The Ind-Aus rivalry is more than sledging, it's about the beauty of Test cricket

Even before the beginning of the home season, the series against Australia was the most awaited. Over time, the anticipation only increased because, in the heart of hearts, people were raring to watch a team that could fight, a side that could threaten their No.1 position, a side we have a history with. The quality of cricket, the intensity of a real contest, the friction, and most importantly the clash of passion are all reasons for the same. I mean, what’s there to not look forward to?

Cricketing clashes between the two countries have always been of high intensity. Both sides are equally fuelled by the desire to defeat the other. The Australians go through in-depth strategic planning, before-hand practices, and exercises to get acquainted with the subcontinent. All of these are an indication of how strongly they want to mark their presence in the games here. More so, against India because India has developed a reputation of being particularly difficult to beat at home.

The competitiveness in their attempts to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and every other Indo-Aussie encounter is bound to attract the same drama. Interestingly, in 2000-01 and in 2007-08, the tension between the two sides reflected even more, as it was India who ended Australia’s runs of 16 consecutive Test wins. This year, things turned around a bit as Australia ended up being the one spoiling India’s longest, 19-match unbeaten streak.

A lot of people are not fans of the concept of sledging, ‘mental disintegration’, or intimidation of any sort apart from the bat and ball. A lot of them naturally, not fans of the Australian belief that they are a side that likes itself to follow an aggressive brand of cricket and one that doesn’t mind a dig or two at their opposition. However, as the times changed, Australia had competition, they weren’t the only ones with that belief.

In contemporary cricket, apart from New Zealand and South Africa, the rather docile ones, every team is now okay with a bit of chirping, some send-offs, and some wild celebrations. India too, under varying captains has moved from ‘giving it back’ to ‘we don’t mind backing our words with performances’ as well as mere intimidation with nothing to back them with.

So it’s time we get used to it, accept it or move on with it, as well. I mean, if the teams themselves can accept that notion, let’s go a little harsh on them too.

We’ve seen it all between the two. Be it the verbal duels between VVS Laxman & Australian bowlers. Or, the rare moments when Sachin Tendulkar decided to shed off his Tendulkar-esque image and decides, it’s enough, let’s give them a word or two. Never did Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne shy away from being the ones to intimidate.

Remember the stares between Matthew Hayden and Irfan Pathan? Or, the Bhajji-Haydos banters that both of them can’t seem to forget even now as one’s eyes glimmer when talking about it on screen and the other’s tweets show the underlying urge to have a go at the Aussie one more time.

The rivalry has never been free from things has often reached heights they should not have, like the nasty Bhajji-Symonds saga. Often criticized for the vulgarity, racism, name-calling, the incident had almost dented relations between the two. There have also been slightly less intense incidents like David Warner v/s Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan v/s Shane Watson, forgettable for someone who only enjoys really on-the-face kind of banters.

There have been incidents of the rivalry being conveyed through the bat and ball too. Harbhajan with the ball had many a time becomes a sort of trouble for Aussie batsmen, including Gilchrist. Or, Brett Lee’s memorable time against Tendulkar. VVS, the absolute carnage in the form of a batsman for them. Wouldn’t you pay to re-live Rahul Dravid and Ricky Ponting being in the contest for outdoing each other? Or, back to times when Hayden dominated like a dream, a reference that was repeatedly used by commentators to remind Warner about his job in this series?

Hell, I’d even love to watch Virat Kohli take on Mitchell Johnson like he did in 2014, or watch ‘Ishant Sharma make Ponting cry’, (Strictly only quoting the name of the video on YouTube that I’m obsessed with). But, 2-3 years from now it’s going to be Steve Smith and his reign in India. Surely, these are the rivalries we prefer more. The ones that are backed with the bat/ball.

A lot of incidents like these have occurred this time as well, but the only ones even slightly enjoyable were the ones that did not go off the field. Now, I don’t particularly mean to criticize or show my dissent over the views or actions that the concerned individuals revel in, but for a spectator, or a follower of the game, it’s pretty disappointing having to filter past so much negativity to think of a moment that actually made you laugh.

If you talk about this particular series, admit it, there’s a lot of filtering to do. A lot of filtering has to be done even when there wasn’t much of explicit sledging or direct attack on the field. I don’t mean that there were no performances to remember, there are a bagful of absolute stunners. But you would know what the message is when I say that the toilet banter with Matt Renshaw or Smith laughing off Ishant Sharma’s hysterical meme-face are not my instant thoughts.

However, there’s this unavoidable charm about Test cricket. Despite all the drama, nothing can keep you away from it. You’re on your feet without an alarm snooze because you can’t stay away from it. The negativity can get too much, but you know that the cricket will heal that.

Look at the beauty of it. It’s going to be an end to a long season for both the teams that have a lot is at stake, it’s literally the survival of the fittest, at one of the most beautiful places to play cricket. One is No. 1 and one is the only one close to snatching that spot. One is looking to consolidate its hold over what they’ve earned, while the other is doing all it can to pave its through a rocky, err.. bouncy path.

For 5 long days, there will be no love lost, and there’ll be no cricket lost. You’re not sure if the drama will come back again, but you know cricket will be okay. And, you know you’ll be okay when the cricket is on.