The Oval Test will be Dhoni’s biggest test yet. The series went sour long ago and the reasons have been well documented — the poor preparation, the early breakdown of the strike bowler and the steady decline of the top spinner, the alien conditions inimical to fluent batting in the somewhat laidback Indian style of wristy strokeplay and the general complacency marked by gross under estimation of opponents who were well merited challengers to the world Test crown.
What the Oval Test represents is another big hurdle for India for defeat would mean a further slide down the Test rankings to No. 3, below England and South Africa, which simply means a return to the top would be even more difficult.
The record books show that we have to go back 52 years to find an England win at the Kennington Oval against India. It was in 1959 that Dattajirao Gaekwad’s team lost to England, a previous defeat having come at the venue in 1936.
The London venue has been a lucky ground for India with the famous maiden win on English soil having come in 1971 for Ajit Wadekar’s team followed by that memorable chase in 1979 by Venkataraghavan’s side.
The Rahul Dravid-led team may well have won there last time out if not for the visitors wishing to bat England out of the Test in order to keep the series lead intact before a late attempt to force victory. Anil Kumble’s only Test century, in his 188th match, had given India the mammoth total to lock up a 1-0 lead.
It is, however, known that modern cricket is no respecter of history, particularly since so much play is possible in one English summer’s day and draws are rare.
Dhoni made a swashbuckling 92 from 80 balls in 2007 and is in form enough to try and get Indian past such anaemic landmarks like 300 runs in an innings, a total yet to be attained on this tour. Clearly, a lot remains to be done by this aged batting lineup to restore its reputation.
As his innings progressed at Edgbaston, Sachin looked in great touch, driving with elan while looking totally secure in defence. If anyone can shut out ignominy for India at the Oval it is probably the Little Master who can aim freely for his landmark century of centuries this week.
But then we must remember the last draw at this venue was the one India accepted in order to win the series since when England have beaten both South Africa and Australia (to win the Ashes in 2009) but lost to Pakistan last season.
While the dark red Duke tends to do much more at the other London venue, Lord’s, which is just a few miles up north from the southern suburb of Kennington, the ball can come on nicely to the bat at the Oval. There really is room for optimism that the whole Indian batting lineup will come into form collectively rather than leave it just to Dravid to keep it afloat
The question of winning the Test does not really arise as the prospect of India taking 20 wickets seems out of the question in the absence of Zaheer Khan.
It is unlikely the Indian batting order will be the same two years later when the Test championship (semi-finals and final) is to be played in England in 2013. Given the young Indian batsmen’s antipathy to the short ball, this is really the last chance for the galacticos to perform together in England. Are they up to it is the question.
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