Shock A few days ago Mumbai police had busted a module that had arranged funds for the Malegaon blasts of September 29. AS the investigation progressed it came to light that a Hindu organization had played a decisive role in arranging and carrying out the blasts. But all sections of the society were shocked when investigation revealed the links between the accused persons and some military officers. Later on a police has arrested a serving officer of the Indian army named Lieutenant-Colonel Purohit. He was arrested on November 5 and had admitted that he had supplied RDX and weapons to the radical Hindu outfit-Abhinav Bharat- which had carried out the bomb blasts to revenge the Muslim attacks on the Hindus.
Danger Investigation agency has also suspected the involvement of some defense personals’ direct or indirect involvement in the crime. This incident has rung danger bells for the government as well as for the military. Indian military is considered to be one of the most secular and neutral organization in India and some army officers’ involvement in the ‘inhuman’ crime have brought shame to all ranks of the organization. This incidents also points that some more radical elements might have intruded into the military. One the other hand it has also provided a point to the fundamental Islamists. When some Muslim youths were caught by the intelligence agencies after the serial blasts in various parts of India some ‘well wishers’ of the community had started to make hue and cry about the ‘biased’ approach of the government and the police. Now they have found a ‘genuine’ issue that can assist them to recruit ‘mujahiddins’.
Politics Though some saffron parties have declined their links with the arrested persons and have termed it as a move of the Congress led government which was lying low because of opposition’s continuous criticism in wake of serial blasts but there can be no smoke without some fire. Some saffron parties have openly declared to provide legal aid to the accused persons. This is another sign of ‘vote bank politics’ and the dangerous game that some political parties are playing. It has again widened the rift between communities. A military man’s job is to protect the nation while leaders guide the nations in good and bad situations. But some of them are doing the opposite.
Indian Bowlers If Australian debutant off-spinner Jason Krejza was the star of the day two, it were all the four main Indian bowlers who dominated on day three and turned the match into their favor. All the four main Indian bowlers, Zaheer, Ishan, Bhajji and Mishra bowled tight and ‘planned’ spells and kept the Australian batsmen constantly under pressure. They denied the ‘much needed opportunity’ to the Australians to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy. Australians squandered the advantage of a 155-run partnership between Opener Simon Katich (102) and Michael Hussey (90) as they lost the remaining wickets at regular intervals.
Turning Point Indian played both attacking and defensive game on day three with the motive to put pressure on the opponents. It was Zaheer Khan who opened the flood-gates for India when he trapped Simon Katich leg before wicket. Simon made 102 runs. Earlier Katich had been dropped at first slip by Dravid off Ishant when he was at 94. Katich accepted the favor of lady luck and completed his third century. The next to go was M. Clarke (8) who was caught behind off Ishant Sharma. The turning point of the inning was the dismissal of Hussey and the credit goes to M. Vijay who with his perfect throw from the silly-point to wicket-keeper Dhoni found Hussey short of his crease.
Spinners Rest of the work was done by the Indian spinners’ due of Harbhajan Singh and Mishra. Harbhajan Singh did not give any chance to the Australians to score a fast rate and gave a big blow to them when he dismissed Shane Watson (2) a few minutes after Hussey’s departure. Wicket-Keeper Brad Haddin and Cameron White tried to present some resistance and added 52 runs for the seventh wicket. Mishra got Haddin caught by Dravid when he was on 28. Harbhajan Singh put an end to White’s ‘heroism’ when he got him caught by Sehwag. After Haddin’s departure rest of the Australian inning was folded up within 10 minutes as second new ball played a crucial role in their dismissals. Krejza was trapped leg-before-wicket by Sharma on 5 while Zaheer caught Johnson off Mishra on 5. Brett Lee remained not out. All the Australian team got out at 355 giving a lead of 86 runs to their opponents. Though Zaheer could get only one wicket in the first inning but his disciplined bowling on day third played a decisive role. He along with Sharma built a great pressure on their opponents that was exploited by all the Indian bowlers.
Australians Indian off-spinner Harbhanjan Singh created history on Friday, November 8. He entered the 300 wicket-taker club when he dismissed Australian captain Rickey Ponting on the second day of the Nagpur test. But on the second day Indian bowlers did not bowl in tight line and length. There bowled good bowling only in patches’. When the day’s play was called off Australia had made 180 for the loss of two wickets. The other dismissed batsman was opener Mathew Hayden (16), who got run out when M. Vijay’s direct hit from mid-on found him short. Katich(92) and Hussey(45) steered their team out of crisis and put it into a secure position.
Indians Earlier in the morning when the play started, Sourabh and skipper Dhoni batted with care and added almost 90 runs in the first two hours of the play. But Ganguly could not make his last test a memorable one as he fell short of 15 runs to complete his century. He was caught by Clarke when he off-timed an off-side delivery of Krejza. He was Krejza’s second victim on day two. Earlier he had dismissed Dhoni on 56 reducing India 422 for six. Indian could add only one run before Ganguly’s departure. Rest of the tail-enders could add only 19 more runs to the Indian inning and all the team was dismissed for 441. Krejza dismissed all the remaining three Indian batsmen. Harbhajan Singh remained not-out and made 18 runs.
Jason Krejza The star of the second day’s play was Australia’s debutant off-spinner Jason Krejza. He dismissed eight batmen and conceded 215 runs. He ripped apart the middle and lower Indian order to turn the tide in his team’s favor. He has become one of the fifth bowlers who have taken eight wickets in his debut match. His achievement has a special significance as he has achieved this milestone against such a team that is considered to be the best against spinners. After Shane Warne’s retirement, Australia was in a dire need to have a spinner who could fulfill the void to some extent. Earlier he had been ignored for the first three matches of the series.
