The higher u rise, the harder u fall...

I guess when I mentioned the quote "Cometh the hour, cometh the man" i certainly didnt expect the weather to play the role it did. But well, as it turned out it was neither the hour nor the men who took centrestage but rather it was the weather. It robbed a wonderful match of a result that it really deserved. Its not a match that will be remembered for the talent and quality of cricket that was played but, as so often happens with this game, its the character of the players that it brings out that make this game special.

During the course of four thrilling days this game took more turns and twists than you can imagine. More importantly it showed why test cricket is so great. As Allan Border so poignantly wrote in his column, "When have these two teams last played out a dull draw". The fortunes of both teams swung time and again as both teams countless times clawed back from seemingly lost positions on the back of some sterling efforts.

Well I guess that is what makes this game special. Cricket is not just the flowing cover drives or the adventurous pulls or the Warne ripper pitching outside leg and uprooting off or even the masterful Ganguly loft or Vaughan's silken touch. Make no mistake, they are all part of the attraction. But real cricket is an injured Kumble stepping onto the field defying doctor's orders with a wire holding his jaw in place to bowl an inspired spell, it is an injured Malcolm Marshall breaking his thumb yet coming out to bat with one hand against England at Headingly to allow Gomes to reach his hundred. Cricket is Dean Jones battling dehydration to reach 200. Cricket is two teams deciding to walk when they have nicked it, no matter what the situation. Hats off to both teams.