Another Busted Script

Indo-pak cricket is becoming quite repetitive, when it comes to *not* adhering to the script (except in Sharjah, I'm guessing). As another test series throws up its share of surprises, here are some thoughts to chew on:

Chokers or Heart Patients? (Part 2)
In what has probably been the best illustration of playing to the strengths of an opponent, India succumbed meekly to Pakistan in the final test in Bangalore. It's been 4 losses and 1 draw in the last 5 tests in my hometown, and one begins to wonder if the Indians are the victims of a Chinnaswamy curse, or is this just a repeat of ineptitude under pressure?

Some would argue, and vehemently at that, that the Indian test side has become much more adept at dealing with pressure situations over the past couple of years. I don't doubt the improvement. But the scenes on the final day at Bangalore seemed to destroy all the hard work done in one fell swoop.

Why, why, why? I suspect I know where I can find some answers, in this little jewel called the 'Inner Game of Tennis'. Watch this space.

Goliath Loses Again
With player after distinguished player batting with a level of defensiveness that suggested a cracking Sabina Park track, rather than an intrinsically playable Bangalore wicket, Anil Kumble, that under-rated over-achiever, showed the light and almost forced a draw single-handedly. Once again, he has been faulted for the shortfall in his bowling, instead of gaining plaudits for his valiant efforts with the bat in both innings. He seems destined to remain India's forgotten great, till he underperforms, that is.

The Southbound Southpaw
People in the know repeatedly say that a game is played as much in the mind as it is on the field. Old as it this cliche is, nowhere is this more true than over 5 days of test cricket. As Roshan pointed out, Ganguly's captaincy has been banal, almost what you expect from the local sides playing on the maidans and in gully cricket. He has followed convention to the letter, and what is troubling is that the convention that been pursued here has been entirely his, rather than a precedent set by any of history's better captains. A classic example of this was his doggedness in having 2 slips at all times, despite the abundance of catches that flew just wide of the 2nd slip in a test match that was India's for the taking at Mohali. I don't want to take a crack at Ganguly's rapidly fading batting skills, not only because enough has been said elsewhere, but also because I can't quite comprehend such a dramatic decline.

Clairvoyance or Decree?
I remember Imran's comment like it was yesterday. Not so much the delivery, but rather the content. Imran practically decreed that Inzamam should give way to Younis Khan as captain of Pakistan during the annihilation of the Pakistani team down under. A close Pakistani friend of mine said that his country seldom goes against Imran's cricketing decrees, so it was little surprise then, that Yousef Youhana gave way to Younis as vice-captain (I suspect that Woolmer would have stuck his head out for Inzamam).

For a while, it seemed like a baseless decree, with Younis struggling to get anything right at the start of the India series. Now, looking back over the next couple of tests, I begin to see the immense clairvoyance that Imran is blessed with, notwithstanding the fact that this is not the first time such insight has been exhibited in no uncertain terms. Not only did he contribute with 500 runs in the next 4 innings, stunning catches and inspired captaincy in short stints, Younis also epitomized the ultimate team man, a refreshing change in a traditionally individualistic Pakistani side.

Reap what you Sow
Indian cricket has more problems that what might be immediately visible at the surface. The one day team is yet to establish any measure of consistency. The test side finds itself in a spot of bother, carrying, it seems, one non-performing middle-order batsman (even India, with Dravid and Sehwag and Tendulkar and Laxman, cannot afford this) and an increasingly insecure leader. The side needs a burst of energy, a fresh face in that middle order, and our bench strength of Yuvraj and Kaif needs to be given an extended run in tests sometime soon. While Kaif and Yuvraj are studies in contrast in batting styles, their approaches are essentially the same. Not only are they busy middle order batsmen, but they also raise the fielding by a couple of notches, as was apparent with the amount of pressure the introduction of Kaif as a substitute created on Pakistan in the 2nd test. Will the captain who championed young blood to revitalize Indian test cricket have to bear the fruits of his extraordinary vision by giving way to the budding talent that he nurtured?