Even Stevens!
I am sure a lot of you would have seen the Seinfeld episode in which George's luck changes to Elaines and vice versa while jerry always remains Even Stevens. That is exactly the way Indian cricket seems to be headed.
A while ago the Indian test team boasted of one of the strongest batting lineup in the middle order. With names and stats of people like Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman in the middle order the only deficiency was a stable opening partner for the explosive Sehwag. Bowling teams used to tremble bowling at this lineup. We could back ourselves to bat through days and put up miraculous performances like the India-Australia 2nd test match at Calcutta in 2001. However we lacked the bowling strength to bowl out oppositions twice in a match. We still relied on the aging Kumble with Bajji showing spurts of brilliance expected since the monstrous 2002 he had.
Oh How the fates have reversed! Finally we have a potent bowling lineup with an even mix and variety. Fast pace bowling and accuracy of Munaf Patel and the swing of Sreesanth and Pathan. The assorted leg spin of Kumble and the offie in Harbhajan. But the batting is now at its weakest. Time and time again, the lower order is having to bail out the failures of Sachin and Sehwag. With Jaffer not quite yet a fixture and Yuvraj still digging his shoes in, Dravid has been the lone man fighting the Indian cause.
The batting woes has also spread its cancer in the fielding department. With new people in, the slip catching cauldron has dried out. With no place for Laxman in the side, the second slip has gone to Sehwag who still seems to be thinking about his batting woes while in the field. Jaffer is trying to fit into the short lef position. The saddest part is that the team management thinks that Yuvraj and Kaif being the spectacluar fielders that they are can be plugged in to any position to back up the bowling scenario at that time and it is failing miserably in that. Both of them look totally out of sorts at the shortleg position and Yuvraj's drop at 3rd slip at end of yesterdays play was the most pathetic display I have seen. While he physically was in the 3rd slip, his technique was still in the point region.
While success of test teams has been sttributed to the presence of an allrounder (batting and bowling) to provide stability in the team, one overlooked aspect has been an allrounder in the field (bowling and slip catching). While Australia has had Shane Warne a fixture at first slip since the departure of Mark Taylor, South Africa has Kallis (earlier McMillan) and England has Flintoff. India and Pakistan seem to be lacking here and hence the spurt of many dropped catches. Bowlers have big bucket like hands and have a decent technique. I wonder if we need to cultivate Bajji into a slip fielder for when the fast bowlers are operating? I think right now the only thing that would appease the Indian fans is to see an Indian lineup with 5 Dravids and the keeper and the bowlers. Atleast they will bat and support the bolwers.
A while ago the Indian test team boasted of one of the strongest batting lineup in the middle order. With names and stats of people like Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman in the middle order the only deficiency was a stable opening partner for the explosive Sehwag. Bowling teams used to tremble bowling at this lineup. We could back ourselves to bat through days and put up miraculous performances like the India-Australia 2nd test match at Calcutta in 2001. However we lacked the bowling strength to bowl out oppositions twice in a match. We still relied on the aging Kumble with Bajji showing spurts of brilliance expected since the monstrous 2002 he had.
Oh How the fates have reversed! Finally we have a potent bowling lineup with an even mix and variety. Fast pace bowling and accuracy of Munaf Patel and the swing of Sreesanth and Pathan. The assorted leg spin of Kumble and the offie in Harbhajan. But the batting is now at its weakest. Time and time again, the lower order is having to bail out the failures of Sachin and Sehwag. With Jaffer not quite yet a fixture and Yuvraj still digging his shoes in, Dravid has been the lone man fighting the Indian cause.
The batting woes has also spread its cancer in the fielding department. With new people in, the slip catching cauldron has dried out. With no place for Laxman in the side, the second slip has gone to Sehwag who still seems to be thinking about his batting woes while in the field. Jaffer is trying to fit into the short lef position. The saddest part is that the team management thinks that Yuvraj and Kaif being the spectacluar fielders that they are can be plugged in to any position to back up the bowling scenario at that time and it is failing miserably in that. Both of them look totally out of sorts at the shortleg position and Yuvraj's drop at 3rd slip at end of yesterdays play was the most pathetic display I have seen. While he physically was in the 3rd slip, his technique was still in the point region.
While success of test teams has been sttributed to the presence of an allrounder (batting and bowling) to provide stability in the team, one overlooked aspect has been an allrounder in the field (bowling and slip catching). While Australia has had Shane Warne a fixture at first slip since the departure of Mark Taylor, South Africa has Kallis (earlier McMillan) and England has Flintoff. India and Pakistan seem to be lacking here and hence the spurt of many dropped catches. Bowlers have big bucket like hands and have a decent technique. I wonder if we need to cultivate Bajji into a slip fielder for when the fast bowlers are operating? I think right now the only thing that would appease the Indian fans is to see an Indian lineup with 5 Dravids and the keeper and the bowlers. Atleast they will bat and support the bolwers.
posted by wagla_aka_batman at
11:19 AM
1 Comments:
This reminds of a saying in Tamil "Kalla kanda nayakaanum; naya kanda kalla kanum". meaning, if you find a stone to throw, can't find the dog to throw at and vice-versa.
By
Subash, at Monday, March 20, 2006 12:30:00 PM
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