On top of the world at Eden

The series was billed the world championship of cricket as it pitted against each other the world’s top two teams fighting it out for the coveted ICC Test Championship. In one of the greatest test matches played recently at the Eden Gardens’ hallowed turf, India chalked up a victory that cemented its position as the world’s best team in the game’s most respected format. And history has come full circle for the Indian cricket team. It was at this very ground nine years ago that the Indian team dug itself out of a quagmire and scripted perhaps the most dramatic comeback in the history of test cricket, ending Australian dominance over world cricket. Ironically for the Aussies, the same Eden Gardens has again proved to be the amphitheatre where their status as the world’s best test team officially ended after seven long years.

For an Indian team that was thrashed by an innings in the previous test, to come back and give the South Africans a taste of their own medicine in the very next one speaks volumes about their character and resilience. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Indians. The way the Proteas started this match, it seemed we were in for an encore of the Nagpur test. Historically, post-tea sessions at Eden Gardens have always been a bowler’s paradise. Led by the irrepressible Zaheer Khan and the never-say-die Harbhajan Singh, India mounted an attack that decimated the South African middle and lower order and restricted the first innings under 300. Needing a big first innings total to avoid batting fourth, the Indians did not disappoint. The Indian innings needed to construct a strong foundation – and not one but four of its knights took on the opposition. Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, V.V.S. Laxman and M.S. Dhoni destroyed the South African bowling attack to set up an imposing total for a grand finish. The elephantine importance of V.V.S. Laxman in the Indian middle order was felt during his absence in Nagpur. But Eden Gardens has been Laxman’s personal backyard. He composed yet another masterpiece, and along with his captain, ensured the good work done by Sachin and Sehwag would not be wasted this time around. However, not all stories have a smooth and expected ending – what followed was high drama.

After losing more than a day’s play due to bad light and rain, the Indians needed luck, sunlight and some good bowling to take the remaining seven wickets on a last day pitch that had not detoriated much. With Zaheer Khan missing due to a strained muscle, it was left to the spin twins to deliver and they did not disappoint. But then, a fifth day at Eden cannot be complete without histrionics. In one of the finest displays of batting on Indian soil, Hashim Amla proved to be the unwavering rock for South Africa. Even a half-filled Eden Gardens is more intimidating than most other cricketing venues in the world. But not even the most vociferous Eden crowd could intimidate Amla – he seemed like a man possessed in the midst of adversity as he all but turned the tide in favour of the visitors. Batting for close to 500 minutes, he absorbed about 400 odd deliveries that almost took the steam out of a desperate Indian attack. However, Eden Gardens has its own story. If V.V.S. Laxman is Eden’s favourite son with the bat, Harbhajan Singh is Eden’s adopted son with the ball. In the penultimate over of the day, he switched round the wicket and trapped the stubborn Morne Morkel in front of the wicket to spark off wild celebrations all across the country. What looked to be a certain draw turned out to be the most defining moment in the 88-year-old history of Indian test cricket. Singh is once again king, rewriting history at the same venue nine years after he destroyed the great Australian team.

After watching cricket of the highest quality over five days, who would say that test cricket is on the wane. A very potent factor in this test has been the setting – Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The significance of any event is determined by its receptors – and cricket is no different. It is sad that a venue like the Eden Gardens gets to host a test match after a hiatus of more than two years. Kolkata has India’s most passionate and knowledgeable crowd and that has been a significant factor in India winning this match. Every time India seemed in trouble, the Eden crowd has been instrumental in reviving spirits. It is not without reason that the legendary Asif Iqbal turned lachrymose at the reception Eden Gardens offered him on his farewell test. Hashim Amla will feel the same after Indian fans offered him a standing ovation, thereby upholding the sportsman spirit of the game. The kind of support any team which plays good cricket gets at the Eden Gardens is unimaginable. Test cricket has been played at smaller cricketing venues which fail to attract people and there is buzz that test cricket will not survive. But a venue like the Eden Gardens, which is arguably India’s richest cricketing forte , will always thwart its detractors by proving that test cricket can also be enjoyed and romanced.

As the country celebrates India’s march to the top of test cricket, cricket lovers across the world should be celebrating for a different reason. Cricket’s most pristine format is going nowhere even amidst all the hoopla surrounding the emergence of shorter formats of the game. This series has been test cricket’s greatest victory reaffirming its position as the toughest and strongest format of the game.