Where to Now?

I know I've disappeared from the blog scene for a while. The only reason for this is that every test match in the current series seems to be following the exact same pattern. It's almost as if the players are reenacting the same script over and over again and there's absolutely nothing new to add. When India got hammered in England the sole consolation then seemed to be that things were unlikely to get any worse. Well unfortunately for India, it has and how.

The question uppermost on every Indian fan's mind at the moment is where do India go from here. The incompetence of cricket administration in India means fans have scant reason to feel optimistic. The administrators are never going to accept their share of the blame for the current debacle and instead the most likely scenario is that the buck will be passed around without anybody accepting mistakes. Nevertheless, as cricket fans we cannot do much apart from hoping for the best. 

Here are a list of measures that IMO will help Indian cricket become more competitive in the long run.

1) Embrace Change

All 3 seniors in the current Indian side have been fantastic players for India. Dravid & Tendulkar are already assured of a place in the pantheon of great players and no matter what happens in their careers after this, that is unlikely to change. Laxman may not be remembered in the same league as the other two, but has undoubtedly still been one of India's great test match batsman. In an ideal world, the selectors would have planned the transition process better and would have allowed the youngsters a longer run in the side with 1 or 2 of the seniors to guide them. Unfortunately, it is too late for that. The emergence of Virat Kohli in this series has also sent a clear message that the youngsters are ready and it will be a crime to keep them out of the side any longer. It's not as if the seniors are helping India stay competitive. So in such a scenario, you may as well give the youngsters a go. Even if India lose, they will atleast have the satisfaction of knowing that the next generation have had some valuable exposure to international cricket.

2) The Opening Conundrum

Any self respecting cricket side need to believe that they can be the best in the world. The objective should be to dominate world cricket. In such a scenario, we cannot encourage flat track bullies, no matter how effective they are in certain conditions. Throw Virender Sehwag into a test match on flat subcontinental tracks and he is one of the finest players ever. Throw him into a track with a bit of life and movement and he is as clueless as a fish out of water. If we were to analyze Sehwag's record away from the subcontinent, the picture that emerges is truly shocking. He averages in the mid twenties in England, South Africa and New Zealand and after the current series ends, his record in Australia will be nothing great either. Sehwag has made 4 100's way from the subcontinent in a test match career that has spanned over 10 years. Not good enough. 

Gambhir sails in a similar boat. His technique away from home has been consistently exposed and it's about time he is told in no uncertain terms that he either performs or makes way for a younger player. Drastic changes are often not the way forward, but India have reached a stage where they have run out of options. Get a youngster in the side and give him a long rope; as Kohli has demonstrated in this series, it is not possible for a youngster used to playing on flat subcontinental tracks to start scoring runs immediately in different conditions. Give them time and hopefully they will learn.

3) The Captaincy

Seldom, if ever, has a captain looked as clueless as M.S. Dhoni has over the last few months. His captaincy has been insipid, uninspiring and at times downright pathetic. It does not help that his contribution on the field, be it with bat or behind the stumps has been fairly ordinary. In addition, Dhoni has failed to inspire his players and if anything seems to accept defeat before anybody else. His field settings are often inexplicable and tactics questionable. India cannot afford a non performing captain. His record in ODI cricket is undisputed, but the time has come for India to look beyond Dhoni as far as the test captaincy is concerned.  In fact I'd go as far as to say that Dhoni has been a liability for India in test matches played away from home. Saha is certainly a better keeper and whilst it's too early to judge his batting skills, he has by supporting Kohli in the ongoing 4th test at least shown a semblance of technical ability. Give him a chance.

4) Restructure Domestic Cricket

The historic and once important Ranji trophy has today become a joke. Statistics are revealing - Sachin Tendulkar has never faced a ball from Anil Kumble in the Ranji trophy. I don't blame Tendulkar or Kumble for this, but it's nevertheless a clear indication of how low the Ranji trophy figures in the pecking order. How are the younger lot supposed to improve if they never get the opportunity of playing against the big wigs?

The Ranji Trophy Final between Rajasthan & Tamil Nadu highlighted the problems that domestic cricket in India suffers from. The biggest culprit was the wicket; a final certainly deserved better. It was a wicket that had absolutely nothing in it for the bowlers and the side batting first were always going to be in the driver's seat. Rajasthan at no stage were looking for a win and the focus seemed entirely on ensuring that they do not lose. It's no wonder then that Indian cricketers coming into the national side after playing in such an environment, come in with a similar mind-set. 

The laws that govern Ranji trophy need to be changed. Pitches need to be looked at. I don't have a problem with rank turners - they are as much of a test as fast and bouncy wickets that India encounters abroad. However, most of the wickets in India are not rank turners any more. They offer no help for any type of bowler and usually results in the most boring of cricket. Domestic cricketers need to play more on challenging wickets. If not, they are never going to learn.

5) County Cricket

Ask Zaheer Khan what made him the bowler he is today and phat comes the answer - County Cricket. Zaheer's stint in England with Worcestershire helped him understand his own game a lot better. It helped him become a better bowler. Once upon a time county cricket was considered as the finishing school. Players from all over the world would play for the county sides and hone their skills in challenging conditions making them better players. Given this, I don't understand the BCCI's attitude towards county cricket. Their reluctance in allowing their contracted players to play county cricket is preventing them from improving their techniques in bowler friendly conditions.

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The fact is that people have been talking about this transition process for a couple of years now. It could have and should have been managed a whole lot better and the only people to blame for this are the administrators / selectors. The next year and a half will determine if test cricket has a future in India. If the BCCI, as they have done so often, choose to shove every setback underneath the carpet and continue to pretend as if everything is hunky dory, Indian cricket is doomed. Change is no longer an option, it is a non negotiable necessity.