A worrying lack of options
Partab Ramchand - 6 May 2002
Inconsistency is the bane of Indian cricket teams and the current
squad in the West Indies is no different. One can't really be sure
when the side will touch the heights of glory or when they will plumb
the depths. They alternate so quickly between the two extremes that it
becomes extremely frustrating. Just last year it happened in Zimbabwe
and Sri Lanka and now again they have followed up a notable triumph at
Port of Spain with a humiliating loss at Bridgetown only some ten days
later.
There are a couple of disturbing thoughts even as the Indians lick
their wounds. One is that the remaining two Tests are at Kingston,
Jamaica and St John's, Antigua. The Indians have not exactly covered
themselves with glory at these venues, especially at Kingston, where
the tally reads five losses and three draws. Conditions at Sabina Park
are generally similar to those at the Kensington Oval.
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But then of course the Indians must have known that conditions at the
Kensington Oval would not be as amiable as those prevalent at the
Queen's Park Oval. There are batsmen who intimidate bowlers and
bowlers who intimidate batsmen. But here we have a ground that has a
demoralizing effect on the Indians.
Seven defeats in eight matches at this venue including five in a
row, which makes it next only to Lord's where the Indians lost six
successive Tests in the period 1932-1967 is frankly an unnerving
record. The West Indies would seem to hold all the psychological aces
against India at Bridgetown and unless the visitors are able to shake
this off like they did with a splendid fighting performance in 1971
more defeats are bound to follow.
After all, it is not just the pace of Andy Roberts, Michael Holding,
Ian Bishop, Malcolm Marshall, Courtney Walsh, Curtley Ambrose and
Franklyn Rose that has laid the Indians low at this jinxed venue. Even
the spin of Sonny Ramadhin, Lance Gibbs and David Holford has been the
cause of much misery for the visitors. And the infamous collapse in
1997 when the Indians, set to get just 120 runs for victory, were
bowled out for 81 symbolises India's dismal showing at Bridgetown.
The Indians did just about everything wrong but there is little doubt
that the batting caused more problems than the bowling. When a side is
bowled out for 102 on the first day, it is an arduous uphill journey
from then on and only some incisive bowling followed by determined
batting can possibly save the day. Sadly, both were missing.
The bowling was generally wayward. There was little planning or effort
taken to think a batsman out. During the long fifth wicket partnership
between Carl Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, frequently it seemed
as if the bowlers were just going through the motions of completing
the over.
A deficit of 292 can be crippling but it was hoped that the Indians,
by a better showing the second time around on a pitch that looked to
have eased out, could put up a fight. The optimist's mind instantly
went back to Lord's in 1979, when despite being shot out for 96 on the
opening day and finishing 323 runs behind on the first innings, the
Indians came back to save the Test thanks a 210-run third wicket
partnership between Gundappa Viswanath and Dilip Vengsarkar, one of
the most famous rearguard actions in Indian cricket.
It was quaint to think of such heroics but we were all to be badly
disillusioned. The second innings was an improvement over the first
anything would be but that was not enough.
There are a couple of disturbing thoughts even as the Indians lick
their wounds. One is that the remaining two Tests are at Kingston,
Jamaica and St John's, Antigua. The Indians have not exactly covered
themselves with glory at these venues, especially at Kingston, where
the tally reads five losses and three draws. Conditions at Sabina Park
are generally similar to those at the Kensington Oval.
The Indians will be a bit more comfortable with their record at
Antigua where both the Tests in 1983 and 1997 have been drawn. All the
same, the fun and games of Bourda and Queen's Park Oval are over and
the tough part of the tour starts now. But one wonders whether the
Indians are mentally, physically and technically prepared to tackle
it.
The second worrying aspect is that there is precious little that can
be done to work out any change in strategy. Yes, the top-order is a
bit more secure with Wasim Jaffer proving to be a success and Shiv
Sundar Das providing some semblance of substance. The failure of the
famed middle-order with the notable exception of the skipper who at
last seems to be coming into his own did cause some dismay but it is
strong enough to make one feel that this was just an aberration.
The main problem concerns the bowling. The spin department, in
particular, is a major worry with neither Anil Kumble nor Harbhajan
Singh inspiring confidence. Both have bowling averages of 40 plus when
it comes to Tests abroad. And whichever combination the team
management opts for three seamers and one spinner or two seamers and
two spinners there is nothing to suggest that the four bowlers will
deliver the goods.
The line-up, to be candid, is quite problematic but then there are
hardly any other options for the selectors and one supposes the team
will have to soldier along with this tried and tested though only
partly successful quartet for the rest of the series. And that is a
sobering thought even for the most optimistic Indian cricket fan.
© CricInfo
Teams
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India,
West Indies.
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Players/Umpires
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Carl Hooper,
Mervyn Dillon,
Shiv Sunder Das,
Shiv Chanderpaul,
Dilip Vengsarkar,
Anil Kumble,
Harbhajan Singh,
Wasim Jaffer.
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Tours
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India in West Indies
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Scorecard
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3rd Test: West Indies v India, 2-6 May 2002 |
Grounds
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Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
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