Big names disappoint

It was a meek surrender by the Indians in the third Test. There is no shame in losing, but going down without a fight hurts.

If a batting line-up boasting of some `heavyweights' cannot even last three sessions of a Test - even all the time lost due to rain could not save us - there is something grossly wrong.

There can be no excuses. This Indian team has been in South Africa long enough, played enough games to cope with the extra bounce of the pitches there, and if it still cannot put up a creditable display at the fag end of a series, then we can surely say that the players have not learnt as the tour went along.

In the end, only the less experienced players showed some character. Connor Williams did his cause no harm with a determined display in the second innings, and his fine opening partnership with Shiv Sundar Das, certainly gave India the right kind of start.

Similarly, wicket-keeper batsman Deep Dasgupta once again batted correctly. He has developed well on this tour, showing a willingness to pick up the right things.

However, the performance of the senior players indicates that they are turning complacent, taking their places for granted. They should be made to understand that there are young cricketers capable of replacing them in the side. On the South African tour, the `Big Names' certainly disappointed.

Still on the subject, one feels the time has come for us to rest a couple of cricketers. This will help, both, the players concerned, and the Indian team. At present, these men appear jaded, and it is important that they are given time to recharge their batteries.

However, one doubts whether the selectors will take the bold course. In fact, the events over the next couple of months are not too hard to predict.

India is likely to whip this England team, without several key players, 3-0, and the same cricketers who were so cruelly exposed in South Africa, will be hailed as the saviours of Indian cricket.

It is this media hype that has done enormous damage to our cricket, creating false impressions, and unreasonable expectations.

The truth is this Indian side is not equipped to win away from the sub-continent. There are far too many shortcomings, and the lack of clarity on the part of the think-tank hasn't helped matters either.

The think-tank has invariably chosen the easy option, when it had to take some tough decisions. And some of its `moves' on the tour defied logic.

Sadly, the Indians do not seem to be playing as a team, in other words as a single cohesive unit. They appear to be just a group of individuals, forced to be together due to circumstances.

On the other hand, the South Africans bat, bowl and field like a well-knit group. They are a TEAM. In short, this was the essential difference between the two sides.

K. SRIKKANTH

www.krishsrikkanth.com

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Section  : Sport
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