“Commit all the crimes you can, God is busy watching Sachin Tendulkar bat”. It is not unusual to see comments like that when a great man is at crease. Brilliant knocks from Watson, Marsh and White has seen Australia post a mammoth 350 on the board and chasing that score is a near impossible task. One man on the brink of making 17000 runs in his ODI career stood alone in what has world witnessed a spectacular display of sublime cricket and a splendid display of how its played. If passion can take human form, nothing better than Sachin would justify it. His disappointment was more than visible in his tear filled eyes not being able to take his team home, ALONE.

A depleted Australian team has pulled more than a win today, they will take confidence and momentum further into the series and coming back is India’s gargantuan task. The scoreboard was reduced to mere numbers today, but the cricket that was played today was in volume and spectrum. Australia won the match well before India started their innings, as too much was given away and too much was at stake.

The loss of Indian team doesn’t speak of what the spectators go to witness today and being an avid Sachin follower, I cannot fall short of writing for him. Its an innings that was ‘privileged’.

My take

Australia – 5 stars
India – 3 stars

Kangaroo stars: Watson, Marsh, White and McKay
Indian stars: Sachin, Bhajji and Raina