Whodunit? The usual suspects of new-India’s cricket.
And the end of the Saurav-Sachin saga…
By Gaurav Sethi
In many ways, with its strong expatriate population, Abu Dhabi is not unlike the sub continent. The pitches, albeit slower, weren’t completely alien either. As was the compelling win in the second match, with which India wrapped up a good few months in one-day cricket. Though most of these matches were played in India (v/s South Africa, Sri Lanka and England) and against Pakistan, in their own backyard, and in Abu Dhabi.
Throughout these series’ triumphs, never once did India have to travel far from the relative comfort of home or the sub continent – though one can argue that playing Pak in Pak is well out of the comfort zone; but still, it’s just a hop across. There is no need to acclimatize to changing time zones, weather, khana-peena or baat-cheet. The Punjabi mundas, Yuvraj and Bhajji should readily endorse that.
Now, in no way can you bury India’s recent Ceaseresque conquests; but with the West Indies tour next month, why not put it in perspective. The underachievement in test cricket notwithstanding (a series loss to Pakistan and a drawn one against a weaker English team), there’s a new buzz around the boys– especially with the ODI team. So, for starters, let’s take a peek into the one-day achiever’s gallery. Whodunit?
The usual suspects are: Yuvraj Singh, M.S. Dhoni, Irfan Pathan and Rahul Dravid. Names that didn’t figure in major ODI wins through the 90s – early 2000s. Even Rahul Dravid, till only the last world cup, had to keep wickets to retain his place in the side.
The usual suspects then were Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly; with 61 one-day centuries between them, and the distinction of being the most successful opening partnership in ODI cricket. But then came along the butcher of Najafgarh, and Ganguly surrendered the coveted openers slot to Viru. That was when one-day cricket in India changed course.
Interestingly, through the Sachin-Saurav years, India’s success depended largely on two star batsmen; the other players, at best, were the lesser co-stars, in a supporting role. Also, not since Kapil Dev’s retirement, had India ever had a true all rounder – the likes of Manoj Prabhakar, Robin Singh, Ajay Jadeja; and later, Kanitkar, Rohan Gavaskar, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, were more in the English county cricket all-rounder mode, like a Mark Ealham (England) or Chris Harris (New Zealand). There was never anyone of the caliber of a Botham or Hadlee. This gap might have now been filled by Irfan Pathan - who often batting at one-down, (after the openers early struggle), plays full-blooded drives with aplomb, as if he were teeing off in the nets. Pathan, though still not express fast, has mastered the slower ball along with an almost Shane Warne styled slower bouncer. Add to that, prodigious swing with the new white ball, and Pathan is your man. Not to forget, he’s a natural athlete, and looks good in blue. And there’s debate enough in cricketing circles to suggest that at 21, he’s not the finished article. Should get only better from here.
Also through the Sachin saga, India had so many wicketkeepers it was tough to keep count. From the disappearance of Mongia (arguably the ablest after Kirmani) to the appearance of the diminutive Parthiv Patel (rightly cast in the Little Hearts ad films), India had still not cracked the Gilchrist code – good keeper, great batsman. And though Patel played an admirable match saving innings against England in England, he never had the makings of a one-day wonder. Then came along, M.S. Dhoni. Scoring 148 in his 5th ODI against Pakistan. Going past Ricky Ponting to become the No. 1 batsman in the I.C.C. ODI rankings. End of argument. Beginning of phenomenon.
Which brings us to Yuvraj Singh, a player, who in spite of early brilliance, later, retained his place, at times, through the sheer backing of his mentor, Ganguly. Ironically, like Greg Chappell replaced his elder brother Ian Chappell in the Aussie team, a similar trade off happened between Yuvi and Dada. With his emergence as a test force, Yuvraj’s one day record too sky rocketed. And unlike Dada, his averages have been on the up and up. More remarkable, however, is the southpaw’s change in attitude – from setting up games, Yuvraj has started finishing them, with Dhoni, Raina and the lower order playing around him. Three continuous man-of-the-series doesn’t say it all – being tipped as future captain material, beyond Sehwag, speaks volumes.
Last is someone who accomplishes in masquerading as the least: Rahul Dravid. Eclipsed by Saurav and Sachin for most of his career, he now finds himself overshadowed by Greg Chappell. Unlike Dada though, Dravid sees in this an opportunity. Not deterred by lack of credit for the maverick-match strategies, Dravid has grown in stature as a batsman. Opening the batting might appear stopgap now, but with Tendulkar’s future unclear, it seems like a definite Plan B for the World Cup. Also, who knows, on Sachin’s return, the team management might envision a new role for him.
Today, while Dravid, Yuvraj, Pathan and Dhoni form the A list stars of team India, there’s also an important support cast that shines more often than not: Raina, Powar, Sreesanth. Not to forget, possible new potential in Robin Uthappa (who replaced Gambhir), the reemergence of Agarkar and Harbhajan Singh – though Bhajji is threatening to go the Saqlain Mushtaq way, bowling faster, flatter, and looking a tad edgy. Might just be an opportunity for a younger spinner, who knows?
Who knows may be this time round India can muster a series win in the Caribbean – the nucleus of the one-day and tests sides are quite similar. Also, the timing for the tour finds the hosts in an all to familiar precarious position: with Chanderpaul none to keen to captain the side and concentrate on his own waning form, and the parody of player contracts looming large again, players aren’t even sure if they’ll play the series. But then, that makes for an altogether different story. One that should emerge in the weeks to come. Stay tuned.
April 22, 2006
April 16, 2006
How many more will end up like Tendulkar?
By Gaurav Sethi
After the Abu Dhabi tournament between India and Pakistan, being played for the benefit of earthquake victims, there might have to be another tournament for the benefit of cricket victims - players quaking in their boots from too much cricket. India’s back-to- back series v/s Sri Lanka, South Africa, Pakistan and England might not have taken its toll yet but all the telltale signs are there – two key players in the ODI team, Virender Sehwag and Mohammed Kaif, have all but lost their bearings. And Sachin Tendulkar has had yet another surgery - can’t blame the last six months; must be the incessant madness of the last sixteen years.
But then England has had it far worse – fatigue, stress, personal woes, injury, Delhi belly and the Indian summer have messed with skipper, vice captain, top bats and bowlers, coach and now even a commentator who couldn’t work out his cell phone for weeks. The Ashes win is a distant dream. Come winter, England will have to defend it – though with what, no one quite knows, least of all the English. Right now, it’s two down (Simon Jones and Steve Harmison), two to go (Flintoff and Hoggard).
Fortunately for the Indians none of the medium pacers appear to have been overstretched over the last few series. Both Ashish Nehra and Laxmipathy Balajji, once key bowlers, swung out of action long before this latest bout of nonstop cricket. And under the new regime, even Irfan Pathan got a much-needed break in Jamshedpur and Guwahati. The other young bowlers, although relatively inexperienced, also benefited from a few day’s off. India also had the luxury of trying various combinations, with regular toss- ups between Sreesanth, R.P. Singh, Munaf Patel and now V.R.V. Singh. Plus there’s a definite step to work with youth, keeping the ‘Pathan’ factor a constant (at least till the series was secured) – and even when India’s batting was somewhat depleted in Jamshedpur, old hand Ajit Agarkar was not given another game.
The relative comfort in the Indian camp at Indore was obvious when rookie V.R.V. Singh was brought back for a second spell after being tonked for 26 runs in one over, mostly by Kevin Pietersen. That he went for many more on his return did not deter Dravid – after all, what better place to gauge a player’s character than in the center, in a dead rubber. Had the series been locked at 3 games all, would the young, inexperienced V.R.V. Singh been reintroduced into the attack, and if so, to what extent would Dravid have persevered? It made a travesty of the game, but in a team looking for gains, winning against all odds, appeared more important than merely winning. Dravid, in his attempt to blood V.R.V. Singh, was ready to chase 290 instead of 260. Though when Dravid believed he’d had enough, Sreesanth (man of the match) and Pathan were brought back. Though for once, England did play out all their 50 overs, only to be knocked over on the last ball.
Once the series was won, India could rest key players by rotation – Dravid, Pathan, Dhoni, Harbhajan, and even the out-of-touch Sehwag and Kaif. Imagine the plight of Pathan-crazy- fans in Jamshedpur when they learnt their heartthrob was not playing. The mass hysteria a star-player generates was obvious in the Goa ODI when Raina got out – the crowds went simply berserk with happiness. That after Raina had all but won the game. It’s another thing they were ushering the next man in, M.S. Dhoni. Somehow better judgment prevailed through the series, and Dhoni wasn’t rested in his own backyard (Jamshedpur) and Sreesanth played in Cochin. Naturally then, when all eleven didn’t take the field in Guwahati, the crowds went bonkers.
Now, the ODI format in the just concluded series is not without merit – it’s great that cricket’s taken right across the country. But India is no tiny nation, and no amount of ODIs can satisfy its cricket crazy people. Venues are allotted games via an unscientific rotation policy, and when it was Guwahati’s turn – the rainy season was not an issue. As was the case in Chennai, not long ago, when a match was washed out. Still the BCCI persists with this adhoc rotational policy, wherein games are held in Cochin and Goa in searing heat and humidity, and others are supposed to be played in Chennai and Cherrapunji (don’t be surprised) through torrential rainfall.
As Pres. Abraham Lincoln said, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.”
Given the BCCI’s mercenary hunger to generate wealth, their aim appears to be the latter. And it might sooner, rather than later, take Indian cricket into the litter.
For starters, the BCCI needs to looks at the unrelenting itineraries – reduce 7 match ODI series to 5, if not 3, and then for the player’s well-being, pray, like Guwahati, the occasional game is rained off. Also, in the case of a dead rubber – apply the example of the 3 match finals down under; wherein when one team takes an unassailable lead (2-0 in this case) the third final is forfeited. Implied: after India went up 4-0, the irrelevant games at Guwahati, Jamshedpur and Indore should have been scrapped. That way, there could’ve been more than the paltry two-day break between Indore and Abu Dhabi. England wouldn’t have had to play for pride. And India wouldn’t have played out of boredom.
The finale at Indore, which was anything but that – after dragging on for nearly three weeks (with barely two day breaks between games) the series finally ended somewhat meekly. By the last game, Andrew Flintoff had been rightly rested for a few, and the English side resembled one of those county sides that boast of one star overseas player – in this case it was Kevin Pietersen. Where as India, after the loss at Jamshedpur, and the return of Rahul Dravid, once again looked like a professional unit that had set the record for the most consecutive ODI wins. With the win at Indore, India bettered its world record of most-wins-chasing by one more. Imagine these very same guys were once called chokers while chasing. Then again, they aren’t all the same guys, and nor are the same guys calling the shots.
What has not changed, in essence, is the ways of the BCCI – the board that played Sachin Tendulkar into the ground through 362 ODIs and 132 test matches. Enough is enough.
By Gaurav Sethi
After the Abu Dhabi tournament between India and Pakistan, being played for the benefit of earthquake victims, there might have to be another tournament for the benefit of cricket victims - players quaking in their boots from too much cricket. India’s back-to- back series v/s Sri Lanka, South Africa, Pakistan and England might not have taken its toll yet but all the telltale signs are there – two key players in the ODI team, Virender Sehwag and Mohammed Kaif, have all but lost their bearings. And Sachin Tendulkar has had yet another surgery - can’t blame the last six months; must be the incessant madness of the last sixteen years.
But then England has had it far worse – fatigue, stress, personal woes, injury, Delhi belly and the Indian summer have messed with skipper, vice captain, top bats and bowlers, coach and now even a commentator who couldn’t work out his cell phone for weeks. The Ashes win is a distant dream. Come winter, England will have to defend it – though with what, no one quite knows, least of all the English. Right now, it’s two down (Simon Jones and Steve Harmison), two to go (Flintoff and Hoggard).
Fortunately for the Indians none of the medium pacers appear to have been overstretched over the last few series. Both Ashish Nehra and Laxmipathy Balajji, once key bowlers, swung out of action long before this latest bout of nonstop cricket. And under the new regime, even Irfan Pathan got a much-needed break in Jamshedpur and Guwahati. The other young bowlers, although relatively inexperienced, also benefited from a few day’s off. India also had the luxury of trying various combinations, with regular toss- ups between Sreesanth, R.P. Singh, Munaf Patel and now V.R.V. Singh. Plus there’s a definite step to work with youth, keeping the ‘Pathan’ factor a constant (at least till the series was secured) – and even when India’s batting was somewhat depleted in Jamshedpur, old hand Ajit Agarkar was not given another game.
The relative comfort in the Indian camp at Indore was obvious when rookie V.R.V. Singh was brought back for a second spell after being tonked for 26 runs in one over, mostly by Kevin Pietersen. That he went for many more on his return did not deter Dravid – after all, what better place to gauge a player’s character than in the center, in a dead rubber. Had the series been locked at 3 games all, would the young, inexperienced V.R.V. Singh been reintroduced into the attack, and if so, to what extent would Dravid have persevered? It made a travesty of the game, but in a team looking for gains, winning against all odds, appeared more important than merely winning. Dravid, in his attempt to blood V.R.V. Singh, was ready to chase 290 instead of 260. Though when Dravid believed he’d had enough, Sreesanth (man of the match) and Pathan were brought back. Though for once, England did play out all their 50 overs, only to be knocked over on the last ball.
Once the series was won, India could rest key players by rotation – Dravid, Pathan, Dhoni, Harbhajan, and even the out-of-touch Sehwag and Kaif. Imagine the plight of Pathan-crazy- fans in Jamshedpur when they learnt their heartthrob was not playing. The mass hysteria a star-player generates was obvious in the Goa ODI when Raina got out – the crowds went simply berserk with happiness. That after Raina had all but won the game. It’s another thing they were ushering the next man in, M.S. Dhoni. Somehow better judgment prevailed through the series, and Dhoni wasn’t rested in his own backyard (Jamshedpur) and Sreesanth played in Cochin. Naturally then, when all eleven didn’t take the field in Guwahati, the crowds went bonkers.
Now, the ODI format in the just concluded series is not without merit – it’s great that cricket’s taken right across the country. But India is no tiny nation, and no amount of ODIs can satisfy its cricket crazy people. Venues are allotted games via an unscientific rotation policy, and when it was Guwahati’s turn – the rainy season was not an issue. As was the case in Chennai, not long ago, when a match was washed out. Still the BCCI persists with this adhoc rotational policy, wherein games are held in Cochin and Goa in searing heat and humidity, and others are supposed to be played in Chennai and Cherrapunji (don’t be surprised) through torrential rainfall.
As Pres. Abraham Lincoln said, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.”
Given the BCCI’s mercenary hunger to generate wealth, their aim appears to be the latter. And it might sooner, rather than later, take Indian cricket into the litter.
For starters, the BCCI needs to looks at the unrelenting itineraries – reduce 7 match ODI series to 5, if not 3, and then for the player’s well-being, pray, like Guwahati, the occasional game is rained off. Also, in the case of a dead rubber – apply the example of the 3 match finals down under; wherein when one team takes an unassailable lead (2-0 in this case) the third final is forfeited. Implied: after India went up 4-0, the irrelevant games at Guwahati, Jamshedpur and Indore should have been scrapped. That way, there could’ve been more than the paltry two-day break between Indore and Abu Dhabi. England wouldn’t have had to play for pride. And India wouldn’t have played out of boredom.
The finale at Indore, which was anything but that – after dragging on for nearly three weeks (with barely two day breaks between games) the series finally ended somewhat meekly. By the last game, Andrew Flintoff had been rightly rested for a few, and the English side resembled one of those county sides that boast of one star overseas player – in this case it was Kevin Pietersen. Where as India, after the loss at Jamshedpur, and the return of Rahul Dravid, once again looked like a professional unit that had set the record for the most consecutive ODI wins. With the win at Indore, India bettered its world record of most-wins-chasing by one more. Imagine these very same guys were once called chokers while chasing. Then again, they aren’t all the same guys, and nor are the same guys calling the shots.
What has not changed, in essence, is the ways of the BCCI – the board that played Sachin Tendulkar into the ground through 362 ODIs and 132 test matches. Enough is enough.
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