Indo-Aussie Cricket
By Gulu Ezekiel
Cricket relations between India and Australia have come full circle from the first time India toured in 1947-48, described by Australian captain Don Bradman as the friendliest of his career to the last visit in 2007-08 which was arguably the stormiest since Bodyline.
But the Australians are still the biggest draw in India and will be back for a series of One-day Internationals, their third visit here in the last three seasons and the fifth since the epochal 2001 series dubbed back then as “the greatest series ever.”
That set the stage for the fiercest cricket rivalry of the 21st century with India current holders of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy having won the Test series last year in India.
Australia first traveled to India in 1956. But those early tours were arduous for visiting sides due to poor living and traveling conditions.
Neil Harvey, a veteran of the 1956-57 and 1959-60 tours wrote in one of his books at the time that “journeying into the dark depths of India present the touring cricketer with one of the hardest trips he might ever wish to make.”
Things have changed dramatically since then. Even 50 years ago Harvey noted that “Indians are probably the world’s most fanatical cricket followers” and that fanaticism has spawned the Indian Premier League which took off in grand style in India in 2008 before temporarily moving to South Africa this year.
The bitter clash in Sydney last year between all-rounder Andrew Symonds and off spinner Harbhajan Singh threatened to wreck the tour and sour relations between India and Australia.
But a few months later Symonds was in India representing the Deccan Chargers in the inaugural IPL and was warmly received by crowds across India.
The Aussie influence in the IPL has gone a long way in smoothening things out between the two nations. This is largely thanks to Shane Warne’s fairy-tale victory with the Rajasthan Royals last year and Adam Gilchrist making it an Aussie double by leading the Deccan Chargers to the title earlier this year in South Africa.
Ironically Warne had always struggled in India despite the traditional spinning tracks. Indeed his record against India’s batsmen is the only black mark in his magnificent career.
The commercial opportunities that have opened up for cricketers in the booming Indian market has seen Brett Lee’s face popping up on our TV screens while endorsing a range of products. The duet he sang with Indian music legend Asha Bhosle last year also attracted plenty of attention and a stint in Bollywood looks likely, especially since his Kings XI Punjab IPL franchise is partly owned by actress Preity Zinta.
Victory in India was a given for touring Australian sides till 1969-70 when Bill Lawry sealed the series 3-1. But then came a long drought and it was not till the 2004-05 tour that Australia was able to conquer the “final frontier” as Steve Waugh described playing in India.
Australian cricket was at a low ebb in the ‘80s. But the famous tied Test of Madras (now Chennai) in 1986 proved to be a turning point for Australian cricket, followed a year later by Australia’s first World Cup title, beating England in the final at Calcutta (now Kolkata). Captain Allan Border credits these events as being the launching pad for the years of world domination that were to follow.
Though Indian fans were denied the sight of Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Rod Marsh and Greg Chappell, plenty of other legends from Harvey and Richie Benaud to Ian Chappell and Adam Gilchrist have ensured that the Australians continue to be the most popular of touring sides.
(Inside Cricket, October 2009)
Cricket relations between India and Australia have come full circle from the first time India toured in 1947-48, described by Australian captain Don Bradman as the friendliest of his career to the last visit in 2007-08 which was arguably the stormiest since Bodyline.
But the Australians are still the biggest draw in India and will be back for a series of One-day Internationals, their third visit here in the last three seasons and the fifth since the epochal 2001 series dubbed back then as “the greatest series ever.”
That set the stage for the fiercest cricket rivalry of the 21st century with India current holders of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy having won the Test series last year in India.
Australia first traveled to India in 1956. But those early tours were arduous for visiting sides due to poor living and traveling conditions.
Neil Harvey, a veteran of the 1956-57 and 1959-60 tours wrote in one of his books at the time that “journeying into the dark depths of India present the touring cricketer with one of the hardest trips he might ever wish to make.”
Things have changed dramatically since then. Even 50 years ago Harvey noted that “Indians are probably the world’s most fanatical cricket followers” and that fanaticism has spawned the Indian Premier League which took off in grand style in India in 2008 before temporarily moving to South Africa this year.
The bitter clash in Sydney last year between all-rounder Andrew Symonds and off spinner Harbhajan Singh threatened to wreck the tour and sour relations between India and Australia.
But a few months later Symonds was in India representing the Deccan Chargers in the inaugural IPL and was warmly received by crowds across India.
The Aussie influence in the IPL has gone a long way in smoothening things out between the two nations. This is largely thanks to Shane Warne’s fairy-tale victory with the Rajasthan Royals last year and Adam Gilchrist making it an Aussie double by leading the Deccan Chargers to the title earlier this year in South Africa.
Ironically Warne had always struggled in India despite the traditional spinning tracks. Indeed his record against India’s batsmen is the only black mark in his magnificent career.
The commercial opportunities that have opened up for cricketers in the booming Indian market has seen Brett Lee’s face popping up on our TV screens while endorsing a range of products. The duet he sang with Indian music legend Asha Bhosle last year also attracted plenty of attention and a stint in Bollywood looks likely, especially since his Kings XI Punjab IPL franchise is partly owned by actress Preity Zinta.
Victory in India was a given for touring Australian sides till 1969-70 when Bill Lawry sealed the series 3-1. But then came a long drought and it was not till the 2004-05 tour that Australia was able to conquer the “final frontier” as Steve Waugh described playing in India.
Australian cricket was at a low ebb in the ‘80s. But the famous tied Test of Madras (now Chennai) in 1986 proved to be a turning point for Australian cricket, followed a year later by Australia’s first World Cup title, beating England in the final at Calcutta (now Kolkata). Captain Allan Border credits these events as being the launching pad for the years of world domination that were to follow.
Though Indian fans were denied the sight of Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Rod Marsh and Greg Chappell, plenty of other legends from Harvey and Richie Benaud to Ian Chappell and Adam Gilchrist have ensured that the Australians continue to be the most popular of touring sides.
(Inside Cricket, October 2009)
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