Can the youth brigade hold fort?

By S. Dinakar

GALLE, AUG. 12. It is a staggering sight. Overlooking the Galle ground is the imposing Fort. Besides the monument lurks the blue waters of the Indian Ocean. Indeed, a rare amalgam of history, nature and cricket.

Also visible in the fort is a lovely tower with a clock that still works. People and events come and go, but time never stops.

Perhaps, there was a message in it for three young men whose careers are at the crossroads. Cricketers pursuing a little dream...a dream that does not always become a reality.

They have to seize the moment before it becomes too late. For this is a world where heady success and shattered dreams play hide and seek just as the sun and the cloud cover did here on Sunday.

Even as Hemang Badani, Mohammed Kaif and Dinesh Mongia slugged it out at the nets, they might have sneaked a look at the tower and the clock, and understood the significance of the occasion.

No Sachin Tendulkar, no V.V.S. Laxman and two middle- order berths up for grabs. Tendulkar's replacement Jacob Martin, expected here only on Monday, may be in the running too during the later part of the series.

``I don't think there will be a better opportunity than this for cementing your place in the Test XI. I am keen to take the chance,'' said Badani, who made his debut at Harare just a few months back. That was, incidentally, India's last Test before the contest that will commence at Galle on August 14.

Badani has had a lacklustre tour of Sri Lanka so far, but the Tamil Nadu left-hander firmly believes that better days await him in Tests. ``I think every cricketer goes through this, but I have the confidence to do well again,'' he told The Hindu.

Poor shot selection

While Badani's talent has never really been in question, his shot selection has come under scrutiny in recent times. Surprising since his exciting stroke-making ability was complemented by a cool head in his earlier ODIs, against Zimbabwe and Australia.

If he gets picked at Galle - a very likely prospect - he does have a gilt-edged opportunity to make a fresh beginning on this tour. The team-management is likely to play Badani at either No. 5 or 6.

How does the southpaw look back at his only Test so far? He opened in the first innings, was dismissed without scoring, came lower down the order in the second, shaped well but ran out of partners. ``Perhaps I was too anxious to perform in the first innings, was a little nervous. But it is one of those things that when I was batting better in the second, the team had a bad day losing six wickets in a session. In fact, the second ball I faced was the second new ball and I was comfortable. This time I am relaxed and determined to do well.''

For Mohammed Kaif, the wristy batsman from Uttar Pradesh, this is a critical phase of his career, but the cricketer says he will strive to stay positive. ``If a ball is there to be hit, I will hit it.''

Kaif is a supremely fit cricketer and his work ethic and commitment have impressed the team management. Coach John Wright feels among all the middle-order batsmen in the country, only Kaif possesses the attitude and the mental attributes for becoming a `converted opener' if the need arises.

However, he wouldn't walk in as an opener at Galle. There is every chance that Kaif would come in at No. 3, and against a probing Lankan pace attack it should be a severe test of temperament and skill. In the absence of Laxman, the 20-year-old Kaif may provide an emergency option. He, however, has to curb the inclination to essay the whip through mid-wicket once too often, a dangerous ploy early in the order, especially in the seaming conditions of Galle.

Baptism by fire

It was baptism by fire for this shy cricketer when he made his Test debut against the feared South African pace attack in Bangalore, 1999-2000. And though the youngster was not among the runs, he admits he learned a lot from the experience. ``I knew I had to improve my footwork, especially my back-foot play against the quicks.'' Subsequently he has worked on that aspect of his game.

Sri Lanka could well emerge the land of destiny for Kaif. It was here in 2000 that he led India to victory in the under-19 World Cup, a triumph that put him on the road to big time cricket.

The 24-year-old Dinesh Mongia may lack the natural grace and elegance of Badani and Kaif, but the Punjab left-hander is a fighting middle-order batsman.

A powerful cutter and puller, the compact Mongia, after a string of impressive performances in domestic competitions, made a fine half-century in New Delhi against the visiting Australians to earn a place in the ODI team. He has subsequently failed, though, to produce the `place-ensuring knock.'

``I got a start in Zimbabwe but could not consolidate. This is a real opportunity for me now. I have always wanted to do well in Tests,'' says the well-built aspirant.

Coach John Wright has the final word. ``All the three are keen, committed and hungry. One big knock would provide them with the necessary confidence. Importantly, they can all become good Test players. They are fine fielders as well.''

Even as one walks back after the session, the fort, the tower and the clock jump into view again. Yes, time will tell.

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