There are some chances that are simply not worth taking. A wise man knows when to take a calculated gamble and when to play it safe. And strangely enough, sometimes it is the wisest of men who falter at the threshold. When Steve Waugh won the toss and elected to field in the first Test in Mumbai, pundits raised their eyebrows in surprise. As it happened, Waugh's Australians won the Test inside three days. When you get away with something like that once, you don't try it again. Not for a few years. And certainly not in the same series. Steve Waugh did just that in the third one-dayer at Indore and paid a heavy price.

The toss itself was not without its share of amusement. The coin used apparently was the kind that didn't have a figurehead on one side and a number on the other. After some embarrassment and mild confusion, Waugh was told he had won the toss. Promptly, the visiting captain put India in on a belter of a wicket. Featherbed would be a major understatement to describe this wicket. Sachin Tendulkar accepted the early Christmas present from the generous Aussie captain and tonked 139, crossing 10,000 runs in the limited overs game in the process. VVS Laxman made 83 and looked good for much more. India ended up with 299 in their 50 overs. That you might say was the half way stage of the match. It was more, it was half the battle won for India.

Whether it is an all conquering Australian team or a spirited India trying to dislodge an established team, 300 is 300. Chasing 300 is something no team can afford to take for granted. Truly a massive task, with crowds chanting, pressure building, required run rates mounting and overs slipping by. Then again, if you had to chase 300 you would want your best side going after the opposition bowling. The best batsman on this tour for the visitors has been, without a shadow of a doubt, Matthew Hayden. The southpaw has been strong, steady, unfazed and most importantly full of runs. Steve Waugh decided that Hayden needed rest for this game. The rotation system they call it. Rest the players who have done exceptionally well and give others on the fringes the chance to prove themselves. It certainly does that. What is also does is to field a side that is less than full strength. Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds and Michael Bevan between them conceded 93 runs off 10 overs and let India steal the initiative. Bench strength with the bat? Liabilities with the ball on the day.

It was a day when the 'rotation policy' sent Australia spinning to a crushing 118-run loss. And Steve Waugh must take his share of the blame.

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