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Indians will relish the conditions

The Indian selectors must not expect quick results from the young side, writes Steve Waugh

The Indians have not had a full game this last week, but the two halves we did get to see was the first look I had at India’s generation next batsmen.

The young bowlers, led by Ishant Sharma, did magnificently well in the Test series, and that is one area that must be giving the Indian selectors and fans great joy.

The batsmen have a tougher job because they are replacing the likes of Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, players who are revered in India.

The media and public have criticised the team for being inexperienced and raw, but I feel that it is a move in the right direction.

Now that they have picked a young side, it is important that the selectors also give the youngsters some time to perform.

They must not expect quick results and if they chop and change too much, the team will just be chasing its own tail and not getting anywhere.

We faced a similar predicament in the ’90s when I took over as the one-day captain. The players were all young and inexperienced, and we lost quite a few games in that period, like the Titan Cup in India and many bilateral series.

Sticking to their guns

However, our selectors stuck to their guns, and soon enough we started winning, and even went on to lift the 1999 World Cup.

That core team had the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn and many others who did extremely well for us in the ODI format.

India, too, seem to have realised that the worth of a one-day team is judged by how you fare in the top tournaments, particularly the World Cup.

The Indians relied on their stalwarts in the last World Cup, and the result was a huge disappointment. The selectors have decided to plan early this time, and I hope that they back the youngsters strongly this time round.

India’s opponents in the one-day tri-series are two well-settled and competent teams. However, the team that looks most likely to win is Australia.

They have always been hard to beat at home, but right now, a few dropped catches at slip notwithstanding, they are on top of their game, and the bowlers look in exceptional form.

Nathan Bracken once again proved that he is Australia’s best one-day bowler at present. He uses the crease and varies his pace better than anybody else in world cricket, and I like the way he is willing to bowl with Adam Gilchrist standing up to him, thereby preventing the batsmen from stepping out.

The Australian batsmen too are looking very formidable at the moment.

Gilchrist looks really ominous, and seems determined to go out with all guns blazing.

Sri Lanka let themselves down the other night at Sydney by simply not applying themselves after restricting Australia.

The only way either India or Sri Lanka can beat Australia is by believing in their own abilities. Sri Lanka failed to do that on Friday.

India might find the low, slow conditions in Melbourne to their liking.

However, they must back their ability and not let Australia’s form intimidate them.

Gameplan

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