The selectors should have considered Sarandeep
Partab Ramchand - 25 October 2001
Theirs being a thankless job, selectors receive more than a fair share
of criticism. Fully aware of the maxim that "form is temporary, class is
permanent," they have to draw a fine line between the two qualities.
Even if it may be temporary, one cannot ignore the player in form.
Whoever they choose, the selectors are in a no win situation. If they
ignore the classy player, they are criticized for not recognising
greatness. And if they ignore the cricketer in form, they are lambasted
for not giving an opportunity to a deserving case.
The argument for spin over pace becomes even more
pronounced in the field of Test cricket. What then is the idea of having
five fast bowlers in the 16-man squad? Two among Srinath, Prasad,
Agarkar, Zaheer and Nehra are bound to be passengers. Would it not have
been better if the spin department, our traditional strike force as I
have repeatedly pointed out, was strengthened by the inclusion of
Sarandeep Singh?
|
Connor Williams is the latest case in point. A 28-year-old left handed
opening batsman who is more a grafter than a stroke player, Williams has
scored nearly 3400 runs in first-class cricket since his debut in
1995-96 at a healthy average of over 45 with six hundreds and 21 half -
centuries with a highest score of 237 not out. In the each of the last
four years, Williams has exceeded the 500-run mark in the Ranji Trophy.
This culminated in a tally of 728 runs last season when he was one of
the stars of Baroda's first title triumph in the national competition in
43 years. Just last week, he confirmed his rising stature by scoring 143
and 83 in the Irani Trophy fixture at Nagpur. Can the selectors afford
to ignore such a record, especially when there is need for a specialist
opening batsman for the team currently having an uneven run in South
Africa? It goes without saying that his being left-handed is an added
advantage.
Critics are harping on the fact that facing amiable seam bowlers on
batting pitches at home is a very different proposition from facing
Pollock and company on the faster and bouncier tracks in South Africa.
The point is so obvious that is hardly worth mentioning. The fact
remains that here is a batsman who has been the epitome of consistency,
has impressed everyone by his approach, which is a judicious mixture of
aggression and defence, and has a sound technique. So why not give him a
chance? Could he be termed an undeserving case?
Yes, perhaps the selectors have even seen a bit of class too in him, for
if they were to pick players only on form, then Yere Goud, the highest
run-getter last season, would walk into the Indian side. I venture to
guess that if Williams were not picked, the same critics would pull up
the selectors for ignoring a player in form. Let us therefore welcome
the inclusion of Williams and hope that he gets enough opportunities to
succeed.
That said, it must be added that the selection raises a couple of
contentious issues. Jacob Martin, from all accounts, is a better Test
prospect than a one- day cricketer. He should be staying behind in South
Africa instead of taking the return flight home after the Standard Bank
one-day tri-series.
And then there is the case of the bowling. If the current tri-series has
proved anything, it is that India has a better chance of bowling the
South Africans out with spin rather than pace. The argument for spin
over pace becomes even more pronounced in the field of Test cricket.
What then is the idea of having five fast bowlers in the 16-man squad?
Two among Srinath, Prasad, Agarkar, Zaheer and Nehra are bound to be
passengers. Would it not have been better if the spin department, our
traditional strike force as I have repeatedly pointed out, was
strengthened by the inclusion of Sarandeep Singh?
If Williams could get in largely on the basis of his two good scores in
the Irani Trophy and deservingly so I might add should not Sarandeep
get a look in following his Irani match haul of eight wickets? If we
have a tendency to dismiss the feats of batsmen running up tall scores
on the shirt front pitches, should we not view with some sympathy
bowlers who are able to take wickets on such surfaces?
© CricInfo