Time for centre stage action

Despite the strangely minuscule presence of onfield combatants in a world as large as ours, and despite the overwhelming likelihood of the same two clashing with each other repeatedly — for want of a new enemy — there remain some duels that no matter how regular their occurrence is, neither the lead actors nor the passive characters seem to tire of partaking in them.

Against such a war-like backdrop in a city that is an apostle of amity, host India will meet a familiar foe in Australia as their battle for one-upmanship begins at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, in what is the first of the five-match ODI series. With so much cricket happening nowadays, one is bound to be filled with awe by the trivia that the last time Australia visited this country for an ODI contest was ‘way back’ in 2013. 

Enough time for a sea of change to have flowed under the bridges of Sydney Harbour and Howrah as can be evidenced by the change in the captains of the teams and the leaders of the countries. 

Indeed, that is not all, as these two teams traded the status of World Champion in the intervening period. Turning our attention to the here and now, seasoned members from both camps have employed due caution in making the right noises and sounding respectful, sometimes even bordering on reverence, of the other. In the first interaction he had with the media upon his team’s arrival, Australia captain Steve Smith said his team had moved on from the ill-tempered Test series between these two countries earlier this year. 

The 28-year-old even made some charitable remarks about his opposite number saying that if they succeed in keeping Virat Kohli quiet, with the bat that is, his team’s odds of winning will improve appreciably. Nothing outlandish in what he said, you may argue, considering Kohli’s thirst for runs can never be slaked even after scoring a glut of centuries. 

As if to return the favour, India vice-captain Rohit Sharma believed the series will be played in the right spirit and assured there will be no crossing the line despite making allowances for some on-field banter. Making predictions when two evenly matched teams are going for each other’s throats is fraught with the inherent risk of it going awry, unless you answer to the name of a certain Glenn McGrath! But if recent form is any indication, the Indian tigers don’t have to lose any sleep or whet their paws in making mincemeat of their kangaroo prey. 

India has just walloped Sri Lanka 5-0 and reached the final of the Champions Trophy three months ago, whereas Australia acted in unusual haste in exiting from the group stage in the same tournament. Even before a single delivery has been sent down, the kangaroos had been forced to lick their wounds with the injury setback to opener Aaron Finch, who will sit out the first few games. Peter Handscomb has been flown in as cover for the burly opener. 

The hallowed turf of Chepauk can narrate many a gripping tale of India-Australia contests with the chief amongst them being the tied Test in September 1986. These two countries have never played out a tie in ODIs. How Chennai would dearly love to make history again. If it happens, that would be some climax. But for that to eventuate, the showers predicted on the match-day shouldn’t play spoilsport. Fans will hope that ‘Sun’day will remain true to its name! The toss couldn’t happen any sooner.