The Hindu : Can India rework the magic of '69?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 12, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Can India rework the magic of '69?

By S. Dinakar

TIME TO DRAW UP FINAL BATTLE PLANS: India's Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan having a discussion at their team's practice session on the eve of the first Test against New Zealand on Wednesday. (Right): Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming and wicketkeeper Robbie Hart have a talk watched by Nathan Astle. — Photos: N. Balaji

Wellington Dec. 11. They are tough, strong minded, and aggressive cricketers who have often been in the line of fire. As men in the hot seat, they do have to bear the brunt.

The road to success has not been easy for Sourav Ganguly and Stephen Fleming, both having to battle against the odds before earning respect as leaders of men.

And in their own way, the two have managed to transform things. Under Ganguly, India has a much better away Test record with the series-levelling win at Leeds standing out. Fleming led New Zealand to an unprecedented Test series triumph in the Caribbean this year.

Truth to tell, the Indians, with a lot more self-belief, are a tougher outfit mentally when it comes to countering challenging conditions. Yet, it will be a huge ask from them on a green, hard Basin Reserve pitch when the first Test starts here on Thursday.

Ganguly looked at the prospect with optimism. "Both sides have an opportunity to pick 20 wickets in the match,'' he said in a typically unfazed fashion. In other words, this could be a very `open Test.'

Ganguly's men have a mountain to climb with India not having won a Test in New Zealand in 26 years. It was in Auckland '76 that Erapalli Prasanna bowled India to victory.

Happily left-armer and pace spearhead Zaheer Khan is fit having recovered from an injury to his right knee. If he fires, he could make the Kiwis hop.

With the experienced Javagal Srinath absent for the Tests, the much-maligned Ajit Agarkar has a wonderful opportunity on a pitch that should suit his kind of bowling. He can move the ball away from the right-hander, while the odd delivery tends to skid in. What Agarkar would aspire for is greater consistency.

So should Ashish Nehra, who is likely to receive the nod ahead of Tinu Yohannan - the tall Kerala paceman has the ingredients to succeed on a green-top - as the third paceman. Nehra has not been able to get the radar right, tends to bowl too full a length on seaming tracks, and somewhere along the line, appears to have lost the ability to bring the ball into the right hander from over the wicket, so crucial for a left-armer.

And the famous Wellington wind would demand greater discipline and teamwork from the bowlers. If it were a cross wind then it would be less of a problem for the bowlers. Otherwise, some of them would have to bowl against the wind. While operating into the breeze should assist the outswing bowlers in general, wading into the often fierce winds of this city is a different matter altogether, physically.

India announced its 12 with Murali Kartik, Mohammed Kaif, Shiv Sundar Das and Ajay Ratra missing out. On a short series, with just one first class game preceding this Test, they have not received a fair chance to present their credentials, which is a pity.

As Ganguly admitted, he might have to bowl along with Sanjay Bangar, and the two could be pretty effective in these conditions. Tendulkar too hit the right length when he bowled seam-up in the nets on Wednesday, and he really is an astonishing cricketer.

``On seaming pitches, you generally have to bowl the right length,'' said Ganguly. But the seamers will have to be backed well by wicket keeper Parthiv Patel and the slip cordon when the edges fly. This has often been an area of concern for India.

Harbhajan Singh is the lone spinner - "he is a world class bowler, and he has batted effectively down the order,'' were Ganguly's words about the Sardar.

It is bowlers who win matches, but the batsmen will have to up the platform. When the `Big Three' - Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly - notched up hundreds, India could launch an offensive and win at Leeds.

``In fact, the others in the top six, Sehwag, Bangar and Laxman, have come good. It should be a challenge,'' the skipper sounded confident.

In how the Indian batsmen apply themselves holds the key. Fleming accepted the might of the Indian batting when he noted - "the Indian top-six is one of the finest in the game.''

The New Zealand skipper opined that the pitch had a lot for the pacemen - "green, seaming wickets. Expect the bowlers to dominate. But we need to go about our business and forget about the pitch. It is a good chance to beat India. We have the players. I think we will come up with the winning formula.''

The Kiwi pace attack should have the fiery Shane Bond, Daryll Tuffey and Jacob Oram - he is expected to edge out Michael Mason due to the fact that he can achieve greater bounce because of his height - hunting in a pack. Batting all-rounder Scott Styris will be the back-up seamer.

It was in the decider at Wellington in '76, that Richard Hadlee, in what was the first Test match-winning performance of a glorious career, destroyed India. Now, as the chairman of the selection panel, he will watch Bond bowl at the same venue.

While pace could be ace, there might be a bit of assistance for the spinners too in the later stages of the match. Fleming hinted at this when he revealed - "the wicket should have good pace and bounce, but I think it will crack up a bit.''

And like Harbhajan, left-armer Daniel Vettori is an extremely competent spinner. The Kiwi bowlers will have the promising Robbie Hart behind the stumps.

The efficient opener Mark Richardson has been added to the side, while the more impulsive Lou Vincent could be walking on thin ice, with the Kiwi selectors having a serious option in Mathew Sinclair. Fleming, Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan form a competent middle-order and the last two can be destructive stroke-makers.

``Scoring is one way of putting pressure on the bowlers,'' said Fleming. The Kiwis are bound to miss the inspirational presence of Chris Cairns, but in Astle and Bond, they posses two potential match-winners.

The first occasion when India won a Test series away from home was in New Zealand, with Tiger Pataudi's men outplaying the host 3-1 in '69. India is back in the land where it made history. Can Ganguly and his men, whip up the magic of '69? It is possible.

The teams (from): India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, Sanjay Bangar, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, Ajit Agarkar, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Aashish Nehra & Tinu Yohannan. Coach: John Wright.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Mark Richardson, Lou Vincent, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Scott Styris, Jacob Oram, Robbie Hart, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, Daryll Tuffey & Michael Mason. Coach: Jeff Crowe.

Umpires: Messrs. Asoka de Silva & Daryll Harper. Third umpire: Mr. Brent Bowden. Match Referee: Mr. Mike Procter.

Hours of play: (IST) 3.40 a.m. to 5.40 a.m., 6.20 a.m. to 8.20 a.m., 8.40 a.m. till close of play.

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