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Cricket
India could have done better
BY K. SRIKKANTH
What a transformation! A side that was struggling in South Africa only days back is now calling the shots. But then, this was only to be expected considering that the Indians are a different bunch at home. England is discovering this the hard way.
Yet, at the conclusion of the third day's play in Mohali, one did feel that India could have performed better with the bat on that flat surface against that ordinary attack.
Had India got to a score of around 550, this looked likely at one stage, even the 10 per cent chance England now has of saving the Test would have vanished. For this, one of our batsmen should have gone on to a really big score.
India should also have got its runs at a faster clip, providing more time for its bowlers on the third day. Here the Indians have to take a leaf out of the Australian approach which is always positive.
In contemporary Test cricket, where a minimum of 90 overs are available on a day, a side that is in a dominant position should score at least 300 runs. To achieve this a team does not have to indulge in extravagant strokes. Simple common sense approach would be enough.
Having said that, India still has a fine chance of going 1-0 up in the series, and it is important that the bowlers and the fielders do not allow partnerships to develop.
The pressure has to be maintained right through, and the wonderful opportunity should not be allowed to slip. A none too difficult task against this mediocre English batting line-up.
On the positive side for India was the hundred from the young Deep Dasgupta. He has the right temperament for Test cricket and the manner in which he has adapted to the new role of opening the innings is indeed praiseworthy.
The three-figure knock should do Dasgupta's confidence a world of good, and his wicketkeeping, that has come in for criticism, could improve with time too, for much of the game is about self-belief.
Sanjay Bangar made useful runs and appeared comfortable in the middle. He might not have impressed with the ball so far in the match, but the selectors should keep this cricketer in the side, especially since the country is in search of all-rounders.
On the disappointing side, V.V.S. Laxman continues to fall in the 20s and 30s. He is hardly doing his talent any justice. It is this lack of application that has seen him press the self-destructive button much too often in recent times.
The Hyderabad batsman could well take a look at Brian Lara's brilliant run of scores against Sri Lanka where the gifted West Indian, who too is a natural stroke-maker, concentrated hard and shouldered the responsibility almost single-handedly.
Laxman's talent is never in question. Any batsman who goes on to make 281 against Glenn McGrath and Co. in a crisis situation with the sheer brilliance of his strokeplay, has to be special.
It is when a player of such potential keeps letting himself and India down that it becomes doubly painful. Laxman has to cash in on opportunities against weak attacks such as England. He could build on the momentum.
England's catching was poor and bowling appeared anything but threatening. Only debutant off-spinner Dawson displayed a degree of promise, but these are early days yet.
Unless the Indians play terrible cricket from this point, they should go into the second Test at Ahmedabad with a 1- 0 lead. England does have its back to the wall at Mohali.
www.krishsrikkanth.com
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