The nature of Indian cricket makes it inevitable that much optimism – however unwarranted – is attendant upon each of the team’s fixtures. Coming off a pathos-filled tour of New Zealand? Struggled inordinately against the Netherlands? No matter – against Australia at the SuperSport Park, the fans reason, India will come good. They always have done against top-flight opposition before, haven’t they?
One man contributed much to the reasoning behind this optimism – misplaced, as it transpired. Sachin Tendulkar’s record against Australia, especially in big matches, is majestic, and when he …