The Third Test

I've been busy over the last couple of weeks and have therefore unfortunately been unable to watch as much of the third test between India and the West Indies as I would have liked. The match turned out to be quite a spectacle and proved yet again as to why test cricket remains the premier format of cricket by a long way. After the West Indies amassed 590 in the first innings and India replied with 482, it looked very much as if the game was going to end in a stalemate. The drama that unfolded on the 4th & the 5th day was quite unexpected.

Ashwin had another very good game and has now surely done enough to cement his place in the side for the immediate future. Expectations have to be realistic with regards to Ashwin and I hope the selectors give him an extended run in the side. It was also good to see young Aaron pick up his maiden 4-for. India have unearthed two young pace bowlers with potential. One hopes that the BCCI has learnt from the numerous mistakes made in the past and manages these youngsters better.

India's inability to chase down a very gettable total raises a few question marks about their batting line-up. Twice in three matches, India have collapsed against a bowling line-up that is hard-working at best. Sehwag was extremely lucky right through this series and yet he has been unable to make the most of it. GG has surprisingly gotten away with a worrying run of poor performances. His ODI form has somehow been able to mask his failures in the longer format of the game. Gambhir's shot selection has been poor and his tendency to open the face of the bat to try and run the ball down to third man is getting him into a lot of trouble in test match cricket.

Virat Kohli, who replaced Yuvraj Singh in the middle order, got some crucial runs in both innings. Kohli is a player with enormous talent. His challenge will be to overcome his technical limitations against the short ball. With Rohit Sharma making runs in domestic cricket, it seems as if the fight for that no#6 position is going to be between these 2.

All in all it was an entertaining series. The West Indians will be happy that they gave India a fight. It's not often that a team comes to India and does that. The West Indians can also take heart from the performances of some of the youngsters. Darren Bravo is fast losing Brian Lara's shadow and is coming into his own quite nicely. Kirk Edwards is another youngster who seems to have the talent to succeed at this level. Darren Sammy continues to perform as a bowler and as a captain. If the West Indies can build a team around some of these promising younger players, all may not be lost as yet.

The Second Test

India wrapped up the second test and therefore the series in convincing fashion at the Eden Gardens. The West Indies did put up a fight in the second innings, but their collapse in the first innings left them with no real chance of competing.

The Dravid-Laxman show

If its the Eden Gardens, it must be the Rahul Dravid & VVS Laxman show. Dravid continued on his merry way and later described it as one of the easier hundreds that he has got. He has made 5 hundreds this year and in doing so has equaled his best year statistically, 2002. Laxman scored a hundred after some time, but it was worth the wait. His entire repertoire of  shots was on display and West Indians could do little but watch in awe as the wristy VVS caressed the ball to all corners of his favorite ground.

Marauding MS

Dhoni loves the Eden too. His last 100 was at the same ground in early 2010 against the South Africans. After a couple of lucky reprieves, MS switched on. The situation was tailor-made for MS. India had got off to a good start and a big score was almost assured. All Dhoni needed to do was to speed up the process and he did that in trademark fashion. 

The End of Yuvi?

Another flop show in test cricket for Yuvraj Singh. On a wicket where every Indian batsman looked at home, Yuvraj seemed to be batting on a different surface. After a torturous hour or so, Yuvraj was caught plumb in front by Darren Sammy. He has been axed for the third test and one does wonder whether there's a way back for him. IMO, he's had his chances. Let's give the youngsters a go.

Yadav Impresses

Umesh Yadav impressed one and all in the first test with his pace. He went one step better in the second test. His control was better and he has a bunch of wickets to show for his efforts. The way he got rid of the tail must have gladdened many an Indian heart, given India's perennial problems with removing the tail. Australia are waiting. Injuries permitting, Umesh has already booked himself a place on that plane to Australia. Can he stand up an be counted?

The Master & the Protege

The similarities between Dwayne Bravo and the great Brian Lara have been well documented. Bravo's 100 in the second test took that a step further. Not only does young Bravo bat in a manner reminiscent of the great Trinidadian, his average of 47.05 after 12 tests is exactly what the great man averaged 12 tests into his career. What Lara achieved after that was truly spectacular. Can Bravo tread a similar path?

Some Statistics

I was lucky to have caught most of an incredible game between Australia & South Africa. 47 / 10 I suspect is going to haunt the Aussies for quite some time. What the game did though was open up debate. Is the quality of cricket today as good as it used to be? Admittedly, the wicket assisted fast bowling and bowlers from both sides exploited the conditions quite nicely. But it was certainly not a 21 / 9 wicket. Have players today lost the art of batting time? 

I've never believed that statistics are the only criteria when it comes to judging a player. Nevertheless, most people will agree that statistics generally tell you most of the story if not all of it. For instance, a batsman averaging in the thirties cannot be considered a great player. A player needs to achieve a certain benchmark statistically in order to be considered a great player. That benchmark for batsman is usually an average of 50 or more. This brings me to the point of this article. In the aftermath of the Cape Town test, a lot of people have suggested that averages today are inflated. This is possibly true, although it is impossible to prove this one way or the to other. They have also suggested that sub-continental players are luckier than players from other parts of the world as conditions in the subcontinent tend to favor batsman. 

To test this theory, I looked at the statistics of some of the highest achieving batsman over the last 15 years, both from the subcontinent and away. From the subcontinent, I have included Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Kumar Sangakkara & Mahela Jayawardene. The non subcontinental batsman include Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Brian Lara & Mathew Hayden. For subcontinental batsman, I have looked at their figures in England, Australia & South Africa, the 3 toughest places for Asian batsman to tour. For the non-subcontinental players, I have looked at their away performances in England, Australia, South Africa  & India. For instance, in evaluating Ricky Ponting, I have looked at his performances against South Africa away, India away & England away. 

Ricky Ponting

Against          Mat             Runs               Avg          100's

England         18                1323              44.10         4

India              14                662                26.48         1

South Africa  10                875                48.61         3

Overall          42                2860              39.73        8

Jacques Kallis

Against          Mat             Runs               Avg          100's

Australia        12                915                45.75        2

India               9                 760                58.46        3

England         12                 586                29.30       1

Overall          33                2261               44.50      6

Brian Lara

Against          Mat             Runs               Avg          100's

Australia        19               1469               41.97        4

South Africa   9                  841               46.72        2

England          15               1268              48.76        4

India              3                   198               33.00        0

Overall          46                3776              42.61      10      

Mathew Hayden

Against          Mat             Runs               Avg          100's

England          10               552                 34.50       1

India               11              1027                51.35       2

South Africa   10               624                 34.66       2

Overall           31               2203               40.17      5

Kumar Sangakkara

Against          Mat             Runs               Avg          100's

Australia         3                 391                65.16        1

England          9                 520                30.58        1

South Africa   5                 392                39.20        0

Overall          17               1303               44.98       2

Mahela Jayawardene

Against          Mat             Runs               Avg          100's

Australia        4                  274                34.25        1

England         10                614                34.11        2

South Africa   5                 314                31.40        0

Overall          19                1202              33.25       3

Rahul Dravid

Against          Mat             Runs               Avg          100's

Australia         12               972                48.60        1

England          13              1376               68.80        6

South Africa   11                624               29.71        1

Overall           36              2972               49.03       8

Sachin Tendulkar

Against          Mat             Runs               Avg          100's

Australia         16              1522               58.53        6

England          17              1575               54.31        4

South Africa   15              1161               46.44        5

Overall           48              4258               53.09      15              

If not anything else, the above table certainly highlights the quality of Sachin Tendulkar & Rahul Dravid. Amongst all the batsman evaluated, Tendulkar & Dravid average the highest away from home. Sangakkara & Jayawardene's struggles outside the sub-continent have been well documented and the statistics just vindicate that. It is difficult to rate the Sri Lankan duo as highly as some of the other greats mentioned on this list for that reason alone. However, this does not mean that Sangakkara & Jayawardene are not fine players. If batting in the subcontinent was as easy as people make it out to be, then players from all over the world must enjoy batting there. This is not always the case as Ponting's figures show.

Ricky Ponting's below par average is probably the biggest surprise. Admittedly, his struggles in India have contributed greatly to a mediocre average. However, given his ability to dominate fast bowling, his average record in England and South Africa is a little surprising. Ultimately what is probably true is that a majority of cricketers will perform better in their own conditions.

The First Test

India may have ended up winning the first test against the West Indies fairly comfortably in the end, but it was a game that could have swung either way. It was far from convincing from India and they will need to up the ante in the coming games. There were plenty of sub-plots in what turned out to be a very enjoyable game of cricket.

The Pitch

The pitch prepared for this game was a typical Delhi pitch. The wicket offered no pace or bounce and very rare was the delivery that bounced over the waist. It was far from being an ideal wicket but at the same time probably did not deserve as much criticism as it has got.

Test cricket's greatest strength is its diversity. Batting in Delhi-like conditions is not easy, but there's a reason why it's called test cricket. Test cricket not only tests a batsman's level of skill. It also tests a variety of other attributes like endurance, durability and temperament. The Delhi pitch may not have been the easiest in the world to play shots on, but it managed to enthrall the spectators and that is not something that can be said of a lot of other pitches in the sub-continent.

Team Selection

I thought it was quite strange that Umesh Yadav was handed his debut game on a wicket that was never going to offer him any assistance. Given that the spinners took 16 out of the 20 wickets to fall, I wonder whether it would  have been a better idea to play another spinner instead of Yadav? The good news though was that Yadav managed to pick up a couple of wickets and certainly impressed a lot of people with his pace. If he can get his direction right more often, he is going to be a threat on more helpful surfaces.

The other call India will have to make is what they are going to do with Yuvraj Singh. This test match was Yuvraj's 36th test and you have to wonder just how much is too much? You cannot keep picking Yuvraj based on his ODI performances. It would also make sense to give a youngster a go in home conditions and get his confidence up rather than asking him to slot into the side when the team tours Australia, one of the toughest places in the world to tour.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Waddaplaya ! Chanderpaul's probably been one of the most underrated cricketers of all time. Not only did Chanderpaul prove that there were no demons in the wicket, he scored at a pace that was almost outrageous by his standards. His judgement was incredible and he realized early that he would have to do the bulk of the scoring. What followed was an exhibition of how to bat on slow surfaces.

He has quietly notched up more appearances for the West Indies than anybody else. His average, playing for an ordinary side, hovers near the 50-mark. He has scored runs against all opposition in all conditions. He even has a 69-ball 100 to his name. He may not get the attention that some of his peers do, but let there be no doubt - Chanderpaul without a doubt is one of the finest batsman of his time.

The Right Handed Jimmy Adams?

Kraigg Brathwaite played the kind of innings that Jimmy Adams routinely did on the 1994/95 tour to India. He was watchful and showed enormous powers of concentration. For a kid on his first tour of the subcontinent, the signs are positive. He seems to have the temperament to bat for long periods, a trait that seems to have been lost on a whole generation of West Indian batsman. For the sake of the West Indies, let's hope Brathwaite has more success than Adams did.

A Memorable Comeback

A 6-for on his comeback would have made Pragyan Ojha a happy man. Ojha for some strange reason has been consistently overlooked by the selectors despite seemingly doing quite well every time he has been given an opportunity. It may have taken a long time coming, but Ojha will be pleased with the way his comeback went. On a track were run scoring was always going to be difficult, Ojha's control meant that the pressure was never released when he was bowling. He also managed to get just enough purchase from the wicket to test the batsman.

A Dream Debut

Ashwin's 9 wickets on debut caps what has been a meteoric rise for him. Harbhajan Singh's lack of form has given Ashwin an opportunity and he has grasped it with both hands. He is not a conventional off spinner and relies a lot on variation. It's been a good start but sterner tests await him. Australia are next and on wickets that will not offer too much assistance it will be interesting to see how he goes. From an Indian point of view, the good news is that by grabbing his chance Ashwin has ensured that there is competition for places amongst spinners in the side. Harbhajan Singh now has his work cut out. It is going to be a long road back, but if this inspires him to fight his way back into the side through consistent performances then Indian cricket will be well served.

The Sehwag Factor

Two typically aggressive knocks from Sehwag went a long way in helping India clinch the first test. Sehwag's had an ordinary year and from a personal point of view this was going to be an important series. On a slow wicket that did not encourage shot-making, Sehwag did what he does best. He played the ball very late and picked up a lot of runs behind the wicket. Unlike his record in England or South Africa, which is distinctly ordinary, his record in Australia is quite good. A fit and firing Sehwag in Australia will be a massive boost for team India.

Another Near Miss

Sachin Tendulkar's wait for that elusive 100th international 100 continues. Personally, I don't see what the fuss is about. India's fixation with records & statistics often overshadows the team's performances, which at the end of the day is what it's all about. He may not have got a 100, but he played a fine innings that helped India clinch the test. The mini passage of play at the end of the third day was especially interesting. Rampaul & Edwards bowled with a great deal of accuracy but Dravid and Tendulkar displayed fantastic technique and temperament to see India through to the end of the day. There was nothing fancy. The bat came down as straight as a ramrod and the uneven bounce was negated. It was old fashioned, hard test cricket and it paid dividends.

Another VVS Finish

And he does it again. Another 4th innings classic from VVS. Admittedly. this was in no way as taxing as his recent masterpieces against Sri Lanka or Australia, but when Laxman came out to bat, the West Indies were still very much in the game. Another wicket then and things might have got really interesting. VVS though, in the space of a few overs, put the result beyond doubt. His wrist-work is so good that setting a field for him is impossible. A conventional field may slow the more orthodox players like Dravid or even Tendulkar. Not VVS. From the moment he arrived, the score board rattled along and before the West Indies could figure out what was happening, the result had been decided.

Squad Selection

So revenge was dished out in the best manner possible. England have been hammered. I'm not sure though whether this series has taught us anything that we did not already know. I certainly expected England to be better, much better. But maybe I should have looked at history. England remain a side that struggles against half-decent spin bowling. India have showed us once again that when it comes to performing in Indian conditions, India have a battalion of cricketers waiting to take the opportunity. India's challenge will be to replicate success achieved at home, away. England will know that nobody will take their claims of being the best side in the world seriously unless they are able to perform well in all conditions.

India's immediate task will be to beat the West Indies at home. India's fantastic home record coupled with West Indian incompetence over the last couple of years means that India start the series as overwhelming favorites. After the hammering India received in England, the squad selection for this series was going to be tricky. I believed that India's team selection would give us an idea of the direction Indian cricket will be taking in the near future. That changes were needed was obvious. The question was always going to be whether this selection committee, a committee that has come under criticism from all quarters for a series of baffling selection gaffes, would be able to take bold decisions. Surprisingly, they have.

Looking at the Indian squad, the top 5 pick themselves. Rahane has displayed a decent technique and his selection ahead of the Tamil Nadu duo of Vijay & Mukund does not come as a surprise. Vijay  has had a number of chances and has been unable to perform consistently enough. Mukund's problems against the bouncing / moving ball were exposed in England. He has to go back to the drawing board and work on this aspect of his game.

Kohli & Yuvraj will be fighting for the no 6 position. I've not been a great fan of Yuvraj the test cricketer. IMHO he has had enough chances and has consistently struggled in testing conditions. Few cricketers have had the number of chances that Yuvraj has had and this must be his last. Kohli is a player who has become an integral part of the ODI side. However, he struggled on his only test tour to date in the West Indies and will be wanting to make the most of this opportunity. Like most of the younger Indian batsman, irrespective of what happens here, he can and should only be judged based on performances away from the subcontinent. Nevertheless, this will be a chance for him to stake his claim.

The biggest surprise has been the bowling personnel selected for the first test. By opting for young blood, the selectors have hopefully made a firm decision to look at the future. Umesh Yadav & Varun Aaron impressed in the ODI's that they played. With Ishant Sharma joining them, unexpectedly there are 3 Indian bowlers with the ability to bowl in the mid 140's in the squad. Pace alone is not going to ensure success, but having it is surely a massive advantage. Ideally all 3 of them should be preserved for the longer format. Whilst it is difficult to not get excited about their pace, neither of them have displayed the greatest control so far. This suggests that they may still not be 100 % ready to play at the highest level but given the paucity of resources in India as far as fast bowling is concerned, there weren't too many other options available. Hopefully the administrators will realize the value of having two quick bowlers in the team and will ensure that the bowlers get all the support they need.

Praveen Kumar's axing comes as a bit of a surprise. The selectors have claimed that he has been 'rested'. Rested as we know can mean just about anything in Indian cricket. I'm quite sure that Praveen, who is still very inexperienced at the test level, is unlikely to have wanted to sit out. I feel for him but at the same time believe that the right decision was made. The red ball does not swing as much as the white ball and conditions in India generally does not favor Praveen's style of bowling. He must not be disheartened though. His performance is England will surely keep him in the midst of things.

Ashwin's selection ahead of Harbhajan has also been a welcome decision. Enough has been said about Singh's problems on the field and it is important to give somebody else a go. Until now Ashwin has been a limited overs specialist. Will he be able to succeed at the highest level is the big question. One thing is for sure. Ashwin has earned his chance. As has Pragyan Ojha. Ojha has been a victim of the selector' musical chairs approach when it has come to picking bowlers. Ojha has consistently done well every-time he's been given an opportunity but for some inexplicable reason he fell down in the pecking order. This is his chance to seal his place. 

The one thing that the selector' have got wrong though is the selection of Rahul Sharma. Sharma has a very ordinary first class record and is not assured of a permanent place even in his Ranji trophy side, Punjab. How he has been able to get into the test side remains a mystery. For the moment we should be thankful that for a change the selectors got most things right. Given their track record, this is an achievement in itself !

MSD and the Art of ODI Batting

Michael Bevan was one of the finest ODI players I have ever seen. What made Bevan special was the manner in which he played under pressure. Batting at 5 or 6 is arguably the toughest job to do as a batsman in ODI cricket. If your team's doing well, your expected to step up the momentum almost immediately. If your team's struggling, you need to play the role of the savior. It's a role that few people enjoy and even fewer excel at. Bevan was probably the best of the lot, until MSD came along.

As a hardcore test cricket fan, I've always had my reservations about MSD. These reservations have stemmed out of the age old belief that a wicket-keeper should first and foremost be a good keeper. Whilst it is undeniable that modern day cricket requires wicket keepers to bat and bat well, it should not be at the cost of their primary role. In ODI cricket, however, it is the exact opposite. One of India's best runs in ODI cricket came when a certain Rahul Dravid donned the keeping gloves. It worked well for India because it allowed them the luxury of having an extra batsman in the side. 

What sets MSD apart from the others is his ability to read the game and play according to the situation. When MSD broke into the side initially, he was renowned for his hitting ability, but little else. Whilst he has not lost that hitting ability, his game today is more about picking the right time to explode. Yesterday's innings was a case in point. Until India took the batting powerplay in the 35th over, it looked as if India would end up with a slightly under par total. Dhoni had other ideas. He had started his innings in trademark fashion, nudging and nurdling the ball for 1's and 2's. Come the batting powerplay, he went berserk. His clean striking was a sight to behold and England had nowhere to hide. 

I was also quite impressed with young Umesh Yadav. I certainly hope is that he does not go the way numerous other Indian bowlers have gone. He has pace and whilst he seems a little wayward, the raw material is certainly there. One can only hope that the BCCI do their best to nurture him. It's questionable whether playing him on flat surfaces in ODI cricket is the right way forward.

It is also important that the bigger picture is not forgotten. Even if India win this series convincingly, it is absolutely imperative that the weaknesses exposed in England are addressed. 

Conflict of Interest

Anil Kumble was one of my favorite cricketers. In fact, it is hard to think of an Indian cricket fan that disliked Kumble. Despite being India's greatest match winner, he never had the crazy fan following of a Sachin Tendulkar nor did he polarize opinions the way Sourav Ganguly did. Kumble, very much like his state-mate Rahul Dravid, was never in the lime-light. He preferred it that way. He allowed his cricket to do the talking.

This is precisely why Kumble's reaction to questions regarding his multiple roles within Karnataka cricket has been surprising. Kumble in addition to being the head of the KSCA also owns an agency that represents cricketers, including two Karnataka players who have recently been selected to play for India. His role as the head of KSCA makes him responsible for the appointment of selectors in charge of selecting players for the Karnataka Ranji trophy side. Whilst I certainly do not believe that Kumble has vested interests nor do I believe that Kumble will do anything that will hamper the progress of Indian cricket, the fact of the matter is that Kumble is in a position where he can influence the selection process and unfortunately when 'his' players are selected, tongues will wag.

Ravi Shastri & Sunny Gavaskar have recently come under tremendous criticism, justifiably in my opinion, for having multiple responsibilities, each one conflicting with the other. N. Srinivasan, the President of the BCCI has had a case filed against him because in addition to being the President of the BCCI, Srinivasan's company, India cements, also owns the Chennai Super Kings franchise in the IPL. How is Kumble's case any different?

If anything, Kumble's case is the most serious of the lot. Even if Shastri and Gavaskar are paid cronies of the board, it does not directly affect cricket in the country. N. Srinivasan's role may have a bearing on the IPL, but not at the national level. Kumble, however, holds a post that has a direct influence on the cricketing system in India. There are already murmurs about the selection of S. Aravind & Vinay Kumar. Yes, in all probability Kumble had nothing to do with their selections. But it is the perception that counts.

Kumble's reputation cannot be allowed to cloud people's judgement in this case. Allowing Kumble to carry on with these dual roles, will set a very bad precedent. Tomorrow, you could have an administrator without Kumble's integrity. What happens then?

Sambit Bal here has summed up the recent happenings very nicely. Like Sambit says, even now it's not too late for Kumble to get his house in order. If he gives up his role as an agent, there will be no questions asked. But for him to continue as the head of the KSCA, that is a must. The board must ensure that. If he feels that his current job as the head of the KSCA is preventing him from earning a living, then the honorable way out is to give it up. You cannot have your cake and eat it too.

England in India

Sanjay Manjeraker here is one of the lone sane voices in the controversy surrounding Harbhajan Singh's axing from the Indian side for the first 2 ODI's against England. For just how much longer is Indian cricket going to base their selection policy on reputations? Harbhajan's record over the last few years has been distinctly average and it's about time somebody else was given a fair crack. Going back to domestic cricket could also be a blessing in disguise for Harbhajan, for if he is good enough, then he will earn his way back into the side through the weight of performances. 

The other cricketer in the news for being dropped is Ashish Nehra. His outburst at being ignored was uncalled for. It's another decision that made sense to me as Nehra's lack of fitness coupled with his inability to field or bat has for long made him a risky proposition. Indian cricket can only move forward if it accepts the fact that change can no longer be avoided. 

Vinay Kumar, however, is not the answer. The Karnataka medium pacer may have a decent first-class record, but has struggled at the international level. He is another example of the 'typical' Indian seamer - bowls in the mid 120's and tries to maintain a decent line and length. Unfortunately, he neither has the pace nor the accuracy required to trouble quality batsman. 

Despite playing at home, IMHO, India will not start as favorites. India remain a side ravaged by injuries and they are up against a decent English side who will sense that this may be their best opportunity to get one over India at home. England will come hard at India and it remains to be seen whether the youngsters in the Indian side can handle the heat. 

Shoaib Akhtar's Book

Shoaib Akhtar has as usual been in the news for all the wrong reasons. His recently launched autobiography has attracted the ire of the BCCI as it contains some criticism directed against Sachin Tendulkar. If publicity was the objective, Shoaib has ensured that he got it in adequate measure.  The BCCI's reaction though has as usual been extremely over the top. Shoaib just like everybody else is entitled to his opinion and it is ridiculous to ask him to apologize for expressing his views. 

Indian Fielding is a Joke

India's attitude towards fielding was best reflected by Dhoni's post-match comments in the aftermath of the fourth ODI. Dhoni said and I quote "Quite a few players would be fit by then (the WI tour to India). We then may not have a very good fielding side. But then grounds in India are small and there is not much opportunity for batters to take singles or twos".

Just because Indian grounds are small, should poor fielding be excused? Fielding has been an Achilles heel for Team India for years on end and yet nothing has changed. The fourth ODI was a classic case in point. India were perhaps a trifle unlucky that the match was not completed. Had the full quota of overs been bowled, India may have been able to snatch victory given that England were 8 down. However, India got what they deserved as there is no way England should have been allowed to get to the situation they ended up in. There's no hiding place in modern day cricket and the biggest difference on the day between the two sides was the fielding.

When VVS was dropped from the ODI side, his lack of ability in the field was given as one of the main reason for his axing. I fully agreed with the decision as India needed to inculcate a culture of fitness within the team even it meant dropping a player with tremendous ability. But if that was the rule then don't the likes of R.P. Singh & Munaf Patel come under the same rule? The irony here is that whilst VVS is a truly class player, you can hardly say the same about the duo mentioned above.

What India desperately need after this tour is an honest evaluation of what went wrong. Unless they discover an attack that is capable of bowling teams out, it is unlikely that they are going to be a top team for the foreseeable future. The aim now should be to work towards building an attack for the future even if it means losing a few matches in the present. What is clear is that the current attack is taking us nowhere. With that being the case, I cannot for the life of me understand the continued reluctance to play young Varun Aaron. Can he really be any worse that our current attack?

Drop the slow movers and ensure that players are not picked unless they are reasonable fielders. Is it that difficult?

'Dustbowls'

Back in the nineties, matches involving India were very predictable. If the contest was taking place in India, more often than not the match would be played on surfaces known as 'dustbowls'. Indian batsman, used to playing on such wickets, would pile on the runs. When the opposition batted, it would normally be a completely different story. The ball would turn spitefully, the bounce would be extremely unpredictable and India generally used to emerge victorious.

When India played away from the comforts of home, the situation was the exact opposite. Wickets would normally have a fair covering of grass and even half decent fast bowlers would fancy their chances against batsman who looked all at sea against the moving / bouncing ball. 

What used to amaze me even back then though was that there was one rule for wickets in the subcontinent and one rule for wickets away. If visiting sides got out for a low score in India, it was due to the 'dustbowls' and it would be conveniently forgotten that India made runs on the same wicket. But when India lost badly away from home, it was always because the Indian batsman lacked the technique to perform well in seaming conditions.

A lot has changed since then but the unfair criticism 'dustbowls' get remains the same. India run world cricket today. The pros and cons of this can be debated but facts are facts. No decision can be approved without India's say-so and this is precisely why I think India need to back Sri Lanka and ensure that the ICC do not penalize the Lankans for the wicket prepared at Galle. 

Wicket conditions are very different today then what they were a decade or so ago. It's not only wickets in the subcontinent that have changed, but even surfaces in Australia & the West Indies seem to have become a touch different. Even in this T-20 age, test cricket's biggest problem is not cricket's brash new format but test cricket itself. Test cricket is at its best when it is played between evenly matched sides on a surface that encourages an even contest. Unfortunately, too many matches are today played on dead surfaces with almost no chance of a result. This problem is especially true of the subcontinent where dead tracks have become the norm rather than the exception. This is why the track at Galle was great to see.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not for a minute suggesting that the only way forward is to prepare minefields. Certainly not. However, unless a pitch is so poor that it endangers the safety of the cricketers, I don't see why there should be a problem. According to the ICC, a pitch that is dead from ball one and remains exactly the same 5 days later is deemed a 'good wicket'. But a pitch that tests the batsman from ball one and more often than not results on riveting test cricket is condemned. Cricket's administrators need to understand that cricket is not just about 500 + scores and big hundreds. After all this is supposedly a game between bat and ball, not bat and bat. Any wicket that gives the bowlers plenty to work with needs to be encouraged. Very often these dust bowls separate the men from the boys. 

Test cricket's most endearing feature is it's diversity. You expect the ball to zip around in England, you expect it to bounce in Australia and similarly you should expect it to spin in the subcontinent. I can't see what the fuss is about.

Donkey-Gate & the DRS

"India have a handful of good fielders, but some of them field like donkeys" Nasser Hussain.

Now then, what's wrong with that? The way the Indian media and the BCCI are reacting, it would seem as if Hussain has accused India of some heinous crime. Had the BCCI reacted with the same level of passion after a disastrous performance, it would have at least sent out the message that the BCCI have taken note of the poor performance by team India and are serious about taking steps to improve. Instead they have decided to vent their frustration on comments that if anything were 100 % true. The fact is that India's fielding right through this series has been a joke and it's about time somebody does something about it.

The other major talking point has been GG's naming in the KKR squad for the champion's league. One would think that a player who has been ruled out of the current ODI series and has been advised rest for a minimum of 10 days, would decide to skip the champion's league and ensure that he is fit for the upcoming India matches. India have a busy schedule ahead and it is hardly unreasonable to expect their top players to put India before any club matches, however attractive the remuneration may be. Priorities have changed!

In the middle of all this discouraging news, the second ODI between India & England was washed out. India will consider themselves unlucky as for the first time on this tour, they looked on top. Parthiv had set India up and cameos from the impressive Rahane, Dhoni, Kohli & Raina had given India a competitive score. Praveen Kumar had then taken out two England wickets to leave the home team in a difficult situation. However, rain had the final say and no further play was possible.

Rahul Dravid continued to make the headlines although this time around it was not for his imperious batting. For those of you who missed it, Dravid fished at a moving delivery outside the off stump. Despite a vociferous appeal by the English, the onfield umpire ruled in the batsman's favor. England reviewed and to the astonishment of everybody watching, Erasmus, the third umpire, overturned the decision despite have absolutely no grounds to do so. Hotspot showed nothing and it later emerged that Erasmus based his decision on a sound that he claimed to have heard when the ball passed the bat. 

I have been a vocal critic of the BCCI's anti-DRS stand. It is only recently that a compromise was reached with the BCCI agreeing to implement the DRS provided ball tracking technology is not used. Decisions like this is likely to give the BCCI more fuel to consign the DRS to the bin. To be fair, can you really blame the BCCI if such decisions are made?

One thing that such decisions have shown is that despite the availability of the best technology, unless there is consistency it is not going to work. By giving Dravid out, umpire Erasmus effectively overruled hotspot. What purpose does hotspot then serve? If a consensus cannot be reached, I believe it would make far more sense to revert to the system that existed before the introduction of all this new technology. Let the onfield umpires be the masters and as long as we accept that there will be the odd bad decision, it should still be fairly smooth sailing. After all cricket has survived for all these years without technology. I have no doubt that it will continue to survive with or without it.

The Gloom Continues

India's disastrous tour of England has continued with yet another defeat at the hands of England. I have said before that I do not believe that the 4-0 whitewash that India suffered needs to necessarily spell doom and gloom for Indian cricket. If the right steps are taken to address the many issues that have surfaced during the course of this series, it is still possible to learn important lessons for the future. Judging by India's reaction to the defeat, however, has made me believe that the BCCI are as usual more interested in pushing the problems underneath the carpet and hope for the best.

Rahul Dravid's recall for the ODI series smacked of panic. Dravid has not played ODI cricket in a long time and ironically the last time our wise men remembered Dravid was when India toured South Africa for the champions trophy. India will do well to remember that the likes of Dravid and Tendulkar cannot play on forever and there will come a time in the near future when young Indian cricketers will need to develop the skills required to perform in conditions that do not suit their style of play. The selection disasters do not end there.

The alarmingly injury prone Gautham Gambhir has been ruled out of the remainder of the series due to a concussion suffered by him in the last test. Logic would suggest that India would name another batsman as his replacement. Since when have our selectors been bothered about trivial issues such as logic? The selection of Ravindra Jadeja is nothing short of a joke. Apart from the fact that Jadeja has hardly impressed in the numerous opportunities that he has already got, he happens to be a left arm spinner who can bat a bit. So how on earth is he a suitable replacement for GG? India head into the ODI series with no reserve batsmen. Bizarre would be an understatement!

The only positive news for India has been the performance of Ajinkya Rahane in the one off T20 international. Ironically, Rahane has come good in the format in which he was least expected to succeed. It has been rather surprising that Rahane has been consistently ignored by the selectors despite scoring mountains of runs in the domestic tournaments. It yet again seems to confirm the theory that first class cricket has no meaning in India. If selections are going to be based largely on performances in the IPL, what purpose does first class cricket then serve? 

The bitter truth is that despite the hullabaloo over the IPL being a launchpad for future Indian cricketers, till date the IPL has not been responsible for providing India with one decent player. Anybody getting into the national side through IPL performances alone, have in general been an absolute disaster. Although it is very early yet to predict whether Rahane will succeed in the long run, it is no surprise that the two Indian batsman (Rahane & Pujara) who look most likely to succeed in test cricket are players who have not too many takers in the IPL. If the selection of Rahul Dravid for the ODI's teaches us anything, it is that there can be no substitute for technique. 

Analyzing the debacle

Looking at Team India's disastrous performance against England, I believe that there were numerous reasons behind what transpired.

1) The BCCI

The Indian board have deservedly copped a good deal of flak for the spineless performances put up by Team India. As Ian Chappell put it, India with its sheer playing population coupled with the vast financial resources they possess should be at the top of the pile almost always. India have more cricketers than the rest of the cricketing world put together. Their financial clout is such that no decision in the cricketing world can be passed without the BCCI's say-so. Given this enviable situation that the Indians find themselves in, even if a fraction of these resources are used wisely, India should find themselves dominating world cricket more often than not. Unfortunately, the BCCI's sole intention seems to be to make as much money as possible and everything else comes a distant second.

The solutions are not complicated. The board must prioritize test cricket. Players that excel in the longer format of the game need to be rewarded better. Today, youngsters coming into the side have virtually no incentive in taking up test cricket. The disparity in earnings that exist between the IPL for instance and first class cricket is so vast that you often end up sympathizing with players even if they choose the former over the latter. For this mindset to change, better pay for first class cricket is mandatory.

The BCCI's scheduling is yet another issue that has in recent times attracted quite a lot of criticism. The players are not machines and cannot be expected to play every single day of the year. Adequate breaks need to be provided and enough time needs to be given to players to acclimatize before marquee test series'. It is not feasible to expect players, however good they may be, to just turn up and start firing. It does not work that way.

2) The IPL

Is the IPL responsible for all the ills plaguing Indian cricket at the moment? I don't think so. However, there is little or no doubt that the IPL needs to come under scrutiny if India are serious about improving as a test unit. The riches of the IPL are inducing more and more youngsters to play in a manner that stands them with literally no chance of success in test cricket. Batsman play two shots a ball knowing that even a quickfire 20 can be a match winning performance as far as T-20 is concerned. Bowlers are becoming increasingly defensive and the focus is on containing runs. Little wonder then that Indian fast bowlers (even the handful that did have the ability to bowl reasonably quick) are cutting down on pace.

The sheer duration of the IPL also means that players give themselves absolutely no time to rest. We must remember that even if a T-20 games lasts only for a couple of hours, the players still need to endure a grueling travel schedule in addition to nets and other practice routines. It is draining both physically and mentally and it is important that the organizers do something about this.

3) The decline of first class cricket

The BCCI & the IPL have directly and indirectly contributed to the demise of first class cricket in India. In fairness to the IPL, the decline of first class cricket started a couple of decades ago. The ever increasing popularity of ODI cricket started making the first class game increasingly irrelevant. Spectators had enough international cricket to watch all year around. This diminished their interest in the first class game. The substantial increase in the quantity of international cricket also meant that the big names started missing most of the first class games affecting viewer interest further. The BCCI realized that the first class game in the country was not going to fulfill their most important criteria, revenue generation, and therefore decided to do nothing to reverse the trend.

Today, not only does the domestic cricket schedule collide with international contests, it also has to make do with the likes of the IPL and the champions league. The BCCI's big money promotion of the IPL has meant that it is played in front of big crowds whilst the first class matches are more often than not played in front of the proverbial 2 men and a dog. For all the hype around the IPL, it does not teach cricketers the most important attribute required to attain success at the highest level; temperament.

4) The quality of Indian pitches

To achieve success away from home, it is imperative that India unearth talented quick bowlers and have in their ranks batsman who have the technique to deal with the moving / bouncing ball. Cricketers are also products of their environment. Indian batsman struggle to play the moving ball because they don't need to do so in India. Similarly, bowling fast in India is a thankless job as the pitch conditions provide bowlers with no assistance whatsoever.

Even wickets that have traditionally had something in them (the Chepauk wicket is a classic example) have today become impotent. Spin bowlers, a breed that has always prospered in India are not having everything go their way either. The unfairly derided 'dust bowls' have all but disappeared. The aim today, thanks to the advertising tycoons who want as much air time as possible, is not to prepare a wicket that allows for a good contest but to prepare a wicket that ensures that the match lasts for a full 5 days. Unless this changes, India will struggle to find bowlers that are willing to bowl fast, much like they will struggle to find batsman technically equipped to bat in difficult conditions.

5) The Selectors

Selecting teams is an unenviable job. It is a thankless task and every decision is likely to have its detractors. Nevertheless, Indian selection panels keep making so many unfathomable decisions that the criticism they so often come under is hardly surprising. I have never understood the reason behind the reluctance of the board to allow the selectors to explain their choices to the public. It is the public's love for the sport that have made the game so profitable in this country. Do the public then not deserve to know the reasoning behind selections?

An example for the mess created by the selectors is the revolving door policy adopted towards India's seam bowlers. India selected Abhimanyu Mithun for the tour to Sri Lanka last year. Injuries to the first choice fast men meant that Mithun debuted in that series and did not do badly. Fast forward a few months to the South African series and India unceremoniously dropped Mithun for Jaidev Unadkat and Umesh Yadav. Unadkat got one match and that was that whilst Umesh Yadav did not feature at all. They were both then axed for the series against the West Indies in which Mithun made a comeback. In England it was R.P. Singh, who had played no first class cricket since January, who was in-fact holidaying in the U.S.A at the time who got the call. This game of musical chairs needs to stop.

6) Attention to detail

In top level sport fitness is non-negotiable. Period. India's lackluster attitude towards fitness is hurting them big time. It also explains why Indian bowlers break down more often than bowlers from other parts of the world.

India's fielding in England was quite simply shocking. There can be absolutely no excuse for youngsters breaking into the side not fielding properly. The same problem exists with running between the wickets. Whilst other teams look to convert 1's into 2's, 2's into 3's and so on, India seem determined to do it the other way around. It is imperative that India ensure that certain criteria is satisfied before a player is selected into the national side and fielding sits at the top of that list.

The thrashing at the hands of England does not have to spell doom and gloom if lessons can be learnt from it. Unfortunately, the BCCI's single minded obsession with the financial aspects of the game is not likely to change. With India's great batsman well into the twilight of their careers, test cricket in India does not look in good health. Unless there is a complete change of heart in the upper echelons of the BCCI, the death knell may have just been sounded for test cricket. The future does not look hunky-dory.

Player Ratings

Virender Sehwag (1/10)

A poor series for Sehwag and one that he will want to forget quickly. Sehwag has deservedly come under criticism for postponing his shoulder surgery resulting in him missing the first 2 tests. He made the team for the third test but looked clearly unfit.

His see-ball-hit-ball approach that has brought him such remarkable success in the subcontinent failed again in the more testing conditions in England. Sehwag’s average away from the subcontinent hovers just above the 40 mark and his record in England & South Africa is rotten. Any claims to greatness will need to wait until he proves beyond a reasonable doubt that he can score consistently in difficult conditions.

Gautam Gambhir (2/10)

Yet another series in which injury problems have plagued GG. Admittedly he was unfortunate to be on the receiving end of a couple of hard hits. However, when he did bat he looked uncertain against the rising delivery. This chink in his armor was exploited in the T20 world cup last year, but a good series in South Africa stopped the murmurs for the time being. This series will get a few tongues wagging again.

Abhinav Mukund (2/10)

Played the first two tests and did little of note. His tendency to fish at deliveries outside the off stump was always going to be detrimental in England and so it proved. He is likely to be dropped after this outing and future success will depend on whether he is able to tighten his technique outside the off stump and play the rising delivery with a little more assurance.

Rahul Dravid (8/10)

The only Indian batsman to show spunk. At times this test series threatened to end up being a contest between Dravid & England. His technique was spot on and his judgment which seemed to be failing him in the last year or 2 was back to being at his best. His footwork was immaculate and he played both pace and spin with complete comfort. His catching was probably the only aspect of the game that let him down and that is the only reason he does not score a complete 10.

Sachin Tendulkar (4/10)

A poor series by his own high standards. Tendulkar looked uncertain throughout the series and even the 91 that he made in the final test was a shaky innings. He struggled to pick Swann and had to rely on reading him off the pitch. India’s lack of talent in the batting department means that Tendulkar will need to bounce back soon.

V.V.S. Laxman (3/10)

Laxman’s problems in England continued with another poor outing in that country. His lack of footwork has not been a problem on the harder wickets in Australia. But it has certainly contributed to his failures in England. It has not helped that he has had to bat out of position for most of the summer. Given the toothlessness of India’s openers (discounting RSD of course), Laxman has had to face the new ball early in his innings on most occasions. This has not been to his liking. Laxman’s shot selection is another aspect of his game that has left a lot to be desired and at least on a couple of occasions he threw away his wicket just when he seemed to be at his best. His visible lack of fitness is a serious source of concern in the twilight of his career.

Suresh Raina (0.5/10)

Suresh Raina was quite simply a disaster. His problems with the short ball have been well documented. England exploited this weakness and Raina was left with no answers. Raina takes his eyes off the ball when it is short and leaves his bat hanging in the air. There cannot be a worse way to play the short ball. As the series dragged on, his confidence took a beating and playing him in the fourth test left many people wondering whether he was in the team for his bowling!

Yuvraj Singh (4/10)

It is difficult to rate Yuvraj Singh's performance as he was involved in just one match. Whilst he did make 60 odd runs in the first innings of that game, it is hard to be convinced given the way he handled the fast bowlers. Yuvraj looked uneasy against the bouncing ball and the bulk of his scoring was done when the spinners were in operation. The manner of his dismissal in the second innings was another sore point. Strauss had just brought a man in to the silly point region and presto the very next ball Yuvraj fended one to him. I believe 30 odd tests is a big number for someone to prove himself. The facts are plain and simple. Save 1 or 2 glimpses of brilliance, Yuvi has by enlarge been a disaster in test matches. His fitness has been a source of concern for a while now and he is not getting any younger. I reckon Yuvi has run his course in test cricket. It's time to look elsewhere.

M.S. Dhoni (3/10)

Two fighting half centuries in the third test was the only source of joy for Dhoni in what was his worst tour till date. Dhoni’s batting record away from him had always been dodgy and not too many people realistically expected him to set the Thames alight with his batting. However, he was expected to lead the side with the calm assuredness that has thus far been his calling card. Things went wrong almost from ball one.

His glove-work was shoddy to say the least. His inability to stand up to Praveen Kumar cost the team greatly. His decision to bring himself on during the first test was absolutely ridiculous and generated a large amount of deserved criticism. As the series progressed Dhoni looked disinterested and did little by way of motivating the team. His field settings were incomprehensible and he looked clue-less 90% of the time. Dhoni remains another Indian cricketer who has to step up away from the comforts of the subcontinent if he wants to be remembered as anything other than a flat-track bully.

Praveen Kumar (7/10)

As Cricinfo put it, if the rest of the team showed the attitude Praveen did, things may have just been a little better. Praveen overcame his lack of pace to take the fight to England. He had little to no support at the other end and yet toiled manfully and with a good deal of success. His clean striking with the bat provided a bit of entertainment to the fans as well.

Praveen’s game was always going to be suited to English conditions. The challenge for him will be to see if he can perform as well in conditions that will offer him little or no assistance. His lack of pace remains an issue that may yet prove to be his undoing.

Harbhajan Singh (0.5/10)

Another poor series for Singh who in recent times has had far more poor matches than good ones. It’s time Harbhajan Singh goes back to first class cricket and tries to iron out the many flaws that have crept into his game. He is too defensive and bowls a line that is going to trouble no half decent batsman. His reluctance to bowl the doosra means he has no variations whatsoever. He has been given enough and more chances and it is about time India look at the future.

Amit Mishra (3/10)

Mishra showed promise with the bat but unfortunately did not with his main skill – bowling. He bowls too many bad balls and does not have the required skill to consistently trouble good players. He may do better on the friendlier surfaces back home, but India need to plan for the future and it does not look as if Mishra has what it takes at this level.

Ishant Sharma (6/10)

Once again Sharma showed enormous potential without doing enough to suggest that he will become the bowler he has the ability to become. When Sharma is good he is very good. He is by far the fastest of the Indian bowlers. His height means that he gets bounce on almost any track. His problem is an inability to bowl the right length for long enough. In the second test when he pitched the ball a bit further up to the bat, the results were almost immediate. Unfortunately, he was unable to do so on a more consistent basis.

The board has to manage Ishant better. Ideally Ishant should be preserved for test cricket and should be omitted from the other forms of the game.

Sreesanth (2/10)

Sreesanth started brightly in the second test but his lack of consistency proved to be a thorn in his path once again. He is another player who has had his fair share of chances and India will need to look beyond him. In conditions that would have had most seamers salivating, Sreesanth bowled absolute rubbish. The lack of an inswinger also more often than not results in him being extremely mediocre against left handed batsman who are able to flick him away without a problem.

R.P. Singh (0/10)

R.P. did not do anything to gain any points. He lacks pace, lacks direction, lacks swing - in short lacks any of the criteria required to be a bowler. Enough said.

Zaheer Khan

Zaheer’s injury in the very first test effectively ended the test series as a contest. India never recovered and were duly pummeled into submission. Zaheer is undoubtedly a fine bowler but it looks very much as if his time is up. India cannot rely on a bowler who keeps breaking down every second match. It is obvious that his fitness levels are poor and judging by his frame it does not look as if he has put in enough of an effort to stay fit. The wise thing to do would be for India to plan for the future with the assumption that Zaheer’s career is over.

General

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/525931.html

That came as a pleasant surprise from Harsha. Harsha’s biggest problem as a commentator has been his inability to state an opinion. It just is not possible to sit on the fence for every single issue, something that Bhogle has been able to do remarkably well for so long. Given that, this piece is refreshing.

When England retained the Ashes a few months ago, what stood out was the planning that went into that campaign. Apart from hard physical training that left the team really fit, it also involved a number of practise matches in Australian conditions. England was there almost two months in advance and ensured that by the time the first test started, they were as ready as they were going to be. Contrast that with India’s pre-series preparation that involved 1 match in which half our players either did not play or played a miniscule role. It is impossible to fly into completely foreign conditions and adapt immediately.

Sanjay Manjeraker

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/525909.html writes an interesting piece about injuries and how they can be prevented with a bit of effort. He sites the example of Kapil Dev, and it’s truly amazing how he played continuously for as long as he did especially when you consider that Kapil was a pace bowler. His line about some players citing injury the moment their form suffers is clearly directed at Harbhajan Singh. I must say I agree with him 100 %. Singh was able to come out and bowl for a few over with this so called ‘abdominal strain’. How he can be ruled out of both tests this early remains an absolute mystery. The only good thing is that his absence is probably a blessing in disguise.

The Northampton match starts today. Sehwag is back and that is reason enough to see how things unfold. Let’s hope India are able to carry some kind of momentum into that third test next week.