It is difficult to identify which of Andrew Symonds or Brad Haddin’s 87s was the more crucial contribution to Australia’s 84-run win in the second one-dayer here on Tuesday. If at all, that is, that one can be more important than the other.
Symonds and Haddin make for a wonderful study in contrast. The strapping Queenslander is a savage destroyer of the cricket ball, imposing himself on the opposition with his intimidating presence and his glittering array of beefy strokes. On the other hand, Haddin is the feisty little competitor, a bewildering mix of nicks and cuts designed to bleed you gently but capable of the big hits that come out of nowhere.
Between them, the two right-handers broke the spirits of the Indian players and the hearts of a 90,000-strong gathering at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium. Along the way, they showed just why Australia pride themselves on the strength of their depth.
To Haddin, first. Adam Gilchrist’s tidy work behind the stumps and his destructive brilliance in front of it have combined to keep the 29-year-old on the sidelines for more games than he will care to remember. Having made his one-day debut in January 2001, Haddin has played less than a tenth of the games the Aussies have played in that period, but he has seldom lost focus, motivation or hunger.
Drafted into the squad that won the World Cup in the Caribbean, Haddin wasn’t originally on the touring party to India until Ricky Ponting picked up a hamstring injury at the Twenty20 World Cup. The reserve stumper was only meant to be here as cover, and leave for home when Ponting fully recovered, when Mike Hussey was ruled out with a hamstring injury of his own. Haddin was given a fixed spot at number six, and at least for now, he has made it his for keeps with successive half-centuries.

“I’m just enjoying the opportunity now to play as a batsman,” Haddin said after winning the man of the match award on Tuesday. “It’s a new role for me, and one I’m enjoying.” 

Common factor
Haddin was the common factor in two rescue acts in successive matches. With Michael Clarke, he added 144 for the fifth wicket in Bangalore on Saturday, rallying the Aussies from 90 for four to 307 for seven before the rains had the final say. On Tuesday, with Australia again under less pressure at 160 for four, he and Symonds realised 108, taking the game emphatically away from India and setting up Australia’s commanding victory.

“I was very happy with all our batting, save for myself and Hodgy (Brad Hodge),” said Gilchrist. “The rest of the guys applied themselves really well, and hats off to Brad.”

Hats off, too, to Symonds. There is something about India that he 32-year-old loves. More than a decade back, he smashed them all over the park playing for Gloucestershire. Nothing has changed, except that he has gone on from being a County star to an integral part of the Australian one-day team. Symonds loves a challenge. He doesn’t talk all that much, but he has a mean streak about him when nettled. Not taking too kindly to S Sreesanth’s antics, Symonds knuckled down after a blistering start during which he neutralised the threat of India’s spin twins.

Australia’s tactics have always revolved around backing yourself and putting the best from the opposition under pressure. The Nehru stadium strip aided turn, even if slowly. Ramesh Powar and Harbhajan Singh could have been a handful, but Symonds effectively took them out of the equation as he unleashed those booming strokes which mock the length of the boundary.

Once the tweakers had been taken care of, Symonds milked the bowling, keeping his cool even in the face of extreme provocation from Sreesanth. A sixth one-day hundred appeared his for the taking until Australia’s dreaded ‘87’ gobbled him up.

“Symmo has always believed in parading a pretty aggressive style of cricket,” Gilchrist said. “I don’t think he has changed anything. I have always believed that whatever be the situation, he is right alongside you.”
Australia have thrown the gauntlet down. Now, it is up to India to respond in kind.