Nagpur Test, Day 4, Close
Sunday, February 24, 2002

The pitch was a major disappointment today. Most of us had expected it to play a lot better than it is now. When you look back over the past four days, the wicket hasn't really helped Test match cricket at all. There's absolutely no pace in it, and now, with the spinners bowling and the ball lifting from a length, it reminds me of those pitches we played on in the early `90s. Though this track wasn't prepared with the same intention, it certainly resembles the doctored pitches we used to play on at home. In any case, India are well on their way to a comfortable victory.

Harbhajan Singh was a disappointment today. I still feel he explores only one option when he aims to get the batsman out. He's bowled close to 45 overs in the match and the plan throughout has been to get the batsmen defending on the front foot, with a view to having them caught at silly point or forward short leg. Though he bowled a good line in the first innings, he never tried other methods to get the batsmen out.

As you might expect, Anil Kumble made life very difficult for the batsmen with extra zip and bounce off the wicket. It was surprising though that Sanjay Bangar didn't get a bowl all day. Ultimately, India will win this game at a canter and a situation like this is tailor-made for testing out your other resources.

Deep Dasgupta gave us another unconvincing display and his wicketkeeping is now a serious matter of concern. That will be one of the talking points after this match. One gets the impression that he has no real feel for the ball. Normally, you anticipate the edge and your gloves are somewhere close to where the ball is headed. It's a question of instinct and natural ability and I'm not sure how strong he is in either respect. The keeper's job is potentially one of the most important in Test match cricket, something that the selectors would do well to remember.

Sanjay Manjrekar, stalwart of the Indian batting in the early `90s, was talking to Dileep Premachandran.

More Sanjay Manjrekar
Day 4, Tea: 'Ganguly needs to rotate his bowlers'
Day 4, Lunch: 'Preparation pays off for Bangar'

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