Nagpur Test, Day 5, Close
Monday, February 25, 2002

The day's first session was, expectedly, the last in the Test. From the Zimbabwe viewpoint, it was important to get a partnership going to tide over the tricky pre-lunch period. Both Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh were relentless in applying pressure from either ends, as the Zimbabweans were unequal to the task on a dew-kissed track where the ball was spitting at the batsmen. It's the kind of pitch which gives a false sense of confidence to the winning team and not a good advertisment for Test cricket.

With the result going along expected lines, it may not be a bad idea to look at the gains for the home team. Zaheer Khan has shed weight and gained in pace and confidence. He is a lad with potential, but in recent times he gave the impression of having lost some of his abilities because of injury or mindset, but though he did not get to bowl enough in the second innings, his performance in the Test proved encouraging. He was quick through the air, got the reverse swing going, landed the yorkers on spot and bowled fewer short balls than he used to.

Sanjay Bangar may not be a bowler of great merit at this level of the game nor even outstanding with the bat, but in him India has discovered a batsman with a good temperament. He has sharp cricketing brains and he showed that the manner in which he paced his innings on the fourth day, keeping in mind the team's requirements. And when the time came to take risks, he did not lag. He looked a team man, which may have worked in his favour as far as coach John Wright was concerned.

Of course, Bangar's success has made the selectors job difficult as far as Virender Sehwag is concerned. But if I had to make a decision, I would get Sehwag in at the cost of Laxman or an opener.

Harbhajan Singh went through testing times in this match but came off pretty well in the end. He went through 47 overs in the Test without a wicket, but at no time he looked despondent. He finally picked up three quick wickets. It was qualities of a champion bowler and clear signs of his growing maturity as a Test player.

The failures of Andy Flower and Grant Flower, Zimbabwe's two principal hopes, hurt them most. And it's not going to help them going into the next Test. I don't think they could have done much better with their bowling, which was as good as it could have been.

India should not just look forward to just winning the next Test but show that it's a champion side pitted against a weak team.

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

More Sanjay Manjrekar
Day 4, Close: 'Harbhajan should explore other options'

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