Despite defeats, experiments must continue
If at all any proof was required that a team's form and record in Tests and the one-day game can be very different, the current contest between India and West Indies has amply provided it
Partab Ramchand
11-Nov-2002
If at all any proof was required that a team's form and record in
Tests and the one-day game can be very different, the current
contest between India and West Indies has amply provided it. A
team that lost the Test series tamely, playing much mediocre
cricket along the way, is 2-0 up after two matches, providing
much sparkling cricket en route.
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Not many would have given them much chance as the series unfolded
in Jamshedpur. After all, India's impressive record at home is
not just confined to Test cricket but also the one-day arena.
Over the last 2-1/2 years, India has defeated South Africa,
shared a series with England and lost to Australia only by a
narrow 3-2 margin. It did seem that the current West Indian side
did not have the wherewithal to defeat the Indians, even if the
home team was without Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan.
But the West Indian performance has been as heart-warming as it
has been match-winning. They have risen to the occasion and
overcome the odds with some effervescent stroke play. One has
particularly liked the manner in which they have approached the
task of chasing daunting targets with innovative batsmanship that
has been in the best Caribbean tradition. Indeed, the series has
already underscored the fact that both sides are strong in
batting and weak in bowling, particularly on the kind of shirtfront pitches generally prevalent in this country. In not being
able to defend totals of 283 and 279, the Indian bowling has been
exposed but the West Indians have done little better in conceding
that many runs.
Perhaps, the Indians have been a bit guilty of complacency. Some
of the shots played by the home batsmen have been downright
irresponsible. Of course, playing any series without Tendulkar
and Zaheer is bound to be a handicap. And then the two losses
suffered so far could also be a direct fall out of the
experiments being carried out to try and find a settled
combination for the World Cup.
Should the experimentation then be given up? I don't think so. If
by losing a battle we can win the war, so be it. The search for
an all-rounder must continue and in addition to Virender Sehwag,
Sanjay Bangar could also be given opportunities in this regard.
Also, it is time that Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif were
promoted up the order. While there is no doubt that there was
some merit in trying out Ajit Agarkar as a pinch-hitter at No 3,
it must be admitted that such moves should be tried out only as a
surprise tactic.
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And what about Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh? The manner in
which the two have been bowling of late perhaps they could be
given a rest and fielded in alternate games. As I mentioned in my
earlier column, the pace-oriented conditions in South Africa
could well mean that only one spin bowler could be fielded in the
playing eleven and maybe the Indian team management could start
getting used to the idea.
Ultimately, however, it must be said that the Indians are not
playing up to potential. On paper, there is no reason why the
home team should not have won both the matches. After all, they
were close games. The little but all-important things - a couple
of misfields, a dropped catch, a bad over or two, faltering
towards the crucial end of the innings as it happened while
batting at Nagpur - are factors that have been responsible for
the narrow defeats. The encouraging aspect is that there are five
more matches to go and there is every reason to believe that the
Indians will fight back and take the one-day series as well even
with the continuation of the experimentation process.