pak @ Pak: C & D; rating - avg.
Eng v India @ Ind: B, C & D; rating - disappointing
Sri Lanka v. Eng @ Eng: B, rating - good
Aus vs. RSA @ RSA: A, rating - avg.
Ind vs. WI @ WI: B, C & D; rating - disappointing
Pak vs. Eng @ Eng: B, D and E (NIGHTMARISH CATCHING); rating - disappointing
(A friend pleaded that I upgrade my rating for the ongoing Eng-v-Pak series to 'avg' after that pole vault dismissal of Inzamam at Headingley. I'm sorry to disappoint him so.)
Amidst all this comes a breath of fresh air: the RSA vs. Sri Lanka series at the latter's home territory. It started off with strong suggestions of factor 'A' over the initial three recordbreaking days of the 1st Test. But the South Africans batted valiantly over the last two days and went close to dragging a virtual goner to a draw. And now this cliffhanger of a 2nd Test unfolds at Colombo's P Saravanamattu Stadium.
The three innings completed so far in the ongoing contest have all produced scores between 300 and 400 and the fourth one, barring a brilliant Ntini spell early in the 5th morning, is also heading towards a similar total irrespective of the outcome.
The bowling of either side has been both excellent and tidy while the batting was as brilliant as it was purposeful. The rivals have been incessantly up at each other's throats. All of this would not happen without positive thinking going on between both skippers' ears.
The match is evenly poised and a result is certain unless weather intervenes. Sri Lanka need 90 more to attain what promises to be their highest ever 4th innings winning total of 352 and they have 5 wickets remaining. Captain courageous Mahela Jayawardene is still at the crease on 77 and Nicky Boje is asking questions of batsmen. The dangerous Makhaya Ntini would be raring to go for that final burst on the morrow.
The way things are poised now at close of 4th day's play, cricket lovers could hardly have asked for a better celebration of the 1st anniversary of that unforgettable Ashes 2nd Test at Edgbaston that ended today last year.
Update: There's always some risk in taking early calls in cricket. Annoyed that the celebration is taking place elsewhere, the Angel of English cricket twists the ongoing Headingley match and takes out factor D to set up a final day thriller that looked improbable when England took guard late on the 3rd evening.
