Indian batsmen need to prove they're not flat track bullies: Oz media

Melbourne: India were “bounced and bruised at the MCG”, declared a gleeful Australian media which today hailed their cricket team for their surprise humbling of the famed batting line-up of the visitors in the first Test here. The much vaunted Indian batting line-up came under attack from the Australian media as the visitors could post just 282 and 169 in the two innings against an inexperienced home side bowling attack to lose the Test by 122 runs. Only Sachin Tendulkar seemed to be in control over the Australian fast bowlers as he top-scored in both innings with a fluent 73 and 32, the local media said. [caption id=“attachment_168759” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Only Sachin Tendulkar (C) seemed to be in control over the Australian fast bowlers as he top-scored in both innings with a fluent 73 and 32, the local media said. Getty Images”]  [/caption] ‘The Daily Telegraph’ wrote that the pressure is now on India and their famed batting line-up would have to prove that they are not flat track bullies. “MS Dhoni has conceded India’s great weapon is now its weakness — a cast of batting flops who must prove they are not flat track bullies,” the newspaper said. Former Australian skipper Mark Taylor identified India’s easy run on placid sub-continent pitches as protecting ageing maestros such as VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, emerging number six Virat Kohli and opener Gautam Gambhir. “The pressure is now on India, down 0-1 having been bounced and bruised on a bumper MCG strip,” it added. The local media was, however, in awe of Tendulkar, who yet again missed his 100th international ton. “Australia effectively won the opening Test at the MCG when champion Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed. In Don Bradman’s day his dismissal influenced posters to proclaim: HE’S OUT,” the ‘Daily Telegraph’ declared. “Yesterday a similar poster could have been dispatched, with a sub-head announcing: IT’S OVER. “The Little Master, dismissed for 73 in first innings, compiled an equally efficient and masterful 32 and looked the only batsman to be in control. He must wait for another day to notch his 100th century, but he was given a standing ovation going in and leaving MCG,” it wrote. A write-up in ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ about Tendulkar said, “Only Sachin Tendulkar looked of a mind to resist meaningfully. He is 38, but ageless; in this match, even the sound of his bat on ball was more formidable than any others. While he was in, anything was possible for India, not least THAT hundred.” Meanwhile, the local media was effusive in its praise of the national team for the surprise win over India, saying it has “rediscovered their mongrel” or fighting spirit after this month’s shock defeat to New Zealand at Hobart. “Test team’s killer instinct is back, sharpened for the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground),” ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ declared. Praising paceman James Pattinson for his big role in the Test win, the newspaper said, “James Pattinson could not have channelled Dennis Lillee more convincingly without growing whiskers and wearing his shirt unbuttoned to the waist.” Under the headline ‘Bowlers wreak havoc on Indian demi-gods’, ‘The Australian’ described the first Test win against India as a giant leap from Bellerive Oval (at Hobart) to the Melbourne Cricket Ground. “After being humiliated by eighth-ranked New Zealand in Hobart a fortnight ago, Michael Clarke’s men maintained their maddeningly inconsistent recent form by dismantling the might of India to claim an extraordinary 122-run victory inside four days in the first Test,” said the newspaper. PTI