Should a younger fast bowler have been selected instead of Venkatesh Prasad? Yes - 352 No - 170 Discuss Poll Results Archive

Should a younger fast bowler have been selected instead of Venkatesh Prasad?
- The Appeal

The Offside

There can be very little doubt about it. Venkatesh Prasad's best days are behind him. With his limitations of pace and ability, he served India as well as he could. However, the current Indian team has a strong focus on youth, and recalling Prasad for the three-Test series in Sri Lanka was definitely a step in the backward direction.

Often in the past, India have relied on their veteran cricketers to deliver the goods even after they are past their prime. The advent of youngsters like Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra have been an eye opener for cynics who believed there was no fast bowling talent in India. Similarly, when the window of opportunity presented itself, with Ashish Nehra being injured, a promising youngster should have been blooded.

India have tried using Prasad against Sri Lanka in the past. On slow tracks in the subcontinent, with the ball not doing much in the air or off the wicket, Prasad has been taken for runs. Not only have the runs flowed, but the wickets have been too few and far between. In four Tests against Sri Lanka, Prasad has managed a measly four wickets at an average of 102.75. The Karnataka mediumpacer has conceded 411 runs from the 123 overs he has bowled against the Islanders a lot when you consider that this is Test cricket.

Baroda's Rakesh Patel has done exceedingly well in the recent past. In every selection meeting that has happened in the last six months or so, his name has come up and yet the youngster has not made it to the Indian squad. Sri Lanka provided the perfect opportunity and yet he was overlooked.

Recalling Prasad for the Test series in Sri Lanka was definitely a backward step and one that should not have been taken.

The Onside

Blooding a fast bowler in a Test series is an extremely risky thing to do. The wickets in Sri Lanka are generally low and slow and do nothing for the quick men. With this being the situation, an inexperienced quick might try too hard, and have his spirit broken. Nothing can be worse for an enthusiastic youngster than the heartbreak of bowling on and on without the taste of success.

With that being the situation, the selectors made a wise decision, and recalled Venkatesh Prasad. The tall mediumpacer from Karnataka has never relied excessively on pace to be successful. Instead, Prasad's forte has been a nagging line and length. Rolling the wrists nicely over the ball to get a bit of seam of the wicket or a cleverly delivered slower ball are Prasad's strengths. And that is what is needed on the tracks in Sri Lanka.

Another thing to consider is the Javagal Srinath factor. India's fast bowling spearhead is clearly going to play an important role, providing the team with early breakthroughs. Srinath and Prasad know each others' style of bowling extremely well. Having shared the new ball for Karnataka over a long period of time, and to a lesser extent for India, the pair work excellently well together. While Prasad can keep one end tight, Srinath can go for the kill. Fast bowlers hunt in pairs, goes the old adage. This pair certainly know each other very well.

Finally, there is one thing that suggests that it was indeed a good move to recall Prasad for the Test series in Sri Lanka. Of the squad of 16, as many as nine players have not even played 10 Test matches. That is a lot of inexperience in the ranks. Venkatesh Prasad, with 30 matches to his name already, will be a great help to the seniors in the side, depleted by the enforced absence of Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. All things considered, there can be no doubt that the decision to recall Venkatesh Prasad was a good one.