Five things that lifted me on a spirit-sapping evening at Sahara Stadium, Pune

2. Australian bouncers:

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Contrary to what I feel is the popular choice among cricket fans, I enjoy watching good bowling more than good batting. So, going into the stadium yesterday, I was hoping that the teeth that Indian pace department discovered in recent times would cut into the Australian line-up with sharp swing and pace bowling. Well, the only teeth I got to see from the Indian pacers were gritted ones as they were being picked apart, with their docile good-length balls being smashed all over the park. By the time the Australian innings finished, I was starting to get the feeling that if I had stayed home, I would probably have enjoyed more. As I sat there hoping that batting at least would be more fun, Johnson was running in to bowl the 4^th ball of the Indian innings. What followed blew me away, and from the crowd’s reaction, so were they; pitching just short of the good length and rising sharply, the ball rocketed past a wary looking Shikhar Dhawan at 153 kmph, who could only manage to weave past it. If the momentary silence and rippling applause that followed don’t summarize the thrill of that delivery, I don’t think I can find words better. Throughout the innings the Australian pacers continued to test the Indian batsmen with sharp bouncers. If it wasn’t for a sinking Team India on the receiving end, those bouncers would have easily made my day.