Pakora Korner

The Indian team management under Dravid and Chappell is by far the best India has ever had. I just read the news about the 12 for the second Test. VVS, Kaif, Sreesanth are out from the playing 11, while Piyush Chawla, RP Singh, Yuvraj and Munaf Patel are in the 12. Notice that all the four replacements are very young and have a bright future ahead provided they perform. While Kaif should consider himself extremely unlucky, Sreesanth’s is a fitness issue.

The third change, VVS, is clearly a “daring” move. Hats off to the team management for this bold step. VVS is easily a top notch Indian test player, but the truth is that he has not performed exceptionally for quite a while now and two youngsters Yuvraj and Kaif have been fighting for a middle order spot for quite sometime. With Ganguly out of the way, the message to VVS must have been loud and clear, “perform or you might find yourself on the chopping block”. If VVS had scored runs in the Nagpur Test one can say with a fair degree of confidence that he might not have been dropped. If Yuvraj scores big in the Mohali Test and with Kaif looking very good, VVS might find himself out of the 15 for the third Test. And this could mean the beginning of the end for his Test career unlss of course this change results in India losing the Mohali Test.

On the bowling front, I suspect India will opt for a three seamer attack and give Bhajji another chance to prove that he is still a force. Alternately, they might experiment with Piyush Chawla in place of Bhajji given the Piyush can bat as well. (I think Bhajji will be given a rest and Piyush a break).

In any case, I think its very likely that Munaf will make the playing 11. A five man bowling attack seems certain unlike the first Test where India went in overly optimistic about its spinners abilities. Full marks to the Indian team management for making these bold moves.

The target was 360+ in 90 overs. A modest asking rate of four runs an over. Give the Aussie’s such a target and tell me they won’t go after it? I think India lost a golden opportunity to prove that they are a top notch Test team.

There was no need to panic and go after the bowling in desperation but it would certainly have helped to play with the purpose of winning right from the outset. Until tea time India never looked like it was interested in going after the target. After tea it was just a plain and complete sham. It was a joke to attack with an asking rate of 11 an over. It was simply too late in the game.

One excuse I have heard was that it was a slow, low fifth day wicket. What if this were an ODI on the same wicket? India would not chase the target?

Firstly, I think India was simply scared of repeating the Karachi fiasco. Better to be safe than sorry. Fair enough. On the other hand, all the Indian cricket fans have to accept that India is simply not a good enough a Test team to take on a challenge like this. Dravid lost an opportunity to prove that he is different from conventional India captains. With two solid defensive players in him and Kaif he should have had a fair degree of confidence that India can most likely save the Test. While he was at the crease Dravid should have made sure that the score was ticking along at a reasonable pace to set the stage for a gradual acceleration followed by a final charge. Alternately, he should have sent in Sachin at number 3 with clear instructions to play his normal free stroking game. Dravid could thus have saved himself for a crisis if needed. He did neither but instead stuck it out at the crease and increased the asking to a point beyond which there was no hope of winning.

After England dominated the first four days this was a perfect chance to steal a win on the final day and India simply blew it. Winning this Test required some professional planning and seasoned execution. With this draw, the Indian team proved that it is not yet upto the mark on either front, the use of laptops and other latest technology not withstanding. But I think that none of India’s Test teams from the past would have come even close to what this team achieved on the last day. So if you are an ardent Indian cricket fan, savor the draw, this team is the best India has ever had.

No matter what the truth is, I think Chappell must refrain from making statements about the Ganguly issue to the press. The controversy has just shown signs of settling down with Ganguly dropped from both Test and ODIs. His recent comments have unneccsarily re-ignited the issue. I think the BCCI was right to reprimand him for it. Chappell loves to speak his mind, but it doesn’t always help the team to be constantly mired in controversy. Part of being coach is also about being tactful off the field especially in a setting like India were politics is so rampant and fans following is so extreme. He’ll be doing the team a service but shutting his mouth and avoiding further discussion on the issue.

India are struggling to chase England’s total. Great to see Kaif among the runs. Under pressure the guy has delivered. Hats off to him. For once, Kumble came good with the bat. Wonder if he can find his touch with the ball once again. Its crucial for India that he does.

I think Dravid’s lbw decision was doubtful (50-50). I think the batsman should have got the benefit of the doubt. The rest were out in my opinion. Its annoying to see Sachin not play his normal free stroking game. He unneccessarily tries to play like Dravid does in Test cricket and finally gets out without making a decent score. I don’t think Monty’s delivery to Sachin deserved a wicket. Monty hardly turns the ball. No great flight either. If the Indian batsman quit their unneccesary defensive mindset I think Monty can be thrashed around the park. He is what someone in India would describe as a “juice” bowler. (ie., ideal to be thrashed!).

It should be an interesting day or two of play ahead.

Now that Dalmiya is out of power, Pawar and company are going after him in a big way. Its bound to get ugly, but like most big issues in India I suspect this will be in the news for a while after which we won’t hear anything about the issue. Notice that the Test and ODI veues have started to move towards the West Zone! Tests are in Nagpur, Mumbai and Mohali (this one is for IS Bindra’s support!). The practice match was in Vadodara. There are no ODIs or Tests in Kolkata. Go figure!