The Hindu : Conditions loaded in favour of India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 28, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Conditions loaded in favour of India
By Vijay Lokapally

NEW DELHI, FEB. 27. The administrators want us to believe that Indian cricket is on the right path. It is not. If the team needs to exploit home conditions to the hilt even against a weak opposition like Zimbabwe, it cannot be on the right path. Beating Zimbabwe should not be cause for celebrations as such a feat hardly creates a healthy reserve bench.

Zimbabwe is now realising the harsh demands of international cricket, playing constantly across the globe, and gaining little in terms of confidence. Maintaining a certain level of consistency has been tough for Zimbabwe, which has had its own share of problems at home with its cricket union. This has reflected in its poor cricket over the last six months.

On the eve of the second Test against India, as the Zimbabwe team went through `nets' at the ugly Ferozeshah Kotla, one thought must have dominated the visitors' minds. Can they avoid defeat?

The conditions are loaded against Zimbabwe which, in a slightly favourable atmosphere, had taught India a lesson at Harare last year. The Kotla pitch, according to local experts, is expected to assist spinners all the way. It may not be a doctored pitch but one which has obviously been prepared in response to certain specific instructions.

The Board, meanwhile, is once again talking of introducing a touch of professionalism in pitch preparation. It is a job which requires vision and administrative excellence, qualities unknown to the current lot in charge of running the game in the country. Nothing has changed from the time players like Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar pleaded for sporting pitches. No wonder our `stars' fail to play to their `potential' overseas.

But it is so different when playing at home. All the shortcomings are brushed aside, fielders crouch close-in and the discussion centres around victories and talented youngsters. So predictable....and so hollow!

Look at the structure of the Indian team. A makeshift wicketkeeper, a batting line up which perennially looks good on paper but performs only when playing at home and an attack which lacks confidence when facing a strong opposition. And we are not going to discuss the team's fitness and fielding at all. John Wright summed it up brilliantly two days back.

The Indian bowlers dread the sight of the wicketkeeper because he grasses more than he catches. In the team essentially because he can open the innings and lend balance, Deep Dasgupta may have been an embarrassment behind the stumps but then he is not to be blamed for the state of affairs. Being a batsman who can keep wickets helps in a system which believes in adjustments.

The selectors, the skipper, and the coach, feel Dasgupta can improve and hence the need to groom him. Dasgupta can be an asset as an opener because he has the right temperament for the job. That he is gutsy is apparent from the fact that he has not allowed the pressure to upset his resolve and the seniors in the team are convinced that he can handle the short ball too.

It has been a hard grind for Dasgupta and having made it to the Indian team, he is not going to let the opportunity go. The search for an opener could end with Dasgupta provided he is given the confidence for the job. As far as the wicketkeeper's slot is concerned, there is healthy competition now with M.S.K. Prasad back in the reckoning to push Dasgupta and Ajay Ratra. This match would make the race more interesting.

Indian cricket has to keep pace with the progress being made by Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and England, not to forget Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It is a pity that some average players are being projected as icons and match winners and therein lies the problem. Some ridiculous comparisons by self-appointed experts in all fields often give the Indian team a flattering image but the truth, very bitter, remains quite the opposite.

It is not so dark and depressing though. The success of Sanjay Bangar augurs well for India. He provides depth to the batting and motivation to the attack. Cricketers like him need to be groomed, in the same mould as Dasgupta and Ajit Agarkar who, however, has fallen on bad days and is being clobbered even in the Deodhar Trophy.

For Zimbabwe, it is one more contest to discover its potential. Too much reliance on Andy Flower and Grant Flower has not helped the team much and the challenge has grown with some of the youngsters not being able to match the demands of international cricket. The Zimbabwe camp was toying with the idea of asking Andy to keep wickets in order to include an extra batsman even as left-arm spinner Raymond Price eagerly looked forward to show his wares on a helpful track.

The Indians would not like to disturb the combination which won the last match even though the temptation to play Virender Sehwag in place of V.V.S. Laxman could be high. It would, however, be unfair if Laxman is to be put on trial, knowing his class fully well.

The public response to the Test has been poor and the Indian team, after a long time, could manage a `nets' session in peace at the National Stadium, which offered excellent facilities once again. A pity the same cannot be said of Kotla which on Thursday will have a distinguished guest - Wasim Akram, who is in town for a television show.

The teams (from): India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Shiv Sundar Das, Deep Dasgupta, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Sanjay Bangar, Virender Sehwag, Tinu Youhannan and Sarandeep Singh.

Zimbabwe: Stuart Carlisle (captain), Alistair Campbell, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Travis Friend, Trevor Gripper, Raymond Price, Gavin Rennie, Tatenda Taibu, Brighton Watambwa, Heath Streak, Craig Wishart, M. Mbangwa and Dion Ebrahim.

Umpires: Messrs A.V. Jayaprakash and Asoka D'Silva; Third umpire: Mr. Narendra Menon; Reserve umpire: Mr. Rajan Seth.

Hours of play: 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.; 12.10 p.m. to 2.10 p.m.; 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.

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