Great Indian collapse, or ‘fatal suddenty’

As far as collapses go, the one engineered by the Indian men’s Test cricket side on Sunday against Australia was a kerrang! that could make any infrastructural shyster responsible for building dodgy bridges or buildings break into a slow clap. The first session of the final day of the World Test Championship was supposed to bring Sabbath-mongers some excitement. After all, needing 280 runs to win with seven wickets in hand is neither a gargantuan task nor a walkover. It turned out that the Oval witnessed a very steep downward-bound sine curve that, by the time flatline came, walked like, talked like, and quacked like a collapse. This was really because it was a collapse.

As terms go, ‘collapse’ suggests a sudden, violent crash – or as we call it, ‘fatal suddenty’. Thankfully, between the fourth day and the fifth and final day, Test cricket provides non-play. It is this stretch of inaction that gives everyone following a match that ultimately collapses the illusion of all being moderately well. The Aussies did put the Indians in a spot at the end of play on Saturday with the latter ending the day at 164 for 3. But then, the very next day – indeed session -seven wickets fell as if in violent, self-destructive love. Experts are finding reasons for this crash. We simply take note of this shock and awe, with the right amount of shock and awe.