Selectors should take a leaf out of Merchant's book

The cynics are already painting a grim picture of India's chances in the ICC knock out tournament at Nairobi. ``We don't stand a chance with this team,'' is the general refrain. Admittedly, the Indian squad does wear a lean and hungry look. It seems hardly the kind of side to take on the world's best. Where is the bowling to contain the formidable Australian batting line up? Is the batting strong enough to combat McGrath and company? That is, if at all the Indians get past hosts Kenya in their opening fixture. And let us not forget that the format of the competition - a knock out - will not give us any second chances.

To be sure, the team with a mixture of seasoned campaigners, a few who have played just a handful of matches and some absolutely raw players is an uncomfortable blend of youth and experience. But then haven't we been crying ourselves hoarse that it is about time the selectors try out promising youngsters? Perhaps the selectors were forced to take this step because of circumstances. The dropping of Md Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Nayan Mongia and Nikhil Chopra paved the way for the inclusion of players like Yuvraj Singh, Vijay Dahiya, Zaheer Khan and Sridharan Sriram.

In a way, this may work out to Indian cricket's advantage - if the selectors play their cards adroitly. What is needed is a more benevolent attitude towards the youngsters. For years now, the selectors have not been kind to rookies. And therein lies the tragedy of Indian cricket.

Rebuilding is a long, tortuous route. A team is built brick by brick, player by player. Success is not attained overnight. If a cricketer has class and talent - and any selector worth his salt should be able to recognize this quality - he should be persevered with. Australia spent years rebuilding in the post Bradman era in the fifties and by the end of the decade, they were the leading side in the world. After the great West Indies team of the sixties developed cracks - thanks to age and the retirement of key players - it took some years before they completed the rebuilding process and re-emerged as the top cricketing nation in the seventies and eighties.

The tragedy of Indian cricket is that the selectors have never taken the rebuilding process seriously. True, young players have frequently been inducted but then without proper opportunities, they have been cast aside. A notable exception was when Vijay Merchant was chairman of the selection committee in the late sixties. When he took over, he had made up his mind that the future belonged to the youth. In the face of much criticism, he inducted a number of young players. India fared badly during the 1969-70 season, almost losing to New Zealand and then going down to Australia. Accused of taking his youth policy too far, Merchant stuck to his guns. He persevered with his policy and saw its fruition in 1971 when India won historic rubbers in West Indies and England. Playing a leading role in the twin triumphs were the very cricketers Merchant had inducted a couple of years before.

The present bunch of selectors would do well to take a leaf out of Merchant's book. The youngsters who have just been inducted - and others who are bound to be introduced later in the season - should be given proper chances. As I said, rebuilding is a process that takes a long time and a new team is created layer by layer. If indeed the selectors have started rebuilding the Indian team by the inclusion of talented youngsters in the Nairobi bound side, they should see to it that the process is continued. Last year for example the same selection committee gave the break to many youngsters. But they were given just an opening and little else. They were discarded and the rebuilding process collapsed like rubble. Defeats, disasters and debacles - which may come about initially - should not deter them. For these will be but stepping stones to success which is sure to come if the rebuilding is done in a proper, systematic manner over a period of time.