Musings of a Curious Mind

Today was supposed to be the fifth day of the 2 nd test match and the exact halfway point of the series. But it does not come as a major surprise that Australia won at the Gabba within 4 days. Gabba is to Australia what Karachi was to Pakistan. They never lose here. But, it will surely raise a few eyebrows if it were to be told that Australia won in 4 days despite being 247/6 in reply to India’s 408 after the 1 st hour of play on day 3. Or for that matter, that Australia had also won the first test from a point where India required 120 odd runs from around 30 overs with 8 wickets in hand in the final session at Adelaide. Reverse a couple of sessions from Australia to India’s favor, and Australia could have faced the biggest ever crisis in their recent past going into the Boxing day Test 0-2 down. Instead, it is business as usual, and Dhoni and India are staring at another 4-0 drubbing. First things first, there has been a massive improvement from the 2011-12 series. The batting

A 1-1 draw at home to Crystal Palace was followed by a humiliating 4-1 defeat at the Emirates. The trend was reversed against a struggling Hull City at home with a 3-0 defeat. But, it had turned out to be another false dawn as Stoke City drew 2-2 at Old Trafford, and few days later United were embarrassed 2-0 at the St Mary’s. And today, an under pressure and underperforming Liverpool came to Old Trafford and took all 3 points in a thrilling 3-2 win. Yes, in a parallel universe, where United did not have the luck they are having this season, and where their goalkeeper is not named David De Gea, this could have been United’s story for the past month. Instead, it is 6 wins on the trot and 26 out of possible 33 points in a run that included home matches against Chelsea and Liverpool, and away trips to Man City, Arsenal and Southampton. 5 points clear of the 5 th place team as I write this, Van Gaal is well and truly moving towards achieving his bare minimum objective. Luck is a