Play to the fans

THE recently completed Test series between India and Australia must have had the international cricket fraternity glued to their television sets. To witness two-evenly matched teams go neck to neck, vying for supremacy out in the middle, was enthralling to watch.

The battle between bat and ball with no quarter being asked or given together with the odd display of gamesmanship and mind games made for absorbing viewing. Mention should also be made of the vociferous, but knowledgeable Indian fans’ contribution to this sporting spectacle. Certainly Test cricket at its best. It is therefore not surprising that these two great cricket nations still attract capacity crowds. This was in stark contrast to the cricket dished up down south in the Test series between South Africa and New Zealand.

In the end Indian panache triumphed over Australian aggression.

The swaggering Indians deserve their current top ICC Test ranking. One must also commend the Australians, although playing it hard to the very end, for being gracious in defeat. None of the bemoaning of the cricket pitches as the South African print and electronic media are prone to doing.

Perhaps a lesson to be learnt by the South African and New Zealand teams is to adopt a more attacking, entertaining brand of cricket to put “butts” on seats again. Faldee Abrahams Walmer Estate