Chennai Test high on my favourites list

I love contests that confuse the crowd. Going by the noise, the Chennai crowd gave up regularly unlike their team, writes Ian Healy.

I love contests that continually confuse an Indian crowd and the second Test was high on my favourites list. Going on by crowd noise and response, the Chennai crowd gave up on the match regularly but thankfully their team are so much better than that.

HT Image

They displayed their resilience from the first afternoon on a wicket that looked as if it would break them not to mention the rampaging Australian openers. In India the pattern has been that the Australians dominate the first Test but then that is it for either side. It is struggle, scratch and scrape your way through every session, trying to sleep at night. A mouth-watering proposition for us as spectators but I would be surprised if there are not some player's mouths drier than a lime burner's boot.

I hope both Sehwag and Martyn do it all again because they are so good to watch. Judging from heresay, they have similar personalities. Low key, laidback but not lacking in desire.

Smooth movers on the pitch, crashing strokeplayers of simplicity and grace. Both men have had their form questioned this year and I believe unfairly. There is a real impatience in the game today which demands higher performances more often than in the past and what a shame it would be to rest match-winners because of hiccups.