Date: December 28th, 2011.
Location: Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Session: Morning.
Overnight Score: India 232/2.
Trail by: 101 runs.
Day 3 at the MCG is traditionally "Moving Day." The pitch, having baked in the sun for two days, usually speeds up, offering value for shots but also variable bounce for the bowlers.
The Indian dressing room was calm. Siddanth Deva (112*) and Sachin Tendulkar (12*) walked out to the middle. The deficit was still 101. The first hour was critical. If Australia took early wickets, the game would swing back.
Michael Clarke threw the ball to Peter Siddle. The Victorian workhorse charged in.
Over 66: Siddle to Deva
65.1: Siddle bowled short of a length, angling in.
Deva stood tall. He defended with a dead bat.
65.2: Siddle went wider.
Deva shouldered arms.
The Australian plan was clear: Dry up the runs. Frustrate the youngster. Make him play a rash shot.
As Deva tapped the pitch, David Warner chirped from point.
"Big night, superstar? Did you spend that IPL money yet? Or are you saving it for the flight home after we bowl you out for 250?"
Deva smiled. He marked his guard.
"I'm saving it to buy the MCG, David. It's a nice ground. I might put a roof on it."
Over 70: James Pattinson to Sachin
Sachin looked in the mood. He drove Pattinson down the ground for a classic straight drive.
FOUR.
The crowd roared. Even the Australians applauded. You don't not applaud a Sachin straight drive.
Deva and Sachin batted through the first hour without losing a wicket. They added 45 runs. The deficit dropped below 50.
Drinks Break:
India: 277/2.
Deva: 135*.
Sachin: 32*.
---
Post-drinks, Deva decided the "sighting" period was over.
Over 78: Nathan Lyon to Deva
Lyon tossed it up.
Deva stepped out. He didn't slog. He hit with the spin, lofting it over extra cover.
FOUR.
Next ball. Swept hard.
FOUR.
He moved to 143.
By Lunch, India had erased the deficit.
Lunch Day 3: India 340/2.
Lead: 7 runs.
Deva: 168*.
Sachin: 55*.
The Partnership: 136 runs.
During the lunch break, Duncan Fletcher spoke to them.
"We need a big lead," Fletcher said. "The pitch will crack on Day 5. If we get 200 ahead, we don't have to bat again."
"I'm not getting out," Deva said, chewing an energy bar. "Not today."
---
The afternoon session saw a shift in gears. The Australian bowlers looked tired. The sun was hot. The Kookaburra was old and soft.
Over 95: Ben Hilfenhaus to Deva
Deva was on 188.
Hilfenhaus bowled a tired half-volley.
Deva drove through covers. FOUR.
192.
The crowd buzzed. A double century at the MCG by an Indian? It was rare territory.
Over 98: Peter Siddle
Deva was on 196.
Siddle ran in, grunting. Bouncer.
Deva swayed.
Next ball. Yorker.
Deva dug it out.
97.4: Siddle bowled short and wide.
Deva didn't try to hit it hard. He just guided it. He opened the face and steered it past gully.
The outfield was fast. The ball raced away.
FOUR.
200 FOR SIDDANTH DEVA.
Commentary (Bill Lawry): "And there it is! History at the MCG! Siddanth Deva becomes the first Indian to score a double century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground! What an innings! Composed, aggressive, and majestic! 200 runs off 280 balls! He has conquered Australia!"
Commentary (Sunil Gavaskar): "The first of many in Test cricket, I am sure. A double ton on the biggest stage of all. Look at Sachin running to hug him!"
Deva took off his helmet. He was soaked in sweat. He raised his bat to the dressing room.
He looked at the sky.
He kissed the crest on his helmet.
He hugged Sachin.
"Great batting," Sachin whispered. "Now make it 300."
Australia was deflated. Their shoulders dropped. Clarke looked out of ideas.
With the double century done, Deva went into T20 mode.
He smashed Lyon for two sixes in the 102nd over.
He reached 220.
But finally, fatigue played a part.
Over 105: James Pattinson
Deva tried to pull a ball that kept low.
It hit the toe end of the bat.
Caught at mid-on by Siddle.
WICKET (Deva 235 off 310 balls).
India: 445/3.
Lead: 112.
Deva walked off to a standing ovation from the entire stadium. Even the Aussie fans stood up. 235 at the MCG was legendary.
Enter VVS Laxman.
Sachin fell soon after for a well-made 82, caught behind off Siddle.
India: 460/4.
MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli walked in with a mandate: Scorch the earth.
They added 100 runs in 15 overs.
Kohli scored a rapid 45. Dhoni smashed 50 off 35 balls.
Score: 560/5.
Lead: 227 runs.
DECLARATION.
Target for Australia: Survive the evening session and then chase 227 to make India bat again.
---
Time: 4:30 PM.
Overs Remaining: 15.
The Australian openers, David Warner and Ed Cowan, walked out. They were tired from fielding for 140 overs.
The Indian team sprinted out. They were fresh. They had a massive lead.
And they had a bowler who had just scored 235.
Dhoni threw the new ball to Siddanth Deva.
Over 1: Deva to Warner
0.1: Deva ran in. The adrenaline of the double century fueled his bowling arm.
152 kmph.
Warner left it alone.
0.2: Deva went fuller.
Warner defended.
0.3: Deva went round the wicket. He angled it into the body.
Warner tried to tuck it.
The ball bounced more than expected. It hit the handle.
It looped up.
Gautam Gambhir (fielding sub) at short leg dived forward.
It fell inches short.
"Close!" Dhoni shouted. "He's nervous, Sid! He's nervous!"
Over 6: Umesh Yadav to Cowan
Umesh bowled raw pace.
Cowan played and missed twice.
Over 9: Deva to Warner
Warner decided to counter-attack. He slashed at a wide one.
FOUR over gully.
Next ball. Deva smiled.
He bowled the knuckleball.
Warner was expecting 150. He got 115.
He checked his drive.
The ball chipped to Virender Sehwag at cover.
Sehwag didn't have to move.
Commentary (Ian Chappell): "Warner goes! Deva does it again! He scores 235 and then removes the danger man! Warner is furious with himself, but that was clever bowling. Australia are 25/1."
WICKET (Warner 15).
Shaun Marsh walked in. He looked terrified facing Deva in this mood.
Stumps, Day 3.
Australia: 42/1 (15 Overs).
Ed Cowan: 20*.
Shaun Marsh: 5*.
Trail by: 185 runs.
Post-Match Analysis:
Sanjay Manjrekar: "Total domination. India has batted Australia out of the game. A lead of 227 is massive. And Deva... what can you say? 235 runs and the wicket of Warner. He is the difference between the two sides."
Sunil Gavaskar: "The declaration was timed perfectly. 15 overs of hell for the Aussies tonight. Getting Warner was the bonus. India will look to wrap this up by Tea tomorrow."
In the Dressing Room:
Deva sat with an ice pack on his knee. He was exhausted, but he couldn't stop smiling.
Sachin handed him a protein shake. "You tired?"
"A little," Deva admitted.
"Good," Sachin said. "Sleep fast. You have 9 wickets to take tomorrow."
---
Date: December 29th, 2011.
Location: Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Session: Morning.
Overnight Score: Australia 42/1.
Trail by: 185 runs.
The Equation: Australia needs to bat out two days to save the Test. India needs 9 wickets.
The fourth morning of a Test match is often where hope goes to die. The pitch at the MCG, which had been a batting paradise on Day 3, was now starting to show its scars. Cracks were widening in the dry heat. The rough patches outside the off-stump were becoming craterous.
MS Dhoni led his team onto the field. He didn't look like a man defending a lead; he looked like a man hunting.
Siddanth Deva walked to his mark at the Southern End. He had taken the wicket of David Warner the previous evening.
Ed Cowan (20*) and Shaun Marsh (5*) took their guards. They knew the first hour was survival.
Over 16: Siddanth Deva to Shaun Marsh
Deva didn't warm up. He started at full throttle.
15.1: 148 kmph. Good length. Seaming away.
Marsh played inside the line. Beaten.
Commentary (Ian Chappell): "That is a jaffa to start the day! Deva is right on the money. He's asking questions immediately."
15.2: Deva went wider. Marsh left it alone.
15.3: Deva bowled the heavy ball. Back of a length. It hit the splice of the bat.
Marsh dropped his hands. The ball died near his feet.
Deva walked down the pitch. He didn't say a word. He just stared at the pitch map in his mind.
Marsh plants his front foot. He is vulnerable to the moving ball.
15.4: Deva changed his grip. He held the ball across the seam.
He bowled it full. It didn't swing. It went straight on with the angle.
Marsh played for the swing. He closed the face of the bat too early.
Leading Edge.
The ball flew low to the right of the bowler.
Deva followed through. He dived to his right.
It was a difficult chance. It brushed his fingertips.
Dropped.
The crowd groaned.
"Unlucky!" Kohli shouted from cover. "Next one, Sid!"
Deva got up, dusting his knees. He smiled grimly. He's rattled.
Over 20: Umesh Yadav to Ed Cowan
Cowan was gritty. He blocked everything. He left everything. He was playing for time.
Yadav bowled pace. 150 kmph.
Cowan took a blow to the ribs. He didn't rub it.
Australia crawled to 65/1 in the first hour. It was ugly, but it was effective. The deficit was down to 162.
Over 24: Deva to Shaun Marsh
Deva returned for his second spell of the morning.
Marsh was on 18. He looked tentative.
23.2: Deva set the trap. He moved square leg deeper. He brought short leg in.
He bowled a bouncer.
Marsh ducked.
23.3: Another bouncer. Faster.
Marsh swayed.
23.4: Deva went full. Wide of off stump.
The 'Sucker Ball'.
Marsh saw the width. He saw the release. He threw his hands at the drive.
But the ball was cross-seam. It gripped the pitch. It bounced a fraction more than a normal drive length.
It took the outside edge.
The ball flew at a comfortable height to first slip.
Virender Sehwag didn't have to move. He cupped it easily.
Commentary (Bill Lawry): "And there is the breakthrough! Deva sets him up with the short stuff and gets him with the full one! Shaun Marsh falls for 19. Australia 68 for 2. The door is open!"
WICKET (Marsh 19).
Ricky Ponting walked out.
The former captain. The man with 12,000 Test runs. He was fighting for his career. His form had been poor. The critics were calling for his head.
He met Cowan in the middle.
"Grind," Ponting said. "We just grind."
Lunch Score: Australia 85/2.
Trail by: 142.
This session belonged to Ponting. He rolled back the years.
He pulled Zaheer Khan for four. He drove Ashwin through the covers.
He looked determined to save the Test.
Deva fielded at mid-off. He watched Ponting. He saw the grit.
Respect, Deva thought. But I still have to get you out.
Over 45: Deva to Ponting
Ponting was on 40. He was looking dangerous.
44.1: Deva ran in. 145 kmph.
Ponting defended.
44.2: Deva tried the reverse swing. The ball was 45 overs old. It was starting to go.
He aimed for the pads.
Ponting flicked it through mid-wicket.
3 Runs.
They built a partnership of 50 runs. Cowan reached his own half-century, a fighting knock.
Australia: 130/2.
Trail by: 97.
The Indian shoulders were drooping slightly. The pitch had flattened out under the afternoon sun.
Dhoni called for a drink. He gathered the team.
"Energy," Dhoni said calmly. "We need energy. One wicket and they panic. Cowan is tired. Target him."
Over 52: Umesh Yadav to Cowan
Yadav bowled a thunderbolt. 151 kmph.
It reversed late.
Cowan, batting on 55, was beaten for pace.
The ball crashed into the pads before the bat came down.
LBW.
Cowan reviewed it. But it was plumb.
WICKET (Cowan 55).
Australia: 135/3.
Michael Clarke walked out. The Captain.
He had been dismissed by Deva in the first innings with a beauty. He walked out to a chorus of boos from the Indian fans and cheers from the Aussies.
Clarke vs Deva. Round 2.
Deva was fielding at point. He stared at Clarke.
Clarke didn't look back.
Tea Day 4:
Australia: 160/3.
Ponting: 60*.
Clarke: 12*.
Trail: 67 runs.
---
Time: 4:00 PM.
The shadows were lengthening. The MCG was buzzing. India needed 7 wickets. Australia needed 67 runs to make India bat again.
Ricky Ponting was on 65. He was looking dangerous, playing his shots with renewed freedom. The pitch had flattened, and the Indian bowlers were tiring.
Dhoni called Zaheer Khan back into the attack.
"Zak, I need a wicket. He's taking the game away."
Deva walked up to Dhoni. "Skipper, give me a helmet."
Dhoni frowned. "Why?"
"I'm going in," Deva said, pointing to a spot dangerously close to the batsman. "Silly mid-off. Right in his face."
Dhoni hesitated. "It's dangerous, Sid. Ponting pulls hard."
"He drives hard too," Deva said, strapping on shin guards over his trousers. "Let me get in his head."
Deva put on a helmet. He walked to a position that was barely five yards from the bat, straight in front of Ponting on the off-side. It was a suicidal position for a fast bowler like Zaheer.
Over 62: Zaheer to Ponting
Ponting tapped his bat. He looked up and saw Deva standing right in his eyeline.
Ponting's eyes narrowed. He took it as an insult. A challenge.
"You've got a death wish, son?" Ponting muttered. "Get back before I take your head off."
Deva didn't move. He crouched low, staring at the bat.
61.1: Zaheer ran in.
Ponting defended. Deva clapped loudly. "Bowled Zak! He's scared!"
61.2: Zaheer bowled slightly fuller.
Ponting's ego snapped. He didn't want to defend. He wanted to teach the young upstart a lesson. He wanted to drive the ball through Deva's chest.
Ponting cleared his front leg. He saw the width. He threw his hands at the ball with maximum force, aiming a rocket drive straight back past the bowler—directly through where Deva was standing.
[System Activation: Chronos Perception]
[Time Dilation: Active]
The world slowed to a crawl.
The sound of the bat hitting the ball was a low, distorted boom. THOOOOM.
The ball exploded off the bat. To the naked eye, it was a blur. A red missile traveling at impossible speed.
But to Deva, it was moving through water.
He saw the trajectory. It was coming straight for his face.
He didn't flinch. He didn't turn away.
He moved his hands. His reflexes, boosted by the system, intercepted the path of the ball.
SNAP. Time returned to normal speed.
Deva fell backward from the force of the impact.
The crowd gasped. They expected to see him injured.
But Deva rolled over. He sat up.
He held his right hand up. The ball was stuck firmly in his palm.
Commentary (Richie Benaud): "Good heavens! Did he catch that? He was standing five yards away! Ponting smashed that! He absolutely smashed it! That should have taken his head off, but he's plucked it out of thin air! Unbelievable! Reflexes of a cat! Ponting cannot believe it!"
Ponting stood frozen in his follow-through. He stared at Deva. He stared at the ball.
He shook his head, tucked his bat under his arm, and walked off. He knew when he was beaten by something special.
WICKET (Ponting 65).
Australia: 168/4.
Still trailing by 59.
Mike Hussey walked in. Mr. Cricket.
Over 65: Siddanth Deva to Michael Clarke
Clarke was on 20. He was the last major hurdle.
Deva took the ball. He handed the helmet to the 12th man.
64.1: Deva to Clarke.
146 kmph. Bouncer.
Clarke hooked. Controlled. One run.
64.3: Deva to Hussey.
Hussey defended.
64.5: Deva to Clarke.
Deva went wide of the crease. He angled it in.
Clarke tried to run it down to third man.
Deva got the ball to straighten off the seam.
The Edge: A thin nick.
MS Dhoni took it comfortably.
Deva turned to the crowd. He put his finger to his lips again. Shhh.
Clarke walked back, head down. Defeated twice in the match.
Commentary (Gavaskar): "The Captain goes! Deva gets his man again! 235 runs and now 3 wickets in the innings! He is owning the MCG! Australia 175 for 5! The tail is exposed!"
WICKET (Clarke 21).
Part 4: The Cleaning of the Tail
With Clarke and Ponting gone, the resistance evaporated. The Indian bowlers were like sharks in the water.
Over 70: Umesh Yadav to Brad Haddin
Haddin tried to counter-attack. He hit a four.
Next ball, Umesh bowled a yorker.
The middle stump went for a walk.
WICKET (Haddin 8).
Over 72: Siddanth Deva to Peter Siddle
Deva was reverse swinging the old ball significantly now.
71.4: Inswinger.
Siddle played all around it.
LBW.
WICKET (Siddle 4).
Australia: 190/7.
Trail: 37 runs.
Over 74: Deva to Nathan Lyon
Deva was on a roll. He wanted the 5-wicket haul.
He bowled a bouncer. Lyon fended it off.
Next ball. Full and straight.
Lyon backed away.
Castled.
WICKET (Lyon 0).
Deva has 5 Wickets.
Figures: 20-5-55-5.
He raised the ball to the crowd. A 5-for at the MCG. To go with a Double Century. It was the performance of a lifetime.
Over 76: Zaheer Khan to Pattinson
Pattinson edged to second slip.
WICKET.
Over 78: Deva to Hilfenhaus
Last wicket.
Hussey was stranded at the other end on 15*.
Hilfenhaus was on strike.
77.2: Deva ran in. He wanted to finish it.
He bowled the perfect yorker. 150 kmph.
Hilfenhaus tried to dig it out. He was too slow.
The ball smashed into the base of the stumps.
WICKET.
Australia All Out: 205.
Match Result:
India (560/5 dec) beat Australia (333 & 205) by an Innings and 22 Runs.
Series: India leads 1-0.
---
The moment the stump flew out of the ground, Deva raised his arms. He didn't run. He just stood there, soaking in the roar of the Indian fans who had taken over the G-Stand.
MS Dhoni ran up to him. He hugged him so hard Deva thought his ribs might crack.
"You beauty!" Dhoni screamed. "You absolute beauty!"
Sachin Tendulkar walked up. He ruffled Deva's hair.
"I waited 20 years to win at the MCG," Sachin said, his voice emotional. "Thank you, Sid."
The team gathered in a huddle in the middle of the pitch. They jumped. They shouted. They had conquered the Fortress. They had broken the 30-year jinx.
Commentary (Richie Benaud): "A historic day for Indian cricket. They came to the MCG, the cathedral of Australian sport, and they have decimated the home side. An innings victory. And the architect is a 20-year-old who batted like Bradman and bowled like Lindwall. Siddanth Deva has announced himself as the new king of world cricket."
Post-Match Presentation:
Mark Nicholas: "Man of the Match. It could only be one man. 235 runs. 2 wickets in the first innings. 6 wickets in the second innings. A match haul of 8 wickets and a double century. Siddanth Deva."
Deva walked up to the podium. The cheers were respectful now. The Australians knew greatness when they saw it.
Nicholas: "Sid, words fail me. Have you ever had a better game?"
Deva: "I don't think so, Mark," Deva laughed, holding the trophy. "I can name a few... the T20 World Cup final, the Champions Trophy final, and the World Cup final, maybe?" He winked, his tone light and joking. "But at the MCG? This is special. The team played amazing cricket. Zak bhai, Umesh, the batters... everyone stepped up."
Nicholas: "You had a bit of a word with Michael Clarke before the match. He challenged you."
Deva smiled. "It's all part of the game. I respect Michael. He is a great captain. But we came here to win. The talk is done. The scoreboard is the only thing that matters."
Nicholas: "1-0 up. Three tests to go. Can you win the series?"
Deva: "We are not here for a holiday. We are here for the trophy."