D'Arcy Waldegrave: The juggernaut is on the cusp of being decommissioned

The cricketing world is in the process of being turned on its head.   

In two days, the Indian home team juggernaut is being declawed, derailed, decommissioned, decimated. 

The word juggernaut, as it happens, has Hindi roots, an Anglicised derivation of Jagannath, and a very apt word for the almost unstoppable force that is Indian cricket at home. 

After being embarrassed in Bangaluru, the home team cultivated a pitch designed to play to the strengths of the home side, a poppadom-esque surface, waiting to explode on impact when the Indian spin attack delivers its vast array of spin grenades.  

This masterplan came undone to a degree when Latham won the toss and elected to bat, dooming the hosts to chasing on a deteriorating wicket.  

New Zealand batted manfully, establishing a passable first innings total before Flatline Santner tore the unflappable Indian line-up to shreds. His 7 wickets, not dissimilar to the spell of the other unheralded tweaker in the match, the almost unplayable Washington Sundar, set up an impressive second innings bowling display from the tourists.  

Yes, the match is far from over. Writing off the home team’s ability to chase down any total in the fourth innings is foolish, but to suggest that New Zealand aren’t in the driver's seat, is just as reckless.  

My enthusiasm around a possible, maybe even probable win, has a touch of premature celebration about it, as the vagaries of this beautiful game can make idiots of us all. But to maintain Santner style reaction to the test match so far is to deny myself the joy of the proceedings to date.   

The juggernaut is on the cusp of being decommissioned, a home series loss for the first time in 12 years beckons. 

I am so here for it.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldegrave from News Talks.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
B t T nine is the All Sport Breakfast and
the cracketing world is in the process of being turned
on its head. In two days, the Indian home team
juggernaut has been declaud derailed, decommission, decimated. The word juggernaut,
as it happens, has Hindi roots. It's an anglicized derivation

(00:34):
of juggernauth and it's a very apt word for the
almost unstoppable force that is Indian cricket at home. However,
after being embarrassed in Bangaluru, the home team cultivated a
pitch designed to play to the strengths of the home side,
a papadom esque surface waiting to explode on impact when

(00:55):
the Indian spin attack delivers its vast array of spin grenades.
This master plan, though, came undone to a degree when
Lathan won the toss and elected to bat, dooming the
hosts to chasing on a deteriorating surface. New Zealand battered manfully.
To start with, they established a possible first innings total

(01:16):
before flatline Santna tore the unflattable Indian lineup to shreds
his seven wickets, not dissimilar to the spell of the
other unhelded tweaker in the match, the almost unplayable Washington Sunda.
It's set up an impressive second innings bowling display from
the tourists. Yeah, the match is far from over. Writing

(01:37):
off the home team's ability to chase down any total
in the fourth innings is foolish, But to suggest that
New Zealand aren't in the driver's seat is just as reckless.
My enthusiasm around a possible, maybe even probable win definitely
has a touch of premature celebration about it, as the
vagaries of this beautiful game can make fools of us all.

(02:00):
But to maintain a Santana's style reaction to the Test
match so far as to deny myself the joy of
the proceedings to date. The Juggernaut is on the cusp
of being decommissioned a home serious loss for the first
time in twelve years. Beckons and I am so here

(02:22):
for it.

Speaker 1 (02:22):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
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