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.
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.
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