Two sterling efforts from brother pairs in the game in a single day gave cricket fans much to cheer, fans who were on the same side as the brothers that is.
If it was the Hussey brothers pulling Australia out of another potential stumble, it was the Pathan brothers pushing for heroics in a game that considered by former Indian cricketers turned commentators had gone out of India’s hands.
David And Michael Hussey’s individual half centuries were not only significant that it was the pair of brothers creating magic but in light of the fact that they had saved Australia from crashing to a series defeat in the Chappell Hadlee Trophy to New Zealand. In much the similar fashion, the crucial partnership for the eighth wicket between Irfan Pathan and Man of the Match Yousuf Pathan saved India, the reigning Twenty20 champions, from losing face to Sri Lanka in the one off Twenty20 international.
Both stories could have gone horribly wrong had the pairs of brothers not staked themselves to the cause. That they did not only gave the dressing room hope but also, revived interests in their fans to believe in their teams. For India, it was validation. For Australia, it was restoring glory and allowing the series to now enter the final match of five ODIs equal with New Zealand on two wins apiece and much to play for.
India could not have had a better finish to their brief tour to Sri Lanka where they won their first bilateral series in Sri Lanka, narrowly missed the number one tag and won the Twenty20 match in sensational fashion to return home to rejoicing fans. Now after a brief break, the teams will leave for a tricky tour to New Zealand.
For Australia, Friday provides a chance to make amends for their debacles this summer as New Zealand will look to revive their momentum while halting Australia’s brief one. While Daniel Vettori, New Zealand’s captain, is hoping that the match at the Gabba will turn into victory for his team as the start of something new for a young side, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is hoping the momentum continues on to take success to South Africa, where they will try to undo some of the horrors in their own backyard that nearly handed South Africa the number one crown.
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