The Wisden Verdict
by Dileep Premachandran
Tuesday, November 6, 2001

When the Japanese novelist and playwright Yukio Mishima committed seppuku (ritual suicide) in 1970, there were several attempts to rationalise his behaviour. Some said that after the completion of his masterpiece, The Sea of Fertility quartet, Mishima felt that there was nothing left to achieve. Others thought his death was a protest against the weakness and spiritual barrenness of modern Japan.

What explanation can you come up with for India's exercise in self-destruction at Bloemfontein's Goodyear Park? Did they think that by scoring 379 in the first innings, they had reached some sort of pinnacle? Or are they just suckers for punishment?

Each of the batsmen in the top order – a strange tag for a group that hits rock-bottom so often – has something to be ashamed of tonight. Some of the strokes played in the morning session would have pride of place in any Chamber of Horrors. Shiv Sunder Das's slash to Nantie Hayward would be the main exhibit – as appalling a shot as any you'll see this decade. VVS Laxman's touch-me, touch-me-not waft at Shaun Pollock was little better – another good start tossed onto the rubbish heap.

Sachin Tendulkar steered a wide delivery from Jacques Kallis straight to Herschelle Gibbs at point. After his magnificent hundred in the first innings, it's hard to be too critical of him. But once again, when India needed him to conjure some rabbits out of the hat, he went AWOL. Sourav Ganguly cut and drove his way to 30, but the first vicious short one he received had "Adios, amigo" written all over it. His technique against the short ball is so poor that the quicks will always fancy their chances against him. Once the ball starts rearing up at his ribcage and face, Ganguly begins to resemble one of those tin cans that you take pot-shots at with an air-gun.

Shaun Pollock deserves a plaudit or two though. He was magnificent, giving us further proof of why most consider him second only to Glenn McGrath among the current crop of fast bowlers. This was Pollock's first ten-wicket haul (10 for 147) in Test cricket, and how his team needed it. His previous-best came against West Indies six months ago – 9 for 94 in a losing cause in Jamaica. Pollock's mind-numbing accuracy and persistent menace camouflaged a pretty ordinary South African display with the ball. For the moment, with Allan Donald missing, Pollock is Gulliver in Lilliput. Hayward, Makhaya Ntini and Lance Klusener – bringing in Andre Nel or Charl Langeveldt would make little difference – are a popgun attack on a good batting track, and mighty Australia will be quietly sniggering at talk of a challenge to their reign.

The Tendulkar-Sehwag batting masterclass was the sole bright spot for India. It takes some kind of talent to lose a match inside four days after scoring 379 first up. This was cricket's version of seppuku. Indian fans will be praying that the players can eviscerate the memories of this embarrassing defeat before the Port Elizabeth Test rolls around.

Dileep Premachandran is assistant editor of Wisden.com India.

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