Moody, Maverick, Marvellous: The Chris Gayle Story

Not many had given West Indies a chance of making it to the grand finale of the Champions Trophy. But the fact that they did make it to the D-Day wasn’t surprising either because they are the most unpredictable side in world cricket (after Pakistan of course). Their shock victory in the 2004 edition of the tournament amply justifies the point. Though they faltered at the last hurdle, the fact that they made it to the finals was a big achievement in itself for this talented but inexperienced and under performing side. All this was possible mainly due to the efforts of one man and for a change, it wasn’t Brian Charles Lara but the tall and imposing Christopher Henry Gayle.

With three centuries in the tournament, Gayle undoubtedly was the hero of the otherwise bowler-dominated Champions Trophy. His semi-final knock against the Proteas has to be rated amongst the best in one-day cricket in recent times. Such was the severity of his attack on the South Africans that even world-class bowlers like Pollock and Ntini were treated with utter disdain. The talented Jamaican was unstoppable on that day as he single-handedly powered his side into the final. Even in the final against the world champions, he showed little respect to the great Glenn McGrath smashing him for sixes of consecutive overs. But his threatening knock was brought to a premature end by Nathan Bracken and the rest of the West Indies line-up succumbed to the pressure as the defending champions’ hopes of regaining the title went up in flames.

Despite the defeat, Gayle was rightly adjudicated the Most Valuable Player of the tournament at the now infamous post-match presentation ceremony. He ended the tournament with a massive aggregate of 474 runs at an average of 79.00. Even more impressive was the fact that he scored them at the rate of 92 runs per 100 balls. The figures are astonishing no doubt but those who have saw him bat during Windies’ tour to India in 2002 will remember that he achieved a similar feet even then. Gayle notched up three tons in that 7-match series too which the visitors went on to win 4-3. Such performances are enough to indicate that Gayle is a genuine match-winner.

Unlike what some believe, Gayle is not a slogger of the cricket ball. Of course some of his stand and deliver shots are packed with great power. But there is more to Gayle than meets the eye. You cannot slog your way to 15 ODI centuries against some top quality bowlers. If that were to happen, Shahid Afridi would have been the most successful ODI batsman. But compare the careers of the two dynamos and you would see how poles apart they are in terms of consistency. True, there have been ample instances of even Gayle throwing his wicket away playing rash shots. But that was mostly in the past when he was still relatively immature. Today with 150 games behind his back, Gayle has gained a wealth of experience and is ready to shoulder extra responsibility as a senior member of the side. Unlike, Sehwag he seems to have struck that fine balance between attack and defense. And that is only bad news for bowlers.

Before he met with such tremendous success, Gayle’s laidback attitude towards the game was questioned by many. He still wears that lost look on his face while on the cricket field (the altercation with Michael Clarke was just a one-off) but with the rich vein of form he has run into recently, he has definitely silenced all the critics. Looks certainly can be deceiving at times. Pakistani skipper Inzamam-Ul-Haq has played all through the last 15 years with the same ‘don’t wake me up from my slumber expression.’ But that hasn’t been a deterrent in him scoring runs against the best of bowlers in world cricket. Gayle himself admits to being a very moody, maverick character, an attribute that has led him to bowl with sunglasses on for most part of his career! But the bottom line remains that he has made a reasonably good fist of it. His off-spinners have seen his claim over 100 wickets in one-dayers and his nagging accuracy has meant that he is even risked in the slog overs. Even in the Champions Trophy, he snared 8 scalps without being too expensive.

And there is more to Gayle that just his batting and bowling skills. Ironic as it may sound, the man with the ‘who cares’ appearance is actually a good thinker of the game. It was he who suggested that Bravo bowl a slower ball to Yuvraj in that crucial 2nd ODI at Jamaica during India’s tour earlier this year. Windies won the match and went on to annihilate India 4-1. (So the next time you see an uninterested Gayle on the cricket field don’t make any assumptions, he might just be plotting the downfall of a batsman!) As Dravid said in retrospect, the 2nd ODI loss hampered the Indians badly and they could never recover from the setback. Full marks to Bravo for the perfect execution of the plan but some credit should also be given to Gayle. That game in a sense was the launch pad for yet another Windies resurrection. They have since got the better of the World Champions Australia on a couple of occasions and their performance in the Champions Trophy suggests that the team is achieving some degree of consistency.

Chris Gayle’s success is definitely a big boost for Windies cricket. With him in such magnificent form and the experienced guys like Sarwan, Chanderpaul and the skipper himself, Windies are not easy pushovers, at least not in the shorter version of the game. But cricket is a team sport and requires all 11 members to contribute in some form or the other if they are to succeed consistently. Otherwise we might just see a lot of the Gayle force going waste just like what has happened with Lara all through his long, grinding career.

In fact, Gayle has already got a taste of that. His unbeaten 152 against the Proteas in early 2004 went in vain as the South Africans easily chased down a 300 plus socre. The story was the same the following year, as his even magnificent 132 could not save his side from a heartbreaking one-run defeat. If these defeats weren’t hurting enough, there was one more unfortunate twist in the Gayle saga. In late 2005, Windies woes increased as Gayle suffered from several heath problems – an irregular heartbeat to be precise. He was even forced to retire hurt from a match once due to this. Describing it as a serious problem, Gayle decided to go in for an operation. And luckily for West Indies and world cricket, it hasn’t affected his batting at all ever since his return. On the contrary, he has only gone from strength to strength.

On current form, Gayle is among the best in the world. And entertainer par excellence, he has rekindled the calypso style of cricket which symbolised West Indies cricket when they were masters of the game. But the biggest challenge for Gayle now will be to maintain that rate of consistency, which will assure him a place among the elites of Caribbean cricket like Lara, Richards and co.

Upul Tharanga: Taking world cricket by storm

For many of us, cricket is a sport that we follow very passionately and thoroughly enjoy. But for Warushavithana Upul Tharanga, it is that and a lot more - more so after the deadly Asian tsunami washed away his family home. Amidst the huge tragedy, Tharanga found solace in cricket. His fortunes took a turn for a better when he was selected in the Sri Lankan one-day squad last July. And since then, it’s been no less than a remarkable debut season for the rookie southpaw - especially in the shorter format. With 6 centuries in 31ODIs, Tharanga has already taken the cricket world by storm and seems destined to be a worthy successor to the ‘Matara Marauder’ Sanath Jayasuriya. In fact, Tharanga is the only batsman in the history of ODI cricket to score five centuries in his first 30 one-day internationals. And the way he’s performing, there are many surely more in store. Additionally, he is competent enough to keep wickets as well if the need arises.

Tharanga’s instant rise to stardom won’t surprise those who have followed his cricketing career from an early age. The elegant left-hander participated in Lanka’s Premier League tournament when he was 15. He later went on to represent the Sri Lanka under-17 and under-19 with grand success. In fact during their under-19 tour to Pakistan, Tharanga was amazingly consistent with half-centuries in both the two Tests and two one-dayers. He even got a taste league cricket in England where he represented Loughton Cricket Club in Essex.

Like many of the current stars in international cricket, his name too came up for serious reckoning after a scintillating display in the under-19 World Cup. In the 2004 edition, Tharanga came up with a ton against the Proteas and a blitzkrieg half-century against India in the very next game. And after a fruitful stint with the Lanka A squad against the West Indies, he got the much-deserved call up for national duty. The rest, as the cliché goes, is history.

The first of many

Ask any cricketer and he would tell you how much he cherishes that maiden century no matter how weak a opposition it must have come against. It’s the cricketing equivalent of having your first child. For a cricketer, the sentiment must be something similar to the feeling of becoming a proud dad. Upul Tharanga’s moment in the sun came against Bangladesh on home turf.

Playing in his fifth one-day international, Tharanga made full use of the luck that came his way (he was dropped on 13 at second slip) and went on to score his first ODI century. Tharanga also shared a stand of perfect 100 with fellow left-hander and destructive opener Sanath Jayasuriya. The latter fell after scoring a quickfire 40 from 45 balls. But Tharanga proceeded towards his maiden century and in the process helped Sri Lanka post a healthy 295-6 in the stipulated 50 overs. His innings included nine hits to the fence before he finally fell for 105 of 110 balls in the 38th over. Bangladesh did put up a decent showing with the bat. Shariar Nafees, another left-hander with huge promise, scored a patient half-century while skipper Habibul Bashar chipped in with 41. But the slow scoring rate meant that the result was a foregone conclusion. Bangladesh ended up with 220-6, falling short by a comfortable margin of 75 runs.

After the match, then Sri Lankan skipper Marvan Atapattu was all praise for the stylish batsman. "He has a lot of potential and scored a lot of runs for junior teams, it's really nice he got a century early in his career”, were Marvan’s encouraging words for the 21-year-old with a great future.

‘Champion of Champions’

Coming into the ongoing Champions Trophy, Sri Lanka were definitely one of the favourites. This despite the fact that they were one of the qualifying teams. But Upul Tharanga had little to complain as he scored back to back centuries in the first two qualifiers. Tharanga hit 105 against Bangladesh and then followed it up with an impressive century against Zimbabwe – both match winning efforts.

If you wonder why so many comparisons are being drawn between Tharanga and Jayasuriya, you only had to watch the innings he played against Bangladesh in their Lanka’s opening encounter of the Champions Trophy.

Like many other Asians, Tharanga too prefers playing on the rise. His smashing front foot drives were a real treat to the eye and like his mentor, he did not shy away from playing the aerial shot whenever the opportunity presented itself. Ala Jayasuriya, Tharanga too has been blessed with the ability of spotting the length of the ball early but unlike the former, he has a more compact stance that only enhances his chances of succeeding on the big stage – as also his approach towards batting. “I don't know about a secret behind my runs this year - all I try to do is to convert 30 or 40 into a big score", was how Tharanga described his game plan after rattling off yet another century in his short career.

In the game against Zimbabwe, Tharanga shared a crucial 165-run third wicket partnership with Kumar Sangakkara after a couple of wickets fell without substantial contributions. The Lankans ended up making a reasonable 285 with Tharanga scoring yet another impressive 110 and Sagakkara ending up with 80.

Lord at Lords

Tharanga was one of the stars for Sri Lanka as they annihilated the Englishmen 5-0 on their home turf.

In the opening ODI, he scored his third one-day century to help his team take a 1-0 lead in the 5 match series as Lanka won the opening tie by 20 runs.

As the English bowlers struggled to make use of a pitch that offered some assistance to them, Tharanga took the opportunity to make his mark at the headquarters of cricket.

Tharanga’s half-century came of only 44 balls and was punctuated with 10 fours. He then settled down after escaping being stumped on 59 and almost carried his bat through the innings. He was finally dismissed for 120 – his highest ODI score till date - in the penultimate over as Sri Lanka registered 257-9.

And finally… it’s turn to relive the ‘master’ and ‘pupil’ show

The islanders went in to the 5th and final ODI against England at Headingley having already wrapped up the series 4-0. So the game was just of academic interest. The death of legendary England paceman Fred Trueman also dampened the spirits a bit. And with the soccer World Cup fever at peak, the spectators did not bother much about the result of the game. As a result many missed what was one of the best and most entertaining partnerships in the history of the game.

Batting first, England amassed 321-7 - Marcus Trescothick leading the way with a belligerent 121. It seemed the home side were on course for a consolation win. But Tharanga and Jayasuriya obviously had their own plans. The opening duo produced a scintillating stand of 286, the third best partnership ever in the history of ODI cricket. The veteran Jayasuriya was the dominant partner no doubt, his 152 coming off 99 balls. But Tharanga did match him stroke for stroke through most part of his stay at the crease. Such was the dominance of the duo that the visitors surpassed the target of 321 in the 38th over itself. Tharanga ended up making 109 off 102 to make it a memorable English summer for him.

With Sanath Jayasuriya on his way out, the emergence of Upul Tharanga must have pleased the Lankans no end. These are still early days in his career but there are enough indications that here is a man who has it in him to serve Sri Lankan cricket for a long time and step into the mighty boots of Jayasuriya once the great man finally decides to call it a day.

Sreesanth’s exclusion defies cricketing logic

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The BCCI selection committee has done it again. As if the whole controversy surrounding Sourav Ganguly’s selection fiasco wasn’t enough, the ‘wise men of Indian cricket’ have decided they want to remain in the news come what may. So this time, it’s the exclusion of the talented paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth that’s opened a whole new can of worms. Though the backlash over Sreesanth’s axing hasn’t been anywhere near as what happened when Sourav was shown the door – expectedly so, because Sreesanth is still a rising star and Keralites aren’t as cricket crazy as Kolkatans either – reactions from various sections of the Indian cricketing fraternity make it absolutely clear that the selectors have committed a major blunder.

Strangely enough, the shining Keralite has been included for the ongoing DLF Cup in Malaysia (the write-up was written when the series was still in progress) and then axed for the following Champions Trophy tournament to be held in India. How can a player be selected for one series and then be dropped for the next without performance in the previous series being taken into consideration? Further, he has not been part of the XI in both the matches held in Malaysia so far. Sreesanth has shown that he has a great fighting attitude, but nothing can be more disheartening for the youngster than to know that the selectors are playing around with his budding career.

This raises a big and very pertinent question – Is merit is the most important criterion for selection? Definitely not. Ask John Wright and the ex-Chairman of selectors, Kiran More, himself. These are two men when who have been closest to Indian cricket in the last half a decade and their take on Indian cricket gives one reason enough to believe that something’s rotten in the system. The discussion on the apathetic state of India’s cricket administration can go on endlessly. But it’s more important to bring up the issues of those who become the scapegoats of such unprofessional approaches, in this case Sreesanth.

According to one of the national selectors, Sreesanth’s elimination was purely on ‘cricketing reasons’ and that his exclusion did not merit a controversy. Sreesanth was left out because the team did not want more than four fast bowlers, added the selector. Fair enough, but on what basis do you drop one of the country’s premiere bowlers in the preceding series? (Ref – the Windies tour). His replacement R P Singh was picked because he performed exceptionally well for India ‘A’. R P is a good bowler in his own right, no doubt about that. In fact, R P Singh, VRV Singh, Munaf Patel and Sreesanth are the future of India’s pace attack. But, on current form and performance, Sreesanth deserves to supersede Singh in the national team.

After all, if R P has shone in ‘A’ grade cricket, Sreesanth has proved his ability on the international stage itself. His 10 wickets in the 3-match Test series against West Indies went a long way in helping India win the series. Not to forget, this was immediately after coming back from injury. And those who doubt his ability in the shorter version of the game, his 6/55 at Indore against England is proof of his genuine wicket-taking ability. Before Sreesanth, only three other Indian bowlers had taken a six-wicket haul in one-day cricket. What’s more, the Kerala speedster achieved this feat in his debut year in international cricket. If all these performances don’t count then, sorry to say, nothing will. And anyways, if R P Singh, was picked on the basis of his strong ‘A’ game performances, why is India’s one-time pace spearhead, Zaheer Khan, still languishing in the wilderness after a sensational stint in county cricket. The selectors will find it very hard to answer this question for sure.

Cricket is not always about numbers. After all, one bowler may trouble batsmen and his partner and the other end may end with better figures. It doesn’t make the performance of the former any less meritorious. What has instantly stood out during Sreesanth’s performance in his short stay with the Indian team is his ability to pose problems for the best of batsmen. Ask Brian Lara and, being an honest man, he wouldn’t hesitate to say yes. Also, his aggressive attitude is very refreshing and defines the changing face of Indian cricket.

Ironically, this is what the Indian selectors have held against him. At least the explanation given for his omission points to this factor. His economy rate of 5.71 may seem a bit too high but lets not forget that he’s played a mere 18 matches and is still learning the intricacies of one-day cricket. But even if economy is taken as a criterion, the others in the side aren’t miserly either. R P Singh himself conceded over 5 runs per over in one-day cricket and it’s not very different for the more experienced guys either. Irfan Pathan has an economy rate touching 5 while Agarkar is only slightly worse.

The bottom line is that with the inclusion of ‘Power Plays’ and other fielding innovations, life is getting more and more difficult for the bowlers with each passing season. In today day and age when 300 is being raked up as easily as a stroll in the park, it shouldn’t be considered a crime that bowlers are conceding over 5 runs a over. Times have indeed changed. Gone are the days when anything 4 runs per over was considered expensive. With everything against the bowlers in modern times, they need to be given some leeway. And the selectors must keep that in mind while picking a squad.

It’s all very well for coach Greg Chappell to say that Sreesanth would recover from this setback. But things don’t quite work out that way always. Especially when you have been eliminated unfairly. Amazingly, in Chappell’s own words, “Sreesanth is getting better every day in bowling, batting, fielding and even fitness.” Wonder if the selectors have made a note of that. Instead, they rewarded him by axing him. The decisions taken by the ‘so called’ selectors can have wide-ranging consequences – to the extent of making or break careers. But then is anybody bothered?

Sreesanth is still young and, with the never-say-die attitude that he has, should make a comeback into the side pretty soon. But one only hopes that his career doesn’t follow a parallel path to that of his numerous predecessors like Balaji, Zaheer, Nehra, Mohanty and his own statemate Tinu Yohannan among others. Because if that happens, Indian cricket would be the biggest loser and another name would be added to the never-ending list of India’s genuinely talented cricketers who couldn’t transform potential into performance. Period.

Sreesanth’s record so far

Tests – 5 matches, 19 wickets, Best Bowling - 4/70, Average - 29.78

ODIs- 18 matches, 24 wickets, Best Bowling- 6/55, Average- 36.20

Making waves: Monty Panesar

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Few English cricketers have generated as much hype and hoopla as Mudhsuden Singh Panesar – Monty as he is better known in cricketing circles – has done during his short stint in international cricket. The first Sikh to represent England, he has almost instantly become a national hero, having already taken 31 wickets in his 9 Test appearances inclusive of 2 five-wicket hauls. The feat has even earned him a nomination for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. But it is not his bowling alone that has propelled Monty into stardom. Ironically, it is more to do with his ultra-comic fielding ability and awkward batting methods. There are both cheers and jeers from the crowd when he fields or midfields. His batting looks ungainly but the 26 runs he scored of just 28 balls against a Sri Lanka and a rampant Muralitharan deserves a mention. The innings included a six against one of the all-time great off-spinners!

The beginning of the journey

Born in Bedfordshire, Monty Panesar later moved to Northamptonshire where, like all youngsters, he represented a number of youth sides before being eventually selected for England Under-19 team. He was part of the team for a couple of seasons and after some impressive performances, a first-class debut came knocking in 2001 at the age of 19. Monty made fully use of the opportunity and returned with magical figures of 12 wickets in the game for Northamptonshire against Leicestershire. Things did not go as per planned thereafter though and his appearances in 2001 and 2002 were restricted. He also meddled with studies at the Loughborough University during this period. But his 17 wickets meant he impressed people enough to gain a spot in the National Academy team in Australia. His talent was very much at display here as he ended up with 46 wickets in 2005.

Monty has never looked back since…

In an effort to improve his poor fielding abilities, he even attended the Darren Lehman Academy in Adelaide. But the biggest boost in Monty’s career came when his coach at Northamptonshire, former South African skipper Kepler Wessels, asked for him to be included in England's squad for their tour of India. And we all know what happened after that. Panesar made his debut at Nagpur and dismissed the great man Sachin Tendulkar to get his first Test victim. Add to that the wickets of Mohammad Kaif and Rahul Dravid, which undoubtedly made it a memorable first Test for Monty.

His career really took off from there and what followed was successful Test series win against Pakistan. He ended up with 8 scalps at Old Trafford on a pitch assisting the spinners. But his real Test came in Headingley where all the batsmen were plundering runs. But he nailed the key wickets of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan – all great players of spin- and in the process has established himself as the numero uno spinner for England ahead of the much-experienced but moderately talented Ashley Giles. The fact that he succeeded against India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – all great players of spin- makes his achievements all the more credible.

A genuine spinner of the ball

Unlike, his predecessor Ashley Giles, who was very good in his own right, Monty Panesar is a genuine spinner England found in quite a while. This is because he gives the ball a prominent rip resulting in a good number of revolutions. And if you can fox someone like Inzamam-Ul-Haq, then you must be very good at your art. Monty has already proved this in the little international cricket he has played.

An aggressive bowler, his attitude to outthink batsman is very refreshing for the art of spin in an era where most try to bore out the opposition via negative tactics bar a few greats who do no need to be named. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Panesar is a "spin bowler with a fast bowler's mentality" – an idiom earlier associated with Bill O'Reilly of Australia. And why not, after all he started of as a fast bowler before quickly realising that it wasn’t his cup of tea.
In an interview some time back, Monty revealed that he too is working on the doosra- the ball that goes the other way.

The Aussies are waiting

With yet another Ashes series nearing, the Aussies have started playing their mind games yet again. And not surprisingly, they are targeting the latest sensation in English cricket – Monty Panesar. Even the Aussies realise what a difference Monty makes to the side. With the likes of Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Matthew Hoggard in the fast bowling department, Panesar would not only lend that much needed variety to the attack but has also shown that he is competent to maintain the pressure built on the batsmen by the earlier bowlers. This is something which his predecessors like Ashley Giles didn’t quite manage to do on a consistent basis.

"We'll try to make some sort of impact on him early on, and we won't let him get on top”, said Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting, on how they would try and counter the threat likely to be posed by Panesar.

Monty’s no Jonty

Even as Monty Panesar was in the news all over and continues to be, came the decision of his exclusion from the Champions Trophy probables. We all know by now that Panesar is arguably the worst fielder in the England side and no team can afford to have an ODI side with players having poor fielding abilities. And, as discussed earlier, neither is his batting the greatest. These two factors were enough for the selectors to overlook his stupendous performance in Tests. And the decision seems a very fair one too. So even amidst all the accolades, here’s something for Monty to really work hard on if he desires to earn a place in the ODI squad too.

Whatever one may say about the man, the fact remains that Monty Panesar is the most popular star in the England team today. Such has been his influence on the fans and the media that even the Pietersen mania, which was at its peak till not too long ago, has taken a backseat. Monty magic has gripped the nation and how!

Jumbo juggernaut rolls on and on

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Even as I write this piece on Anil Kumble, the man is still making news. For a change, it is for a non-cricketing reason. If the series victory over the Windies wasn’t reason enough for him to celebrate, the news is just out that he’s become a father. Can things get better? A six-wicket haul in a historic overseas win (be it against a mediocre side) and the joy of fatherhood, these are merry times for the mild-mannered man. And so, as Kumble basks in the glory of what can be described as one of the best phases in his life, it is an appropriate time to look back at some of the cheerful moments he has given Indian cricket supporters over the years.

The list of great matches featuring Kumble is an unending one and expectedly so as he has been the tireless warrior of Indian cricket for over a decade and a half. But this compilation features some defining moments in the man’s career. So sit back and relive the Kumble magic.

Hero of the Hero Cup (November 27 1993)

The final of the Hero Cup in 1993 is one of the most memorable matches in the history of Indian one-day cricket. And the man responsible for making it one was Anil Kumble. India took on the West Indies in the final. The Caribbeans were still a formidable side in those days and so Kumble’s blaze of glory in that match is remembered till this day.

Batting first, India managed to post 225 on the board, a challenging target back then if not a match-winning on. Vinod Kambli, now the forgotten man of Indian cricket, was the star for India with the bat scoring 68. But there wasn’t too much support from the others apart from Jadeja who made 31.

But once Kumble was given the ball, the Windies fell apart completely and the total of 225 proved to be a massive one. Kumble single-handedly bowled India to victory with mesmerising figures of 6/12 – the best by an Indian in the shorter version of the game till date. West Indies were dismissed for 123 as India emerged victorious by 102 runs.

An excited crowd of close to 100,000 watched in amazement as Kumble went about his ‘Operation Destruction.’ Kumble picked up the last 6 wickets for a mere 4 runs. Of his six victims, 4 were bowled and one was out lbw, a perfect example of Kumble’s relentless line and length that has been his greatest strength throughout his long career.

The one-may army (7th February 1999)

Ferozshah Kotla was the venue where Kumble immortalized himself. Pakistan and India had resumed cricketing ties after a prolonged hiatus of a decade. And so emotions were running were high on either sides. India had squandered a great opportunity of clinching the first Test at Chennai after the tail failed to finish off the great effort put up Sachin Tendulkar. In a match that went down to the wire India lost by 12 runs. It is a loss that still haunts India just like the Barbados collapse that rankles the Indians every time they think of a Windies tour.

In a game that kept the intrigue level of spectators up for most part, Kumble turned it into a one-sided show once he was given the ball in the second essay. Chasing 400 plus, the Pakistanis were cruising at 120 with the opening pair look in no trouble when ‘Jumbo’ struck. Before the Pakis knew what had hit them; Anil Kumble had all but wrapped up the innings for India. The greatness of the spell lay in the fact that he got the dismissal through various means – some caught behind, others held by close in fielders and the remaining in front of the wicket either bowled or lbw.

Kumble ended the game with figures of 10/74 becoming only the second Test cricketer after Jim Laker of England to achieve the very rare feat of the ‘Perfect Ten’. Ironically, he went wicketless in his next Test but the Kumble magic returned pretty soon in the games to follow. In fact, he’s only matured with age and is looking more and more deadly with each passing year.

Overseas blues? Not any more (Headingley 2002)

The perfect example of his maturity has been his overseas performances post 2002 when India toured England. It was the coming of age of Kumble as an overseas bowler. And Headingley was the venue where it all changed for Kumble.

India’s bowling hero ended with match-figures of 7 for 159 as India cruised to an imposing win by innings and 46 runs. It was Kumble to paved the way for India’s victory on the final day sending back English skipper and centurion Nasser Hussain as also Alec Stewart and in the process diminished any hopes of an English victory.

India won the toss in the game and Ganguly took a brave decision to bat first on a track expected to do plenty on day one. Many felt the Indian captain had committed a huge blunder considering their batsman had always struggled against the moving ball. But Ganguly was in charge of a new Indian side that was a prepared to take the gamble and come up trumps. And that is exactly what they did.

The tourists lost Sehwag early provoking thoughts of yet another batting collapse. But makeshift opener Sanjay Bangar and the rock solid Dravid put up an exceptionally good batting display showing great technique on the opening day to put India into a position of strength. And India never looked back after then. Dravid’s ton was followed by centuries by Tendulkar and Ganguly as India posted an imposing 628 on board.

It was now the turn of the bowlers to make their mark. And they did not disappoint. Harbhajan and Kumble picked up three wickets each and despite a defiant 78 from veteran Alec Stewart, England could not avoid the follow on.

England put up a much improved show in the second innings and at 239/4 at the end of the penultimate day’s play, there were still in with a chance to escape with a draw.

Nasser Hussain reached a fighting century on the final day with an in form Stewart giving him company. India needed to break the partnership and Ganguly was relying on who else but the old hand of Anil Kumble. And for the umpteenth time in his career, Kumble delivered for India under pressure, this time away from home. He got rid of both the overnight batsman in quick succession and after that an Indian victory was a mere formality.

The Test sparked the beginning of a glorious phase in Indian cricket. Though the Indian batsman took away most of the credit for the win, it would not have been possible without the efforts of Kumble.

Anil Kumble was no longer a home match bully. The Headingley Test proved that if only the Indian batsmen could put up bigger scores on the board when playing overseas, Kumble could be deadly away from home too.

Pakis sent packing (Kolkata 2005)

After India’s successful tour of Pakistan, the latter reciprocated by visiting India in 2005. India dominated the first Test at Mohali but had to settle for a draw thanks to remarkable batting efforts by Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq on the final day.

And so both teams arrived in Kolkata with the scorecard 0-0 and India were desperate for a win having missed out on the opportunity in Mohali. This match must have been every statsman’s delight. Dravid scored a ton in each innings as India made 407 in both innings. Interestingly, even Sachin Tendulkar scored an identical 52 in each innings.

Replying to India’s impressive total of 407, Pakistan were in a commanding position at one stage with Younis Khan (no surprises!) and Yousuf Youhana toying with the Indian bowling, each ending up with impressive centuries. But once the two departed, the innings completely fell apart as Pakistan crumbled from 281/2 to 393 all out. Once again, it was Anil Kumble who got the big wicket for India sending back Younis Khan (147) after he had put together a master-class. Kumble added a couple more scalps to his kitty as the visitors frittered away a great advantage.

But it was in the second innings that Kumble came into his own. Kumble got rid of a dangerous looking Afridi late on the fourth day. The Pathan was in his elements right away rocketing to a run a ball 59 and it needed the guile of Kumble to put an end to the Afridi onslaught.
Anil continued his great work the following day removing India’s biggest tormentor Younis Khan with the first ball of the day thanks to a smart stumping by rookie ‘keeper Dinesh Karthik. Pakistan never recovered from the setback as Kumble picked up 6 more wickets on the final day to end with tremendous figures of 7 for 63 and overall match figures of 10-161. This was Pakistan’s first loss at the Eden Gardens and a moment to savour for Kumble and the Indian side as a whole. Sadly, India went on to lose the next Test played at Kumble’s home ground Bangalore. Having said that, the win at Eden will be remembered as a memorable one in the years to come.

Anil Radhakrishnan Kumble may be in the twilight of his career but as he himself admitted sometime back, it has been in the last couple of seasons that we have seen the best of him. The arrival of a baby may be a strong enough reason for Kumble to spend more time at home in the future. However, as long as he is fit willing to battle it out on the field, there will not be too much respite for the opposition batsmen when they face up to them.

Career

Tests – 110
Wickets- 533
Best Bowling (Innings)- 10/74
Best Bowling (Match)- 14/149
Average- 28.75
5 wickets in an innings- 33
10 wickets in a match- 8

ODIs- 264
Wickets-329
Best Bowling-6/12
Average-30-76
Economy Rate- 4.30
5 wickets in an innings-2

Munaf Bhai ‘fast bowler’!!!

Has it finally happened? India’s long lasting search for a tear away fast bowler may finally be over with the arrival of Munaf Patel. He may have played only two Tests but gave enough indications that he could be India’s answer to Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar.

The lanky paceman from Ikhar village in Bharuch, Gujarat had a sensational debut in Mohali claiming seven victims in the game. His ability to reverse the ball and more importantly maintain a precise line and length at the same time was a major reason for his success. The Englishmen found it impossible to keep out Patel’s toe crushing yorkers much like batsmen all round the world struggled against Waqar Younis at his peak. This is in no way to compare the two but just an indication of the impact the 23-year old had made on international cricket in his short burst.

There could have been more success for Patel at Mumbai but for some atrocious fielding by the Indians. After winning the toss and making the now infamous decision of electing to field first, Patel bowled his heart out only to see catches going down one after the other. Even during this period what stood out though was his great attitude and never say die spirit for which he was eventually rewarded with some wickets though he deserved a lot more.

In Sreesanth and Patel, India may have found a good opening bowling combination along with the left-armer Irfan Pathan for variety. Though both are still relatively inexperienced, they undoubtedly are the future of India’s fast bowling department- injury not withstanding.

Fast and Furious

What India lacked all this while is a bowler who could rattle the batsmen with his pace when the pitch is offering little or no resistance. In the absence of such a bowler, India have always struggled to bowl out the opposition in conditions that are not seamer friendly. And this is exactly what Munaf Patel offers to this Indian side. The whippy action and ability to reverse swing the ball late can come in more than handy. Add to it his competitive nature, which very clearly defines the new India – where no quarter is given or asked. The intelligent short-pitched stuff dished up to the England batsmen was a good indication of this.

Gone are the days when a certain Srinath hit Ponting on the helmet and went on to enquire about his well being only to he shooed away by the batsmen. The new, resurgent India has the likes of Patel and Sreesanth who will not take anything lying down. And then we are also blessed with a wicket-keeper batsman like Dhoni who can smile off the pain of a ferocious hit on the back of the helmet. Certainly Indian cricket’s coming of age.

Destined for success

While Munaf Patel always seemed destined to make it to the big league. The talent in Patel was evident ever since he burst onto the domestic arena. He was highly impressive in his first class debut game against the touring New Zealanders in 2003. He picked up three crucial wickets and everyone who watched him felt this is the man who could solve the issue of India being unable to pick up 20 wickets in a Test. And with every passing performance, it was being clear this is a man to watch out for. So much so that the great Sachin Tendulkar recommended he switch from his home state Gujarat to play Ranji trophy for Mumbai.

But then suddenly disaster struck. A dreaded injury, which is part and parcel of every fast bowler’s life, meant he had to disappear from the scene for a couple of seasons. And in no time, he became the forgotten man like many other prodigious talents before him. His performances after injury too did not make much of a case for his selection. Thankfully for Indian cricket, his fortunes started changing once again. Munaf Patel was back to his best. However there was yet another twist in the tale.

While Patel was away, India managed to discover VRV Singh, who currently is termed to be the fastest bowler in India ahead of Munaf himself. And it was clear whom the Indian selectors felt was a better choice for Indian cricket when VRV was the first choice for the Test series against England. But Munaf only needed one game to prove that he was all ready to don the Indian cap. And that game was the practice match between BPXI and England. Munaf’s swinging deliveries proved to be unplayable and his 10-wicket haul lead his side to a crushing victory over the visitors in the 3 day warm up tie.

Soon VRV was to be replaced by Patel for the Mohali Test, the former was dropped without being given an opportunity. But then Munaf Patel deserved his chance more than anyone else after his stupendous showing. VRV too would undoubtedly get his chances and knowing that he is waiting in the wings will always keep Patel on his toes. This healthy competition will only benefit the Indian team in the long run.

It is of utmost importance now that Munaf Patel doesn’t drop in pace along with years as has been the case with Irfan and Zaheer, owing to the rigorous amount of international cricket. This is all the more crucial because unlike Zaheer and Pathan, Munaf Patel is a genuine ‘fast bowler’ who pace is a couple of notches higher compared to the left armers. For this, he has to maintain his fitness levels and keep his cool to sustain himself at the international level.

Patel’s success can be a big fillip for the side, as his ability to bend his back and produce something special will definitely come in handy in conditions where the pitch offers nothing for pace bowlers. And he can undoubtedly be a great asset to the side on foreign pitches where the ball seams and moves around.

The Test for young Munaf Patel has only just begun and what shape his career takes from hereon might well define India’s success rate in the future games.

Makhaya Ntini: South Africa’s pace spearhead

Back in 1999, when Makhaya Ntini was accused of rape, his cricketing career seemed in shambles. But seven years down the line, he is undoubtedly South Africa’s pace spearhead – an exceptional achievement for someone who had to face such a brutal charge at such a tender age. The rape charge wasn’t the only trauma for Ntini. He also had to bear the taunts of being a consistent member of the team only because of his black origin in wake of the quota policy implemented by the South African cricket Board. But all these are things of the past. In the current scenario, Ntini - the first black cricketer to represent his country - is a certainty in a South African squad irrespective of his race. Shaun Pollock may be rated as South Africa’s best bowler even today, but the veteran himself wouldn’t have any hesitation in agreeing that the Proteas’ bowling attack would be insipid without Ntini.

The rise of Ntini to the glitterati of world cricket would make you believe that here was someone destined to play the game for his country. Ntini’s discovery was thanks to the cricket development programme of the UCB. Believe it or not, he was picked up from a cattle herd in a place in East Cape and was instantly recognised as a talent. As the story goes, Ntini was first noticed by Border cricket development officer Raymond Booi. Ntini was told to bowl by Booi and the youngster managed to impress him instantly. Soon he found himself in Dale College – considered among the better institutions for cricket in the country. And that’s how the Makhaya Ntini story began.

Ntini, who has had modelled his action on the legendary Malcolm Marshall, had a moderately successful start to his international career. The paceman got his first chance to wear the national colours when he made his one-day debut in Perth against the Kiwis in the 1997/98 season. He had a decent spell in the bowler friendly conditions and was rewarded with a Test debut against Sri Lanka. However his career was temporarily nipped in the bud in 1999 when charges of rape were leveled against him. It seemed another promising career would come to an abrupt end. But the youngster found back remarkably after being acquitted of the charges. He was expectedly out of the international squad for a short duration but once recalled he went all out to prove that his presence in the squad was more to do with his cricketing ability and less with the colour of his skin. This was evident in his performances, which were far more consistent as compared to his controversial first stint.

The turning point of his career coming in November 2000 against the Kiwis in Blomfontein. The match was supposed to be remembered for Allan Donald’s 300th Test victim but Ntini came up with a special effort to steal the limelight from Donald to some extent. His bowling performance of 6/66 was instrumental in his side’s victory. The effort was all the more praiseworthy as it was delivered on a batsman friendly track. This was also around the same time that Allan Donald’s great career was in its final stages. Though the experienced Pollock was very much around, his pace had dropped considerably and South Africa needed someone who could take over the mantle of the premier fast bowler from Donald. It was never going to be easy for anyone to fit into the boots of the great Allan Donald but Ntini has managed to do a more than commendable job. Though the ups and downs continued for Ntini in the series’ to follow, the Proteas knew they had found someone who would go on to serve the country for long.

There have been constant criticisms over Ntini’s bowling run up – the fact that he always bowls from wide of the stumps has not impressed many cricket pundits. But like all good cricketers, Ntini too has learnt about his failings and has worked on this aspect. The results are there for all to see. He may still not be bowling from very close to the crease but importantly, does enough to trouble the best of the batsmen world over. And he may not be in the super express mode ala Allan Donald or Brett Lee but his performances have been as good as the duo of late.

The ten-wicket match haul against the world champions in Johannesburg, though it came in losing cause, is something Ntini will cherish. He even spoilt Langer’s centenary Test celebrations with a severe knock on the helmet that sent him straight to the hospital. In the one-day series that preceded the Tests, he sent the Aussies packing to a humiliating defeat returning with exceptional figures of 6-22.

Ntini has to his credit the great achievement of becoming the first South African bowler to claim ten wickets in a Test at the home of cricket, Lords back in 2003. But better things were to follow. Against the ever-deteriorating Windies, he returned with sensational figures of 13 for 132 at Trinidad, the home of Brian Lara last year. The achievement is the best ever by a South African bowler. However, Ntini had only just begun. He reserved his best for the best team in the world.

Late last year when the Proteas were in Aussie land, Ntini grabbed yet another five-wicket haul in the drawn Perth Test. But injury marred his series to some extent. And so when the kangaroos came arrived in South Africa early this year, he made sure that most of them hopped to his tune. There was some amount of tension prior to the series with the racial taunts that the Africans received in Australia not going down well with them. In fact, Proteas wicket keeper Mark Boucher went public asking the crowds to give the Aussies a hard time. Unfortunately, it wasn’t good enough as the world champions managed to stamp their superiority on the opposition once again. But even in a losing cause, the bowling of Makhaya Ntini stood out.

Bowling at great pace coupled with superior accuracy and his ever admired fighting spirit, Ntini was the main cause of concern for the Aussie batsman by a big distance. His 19 wickets in the 3 Test series included the earlier mentioned 10-wicket haul at Johannesburg – 6/100 and 4/78. Ntini did not deserve to end up on the losing side after such a brave showing but his teammates were just not good enough to match his skills which meant South Africa’s dream of beating the Aussies in the longer version continues to remain an elusive one.

But there was just reward for Ntini 20 in the series to follow against New Zealand. He earned 20 scalps and deservedly named the Man-of-the-Series – this included another 10-wicket match haul in the first Test at Centurion, which turned out to be his second consecutive one after his match figures at Johannesburg. However, the big difference here was that the Centurion effort came in a winning cause – which is what matters the most at the end of the day.

As an appreciation for his efforts, Ntini was voted as the South African Cricketer of the Year for the second year running. And it was no surprise that he walked away the Test Cricketer of the Year award too. After being honoured for his hard work, Ntini had something very encouraging to say. “I have put in a lot of effort to reach where I am now and I would like the young people coming from my background to also feel encouraged that they could reach international levels in any sport if they try hard.”

With good pace and control over line and length that’s only improving with every game, Ntini will undeniably be one of the trump cards for South Africa in the West Indies when they embark on their quest to improve their pathetic World Cup record.

R P Singh: A promising future prospect

Until the arrival of Ashish Nehra on the scene, India did not have a great history of producing left-arm pacemen. Karsan Ghavri was probably the last of the lot who played with some distinction for India. But the latter was a versatile cricketer and ended up taking quite a few of his wickets bowling spin. Throughout the 90’s, India played with Srinath and Prasad as their main strike bowlers. However, things changed drastically towards the turn of the millennium. Nehra’s arrival was soon followed by Zaheer Khan and later on Irfan Pathan, both of whom have spearheaded the Indian attack on a number of occasions. Rudra Pratap Singh, a 20-year old wiry left-armer from UP is the latest to emerge from the crop. And like Zaheer and Pathan, he too has had a very good start to his international career. Only a couple of Tests and a handful of one-day internationals old, Singh has already made a big impression.

The youngest member of India’s Test squad that toured Pakistan, R P Singh has been spoken of highly by a lot of the seniors including Ganguly, Dravid and Sehwag apart from coach Chappell. And they have every reason to believe that Singh can be a great asset to the team in the times to come. In fact, he’s already proving to be a watch-winner. A man-of-the-match winning bowling performance at Rajkot against Sri Lanka (4-35) on good batting strip was a good indicator of what this lad is capable of. In an era where swing bowling has taken the backseat what with batsmen friendly pitches (Lahore & Faisalabad) being prepared all over, the emergence of Singh and Pathan augurs well for the future of Indian cricket. Having said that, the latter has struggled in conditions when the ball refuses to move around. And hence the danger that R P too could tread a similar path is quite an imminent possibility.

But R P’s major strength that has come to the fore during his short stint on the international scene has been his consistency in line and length. He relies to a big extent on doing the basics right and letting the batsmen take all the risks. Definitely the right approach but his resolve will be tested when the batsmen start attacking him. Speed isn’t his forte and hence he has to rely on his consistency and variety in bowling. So far, things seem to be going the right way but the extent of his success will be defined by how quickly he adapts to the different challenges thrown at him by the batsmen and the varied nature of surfaces all over the world.

How it all began

R P Singh, like many of the recent entrants to international cricket, came into prominence after a stirring performance during his U-19 World Cup campaign. In fact, he was one of the main strike bowlers for the side in the tournament held in Dhaka in the February of 2004. Earlier, he also partnered Irfan Pathan in the preceding U-19 Asia Cup tournament. Pathan eventually went on to become the biggest success story of international cricket in the 2004 season.

While the seeds for RP’s success were laid during the U-19 World Cup tournament in which he picked up 8 wickets at a measly average of 25, Singh continued in good vein in the domestic season too. He was instrumental in helping UP win the league phase of the Ranji one-day tournament with 34 wickets in his kitty. Playing in only his fifth domestic game, Rudra Pratap took 5 for 58 and 5 for 33 against Assam at Kanpur. His swinging capabilities were very much on show during this period. That apart, this lad from Rae Bareilly, R P even had his chance to hone his skills at the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai and a six-week stint at Australia's renowned Centre of Excellence at Brisbane, as part of the annual Border-Gavaskar scholarship.
But it was his performances in Ranji cricket that were just too impressive to be ignored by the selectors for long and he finally got the nod for the one-day series in Zimbabwe last year. Harare was the venue for Singh’s first brush with international cricket. And it proved to be a rather fruitful one. Given the new ball, Rudra Pratap Singh took two wickets in his second over itself. But India already had a fixed bowling line-up and so he did not feature prominently in the series. But in the one chance he got, he gave enough indications that here is yet another left-armer ready to make a mark.

He got another well-deserved break in the series against Sri Lanka, in which the Indians trounced the Sri Lankans 6-1. The Rajkot performance mentioned earlier in the write-up came about in this very series.

A part of the UP-rising

R P Singh comes from a state not renowned for its cricketing prowess. But Singh along with the likes of Kaif and Raina have had a huge hand in the emergence of UP as a strong force in domestic cricket. (Piyush Chawla is another who seems destined to make it to the big league sooner rather than later.) And so it is no surprise that all three were part of India’s one-day squad in Pakistan. The last two mentioned were part of UP’s historic triumph in the Ranji trophy final this year as R P Singh impressed one and all with his exceptional performance on a bowlers’ graveyard in Faisalabad. Don’t forget it was his Test debut and on a pitch where every bowler was tearing his hear out, Singh’s figures of 4-89 were as good as it could get. A Man-of-the-Match award was a just reward. The moment was all the more special as Singh took his first stride in Test cricket on the same ground where India’s all time great fast bowler, Kapil Dev Nikhunj also launched his career.

The one-day series that followed was even more fruitful for the talented left-armer. He picked up three scalps in the Lahore ODI while considering a reasonably acceptable 51 runs. There was further improvement in the figures at Multan with yet another match-winning performance of 4-40.

The emergence of Rudra Pratap Singh will put the selectors in a big dilemma. India already have two potent left-arm pacemen in Pathan and Zaheer Khan, both with greater experience to boot. But RP’s showing at the international level during his short career so far is a bit too impressive to be ignored. What he also possesses is swing the ball both ways along with greater control owing to a nice, steady action. While Pathan too is capable of making the ball talk, his consistency in line and length has been found wanting especially when the ball doesn’t move around. This is something that might swing things in Singh’s favour in batsmen friendly conditions.

A final word of praise

As mentioned earlier, Singh comes from a state not known for its cricketing prowess at least till Kaif came onto the scene and so R P deserves all the accolades he’s getting. After all, the journey from Rai Bareilly- where you shouldn’t be hoping for any coaching facilities- to Harare must not have been a very easy one for the lad. He, in fact, had to shift to Lucknow to get access to proper training facilities.

A glance at RP and one wouldn’t get an impression of an immensely talented cricketer waiting to rock the cricket world. Being only a medium pacer, he is definitely not going to create any ripples on the international circuit. But this unassuming lad from the land of PMs has definitely done enough for him to be earmarked as a definite future prospect.

Slam bang!!!

It takes all kinds to make up this great game. The connoisseurs might root for the Rahul Dravids and Michael Vaughans who’ve kept the traditional virtues of technique and ‘correct’ cricket alive. They certainly do hold a crucial place in the sport. But in today’s day and age of fact paced cricket, imagine how boring this game would have been if there were no batsmen willing to take on the furious pace of Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar. It is indeed a treat to watch bowlers running in at 90 miles an hour. But them being hit out of the stands by the men with willow in hand is certainly a terrific sight for the cricket loving public. Yes, these are the ones unfearful of whose bowling at the other end and ready to take on any challenge by the scruff of the neck. Welcome to the age of slam bang cricket!

So who’s the most feared batsman among the current lot of willow wielders? The Wisden Cricketer magazine conducted a poll recently to find out the answer. The respondents were none other that 20 of the leading international bowlers like Harbhajan Singh, Brett Lee and Muttiah Muralitharan to name a few. Who better than these bowlers who’ve faced the wrath of those giant hitters? And there were no surprises in store. Here are the Top 10 most dreaded batsmen in the world according to the poll.

1. Adam Gilchrist, 2. Brian Lara, 3. Shahid Afridi, 4. Virender Sehwag, 5. Andrew Flintoff, 6. Sachin Tendulkar, 7. Chris Cairns, 8. Matthew Hayden, 9. Abdul Razzaq, 10. Ricky Ponting.
Now what is it that makes these top ten such a force to reckon with? Let’s start in the reverse order.

10. ‘Batting Powerhouse’ Ricky Ponting: Ever since Ricky Ponting made his debut in the mid 90’s, it wad believed he would go on to become Australia’s prolific run getter in the years to come. So it is no surprise to see the heights he has achieved today. The chief weapon in Ponting’s armoury is his pull shot. Among the best players of short bowling, Ponting’s great eye helps him to rock back and dispatch the ball over the boundary even if his initial movement is on the front foot. His lunging forward may have got him into trouble a few times, especially on the subcontinent, but then that is also one of his major strengths and something very unique. The wristy flicks by Ponting on the leg side might not look as elegant as VVS Laxman’s but it is certainly no less effective. Punter, as he is better known to teammates, had his share of troubles too when he was suspended for being involved in a pub brawl in Calcutta during Australia’s tour of India in ’98. But unlike teammate Warne, he mended his ways and today is among the best batsmen in the world, if not the best. Right now, he is at the zenith of his career and it is for precisely this reason that he finds a mention among the most lethal batsman of the modern era.

9. ‘Gentle Giant’ Abdul Razzaq: This Pakistani all-rounder can be best described as a ‘slog overs specialist’. Many a times his blitzkriegs at the end of Pakistan’s innings have been the difference between victory and defeat for his side. Looking at Razzaq’s crouched stance, one doesn’t get the impression of a good batsman. But leave aside the aesthetic part of his batting, and he is undoubtedly one of the hardest hitter of a cricket ball. Razzaq belongs to the category of stand and deliver batsman and if the bowlers fail to get it right in the final overs, they are taken to the cleaners by this Pakistani genius. The one weakness in Razzaq’s batting is his susceptibility when he is new at the crease. But once set, it’s a herculean task to stop the flow of runs from his willow. Capable of making a mockery of any attack in the world, what’s amazing about this big hitter is he stared is career at No.11- just like our own Kapil Dev. The turning point in Razzaq’s batting came when he was promoted to No.3 in the batting order during the ’99 World Cup in England. The rest, as they say, is history.

8. ‘Monster’ Matthew Hayden: How many batsmen are willing to go down the track to fast bowlers and hit them out of the ground? Well, Matthew Hayden certainly is. And that’s why he figures prominently among the batsmen opening bowlers hate to bowl to. Hayden’s monster like built gives him huge advantage as a batsman. But to his credit, he has made full use of it at least post the 2001 tour to India when he resurrected his career with some sensational knocks. Hayden’s biggest strength is that he can play almost any shot in the book. There was a time when he was miserable against spinners. But this extremely hardworking cricketer got over his woes and ‘swept’ his way to glory in the series against India four years ago. While all other batsmen struggled against Harbhajan, Hayden stood firm like a rock and had no trouble at all against the deadly spinner on India’s dust bowls. When in a murderous mood, he can destroy bowlers put prefers to remain a bit more subdued these days playing perfect foil to opening partner Adam Gilchrist

7. ‘Genetic Power’ Chris Cairns: The adage ‘Like Father Like Son’ sits perfectly on Chris Cairns. If Lance had the ability to knock the cover off the ball, Chris has only enhanced the big hitting reputation of the Cairns family. Though equally adept at playing fast bowling, watching Cairns come down the wicket and dispatch the spinners out of the ground is certainly a sight to behold. The strongly built lad has played quite a few memorable knocks, some on really big occasions. His crucial 60 in the early stages of the ’99 World Cup against Australia when he handled Shane Warne with effervescent ease was certainly one of them. So also was his century against India in the Champions Trophy final the following year. The innings was all the more special because Cairns played with an injured knee after he was declared fit just an hour before the final in Nairobi. Apart from this, he also holds the enviable record for having hit the maximum number of sixes in the longer version of the game. His career has been marred by injuries throughout. (Geoffrey Boycott once referred to him as the best ‘non-playing’ all-rounder). But despite it, Cairns has done enough to justify his place among the leading all-rounders in world cricket.

6. ‘Little Master’ Sachin Tendulkar: No matter how many comments are made about Sachin having past his best, the fact that he’s been placed in this category is proof enough that bowlers still take pride in having his wicket against their name. Once compared to Don Bradman by the man himself, Sachin has dominated world cricket for over a decade like very few have. Be it his signature straight drive down the ground or his bludgeoning cuts and pulls, this Little Master has always been a crowd puller. Though not as aggressive as in his youthful days, Sachin keeps showing glimpses of old time and again. Remember his whirlwind 98 against Pakistan in the last edition of the World Cup. The arch rivals had put up a mammoth total but Sachin made a mockery of it by his merciless counter attack on Shoaib Akhtar as India registered their fourth consecutive World Cup game against its neigbouring nation. As long as he plays, Sachin Tendulkar will always be a prize scalp for the opposition. To sum up Sachin immense contribution to the popularity of the game, one can quote Ravi Shastri who said, “Sachin Tendulkar has been sent down on earth just to play cricket and go back.”

5. ‘Brute Force’ Andrew Flintoff: A few seasons back, Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff would certainly have not featured in this list. He was talented no doubt, but his impetuosity got the better of him time and again. Comparisons were drawn with Ian Botham when he arrived on the scene and that certainly didn’t help matters for the burly all-rounder. And when despite being ample opportunities he couldn’t deliver, he had to face the axe. But that was in the past. The new, improved Andrew Flintoff of today can be a thorn in the flesh of any opposition. What has changed is his attitude towards batting. The ball still flies of his bat quite a distance, but his selection of strokes has improved vastly. Having learnt the virtues of patience and discipline, Flintoff is today rated as a world-class cricketer which given his talent is a tag he is truly worthy of. It’s no coincidence that England’s successful run in international cricket has come along with the reincarnation of Flintoff. His masculine power has endeared him to English fans in a big way, especially of late. And if he continues in the same vein, God save bowlers all over the world.

4. ‘Swashbuckler’ Virender Sehwag: Isn’t this the same guy who was termed a Tendulkar clone during his early days in international cricket? How things have changed over the years. Today there are youngsters all over the country trying to ape his style of batsmanship. In his own words, Sehwag has a simple philosophy towards batting- if the ball is there to be hit, I hit. Yes that Virender Sehwag for you, uncomplicated and unfearful. Don’t talk technique to him. He has developed a style of his own. And as long as he continues scoring heavily, who is bothered about such nitty-gritties. One amazing quality about Sehwag is his tendency to reach milestones with a great flourish. Wonder how many would have dared to go down the track and hit a spinner for six to reach 300? Well, Sehwag certainly did that at Multan. And that’s why the Nawab of Najafgarh is so special. He truly a one of a kind cricketer and would have ruined a lot of bowlers careers by the time he finished (ask Saqlain Mushtaq). In the process, there might be some rash strokes and horrendous looking dismissals. But for the immense pleasure his batting gives cricket lovers, it’s a very small price to pay.

3. ‘Reckless Destroyer’ Shahid Afridi : If ever you wanted to use the term unpredictable for anyone, there can be no better example than Shahid Afridi. Even God cannot foresee what Afridi will dish out when he comes in to bat. The strongly built Pathan seems to have been around forever but has never been able to secure his place in the team despite his immense potential. When on fire though, there is no ground too big for him and no better site in world cricket than watching him have a ball at the expense of the opposition bowlers. No matter who’s got the ball in hand, if it’s Afridi’s day out there’s no stopping him. Of late, he also seems to have become a bit more consistent playing some extraordinary knocks during Pakistan’s recent visit to India and Australia prior to that. So cricket experts might feel that the reckless boy has finally matured. But somehow one feels with Afridi the unpredictability factor will always exist. And that’s what he will be remembered for years down the line when the mention of exceptional cricketers are made. Yes, exceptional he is and world cricket would be poorer without such eccentric characters around.

2. ‘Irrepressible’ Brian Lara: Not many batsmen are at their peak at the age of 35. But the way Brian Charles Lara has been batting of late, it seems it is indeed his golden period after the one he had in ’94 when he broke the world record for highest Test and first class score. The sad part is that so many of his greats knocks have gone unrewarded. But no matter how pathetic the state of Windies cricket is, Lara has always provided the Caribbean fans with a glimmer of hope with his exceptional brilliance. His knocks are only what can be termed as Lara specials. The shuffle before the flourishing drives has always been Lara’s trademark. Many believed it could land him in the wrong foot position to play the ball. But that hardly ever has been the case. He’s played in his own inimitable style and has given headaches to most opposition bowlers. And this is something only geniuses are capable of. At times, he may have been termed an enigma and rightly so for not delivering the goods consistently. But nobody can refute the claim that Brian is undoubtedly one of the greatest to have graced the game and his batting exploits will always remain part of cricketing folklore.

And whoa the numero uno spot goes to…

1. Adam ‘Dasher’ Gilchrist: Some years back, Gilchrist tried his hand at golf and onlookers say he struggled to hit the ball even a decent distance. But replace the golf stick with the cricket bat and it is an altogether different proposition. One of the few wicket-keepers who can claim their spot in the side on the basis of batting ability alone, Gilchrist has given a new definition to the term all-rounder. Don’t forget that he had to slip into the shoes of the legendary Ian Healy. But in no time, Healy was forgotten and everyone was raving about this guy named Gilchrist. The success of this dashing left-hander can be attributed to his positive attitude towards the game. There’s never a dull moment when Gilchrist is at the crease. He scores big ones with amazing consistency considering the amount of risks he takes. Like Sehwag, he too doesn’t posses the perfect technique but is gifted with a great eye and can play a shot to almost every delivery. You bowl length and he’ll drive you, bowl short and the ball will disappear into the stands. With Gilchrist at the crease no target seems impossible. " I don't want to bowl to him, man" is what Pakistan seamer Azhar Mahmood felt about facing the dazzling strokemaker from Down Under. Need we say anything more?

The bad news for bowlers all round the world is that with Twenty20 cricket making such waves on the international circuit, it will only provide a platform for these master blasters to wield their heavy bats even more ruthlessly. Didn’t we say cricket is a batsman’s game?

Not quite… ‘The Wall’ behind the stumps

When Rahul Sharad Dravid made his Test debut at the hallowed Lords turf almost a decade ago, little did he know that years down the line his wicketkeeping skills too would be critically analyzed, highly unfair for someone nothing more than a makeshift gloveman. But then a special issue on Rahul Dravid would be incomplete without a mention of his works behind the stumps.

Dravid’s fling with keeping began very early in his junior cricket days. He used to don the gloves in those days until a sudden spurt in height deemed him incompatible for the role and he was asked to concentrate totally on his batting. It’s a fact that wicketkeepers of short stature have tasted most success in international cricket as the job demands quicksilver reflexes. Right from Ian Healy and Dave Richardson to Mark Boucher and Tatenda Taibu, keepers have traditionally been ‘ dynamites in small packages’. Of course there are always exceptions to the rule. The names of Adam Gilchrist and Andy Flower instantly spring to mind when the thought of tall glovemen come to mind. But look around and you’ll find most keeper species of the former type.

Even after making the transition to Ranji Trophy in the early 90’s, the presence of Avinash Vaidya as the specialist keeper meant that Rahul did not have to worry about keeping wickets. But, for India, Dravid’s little flirt with the bigger gloves during his early days as a cricketer came in very handy at a later stage in his career.

So where did the whole idea of Rahul Dravid’s dual role as a wicketkeeping all rounder originate from? There were speculations that since he couldn’t hold his position in the one-day side on the basis of his slow batting, he took up the additional burden. But that’s far from true. India’s genuine wicketkeeper for most of the 90’s Nayan Mongia did a great job for the team behind the wickets. But with ‘Jumbo’ (Kumble’s nickname given to him by Navjot Sidhu) getting him injured time and again, it was Dravid who had to assume the responsibility, as he was the only one with some prior experience. Incidentally Sanjay Manjrekar, very much a player in the Dravid mould, too had some decent keeping skills. But, unfortunately, his batting failures meant he was not a part of the team any longer in the late 90’s. And what began as a stopgap arrangement, soon became a full time assignment for the Bangloreian with the likes of Ajit Agarkar and Sunil Joshi unable to live up to their all-round promise.

Dravid’s stint behind the stumps cannot be described as something extraordinary. But then, it was never expected of him too. The thought process behind Dravid taking up the gloveman’s job was based on the theory that in the shorter format of the game, not too many deliveries go behind the stumps and hence India could afford to play a seventh batsman at the expense of a genuine wicketkeeper. But Ganguly’s claim that the extra batsman policy has been very fruitful for India sounds very much like a mirage.

Turn the clock backwards and recount how many matches have India won with the seventh batsman making a vital contribution? Without doubt the 2002 Natwest final, when Yuvraj and Kaif scripted one of the greatest ODI victories, comes to mind. But one swallow doesn’t make a summer. Kaif did go on to score his maiden ton (and only one till date) in one dayers later that year against Zimbabwe in the Champions Trophy after Douglas Hondo had destroyed the top order. That’s about it. To be fair to Kaif, batting at no.7 one doesn’t get too many opportunities to score big runs. However, with the Indian top order tottering for the whole of last season, he got ample of opportunities to prove his worth, only managing to fritter them away. Now with Kaif moving up the order, things seem to be improving- if only just. And the sword might be placed on Yuvraj’s throat who’s not done any better. Both Kaif and Yuvraj’s fielding might be a big plus point and they might be extremely talented with the bat too. But how long can one survive on talent? If that was the case, Vinod Kambli would never ever have been dropped.

The same applies to Dinesh Mongia who was played as the additional batsman in the 2003 World Cup ahead of Laxman for his supposedly superior fielding and bowling abilities. But what happened to the idea is no secret. After coming a cropper in all the games, Mongia has not managed to retain his spot in the team despite some excellent county outings.

While the motive behind Dravid taking up the gloves was not entirely fulfilled, he did have his moments behind the stumps. A league game in the Coca Cola Cup in Sharjah (the venue for some of One day cricket’s most unforgettable games before allegations of betting and match-fixing made the Indian government refuse permission to allow the team to play there and subsequently matches there have become non-existent in the last two years) in 99 comes to mind. Like on many other occasions, Mongia was once again felled by a Kumble delivery. Dravid took up the gloves and made a significant contribution behind the stumps. First, he stumped a well set Graeme Hick of state mate Sunil Joshi at a very crucial juncture. Then, in the dying moments of the game, he managed to hold on to an edge from Neil Fairbrother of stand in skipper Ajay Jadeja. This was the same match in which Jadeja ended up with magical figures of 1-0-3-3 as India pulled off an impressive victory with help from Dravid as makeshift keeper.

On the flipside, he has dropped a quite a few chances considered simple for a regular keeper. His hesitant stance behind the stumps won’t give much confidence to bowlers running in. Even his gathering of throws doesn’t seem very comfortable. But to his credit, Dravid has worked extremely hard as a keeper and no one can complain about his stint behind the stumps. After all it was something forced on him. And even while not being effective, one cannot recall any such instance that cost India dearly. Certainly nothing as grave as Gibbs dropping the World Cup courtesy of giving a reprieve to Steve Waugh in ‘ 99 or, looking at things from wicketkeeping point of view, Boucher letting off Stephen Fleming in the early stages of the 2003 edition. Both batsmen (skippers of their respective sides) went on to construct glorious centuries to lead their teams to victory.

Dravid’s extended spell as a keeper could be attributed to the fact that he scored four impressive tons (145 Vs SL at Taunton ’99, 109* Vs WI at Amhedabad 2002, 104 Vs UAE at Dambulla 2004, 103* Vs WI at Singapore ’99) and a 99 at Karachi as a keeper batsman. But as time passed by, the burdensome task of keeping began affecting his batting. Knowingly or unknowingly, he even started playing lofted shots without getting his eye in- something totally uncharacteristic of the man. Soon the runs too began drying up, and it was clear the time had come to relieve Dravid. He had enough of it. But not before the height of insanity was achieved when there were reports floating all over that Dravid might have to assume the role in the longer version too. Thankfully wisdom prevailed and Parthiv Patel (many felt Dravid could have done a much better job!!!) and later Dinesh Karthick assumed the responsibility. And with Mahendra Singh Dhoni making respectable strides in the one-day format, Dravid’s days as a keeper should finally be over unless some unforeseeable circumstances emerge.

Even if it did not produce the desired results, the experiment of Dravid as a keeping all-rounder was a novel one doubt. The Pakistanis were so awestruck by the idea that they decided to try out Younis Khan before Kamran Akmal’s performance overshadowed all those thoughts. As for India, with a new captain-coach combo in Dravid and Chappell, it’s time to move on from the makeshift wicketkeeper fixation as also the seven-batsman theory assuming Dhoni lives up to the early promise he has showed both with bat and gloves.

Rahul Dravid is one of the greatest batsman of the modern era and deserves to be remembered only and only that way.

India should groom Kaif as the No.3

At the time of writing this piece, India are engrossed in a battle for supremacy with the South Africans (who have come here at the back of an amazing, unbeaten 19 match streak) in a five match one-day series. And by the time the December issue of Cricket Today is out we will very know the fate of the series. Whatever the result, one thing is for sure, India’s performance in the preceding series against the Lankans will be always remembered with pride both the Indian cricketers and the fans on the whole.

A very striking aspect in the triumph over Sri Lanka was the number of experimentations undertaken, most of which did produce desired results. A constant change was seen in the No.3 position with Dhoni, Pathan, Yuvvraj, Kaif, Yadav and the captain Dravid performing the duties. However, while it is good to know the members of the team are open to adaptability, India have to be very careful not to overdo this and tinker around with the side too much, especially not with something as vital a slot as NO.3. This might sound paradoxical, as India have attained great success using this tactic so far. But even as the short-term results are good, continuation with testing different players for the one down spot could prove calamitous in the long run. After all, if flexibility is a crucial factor, equally important, or perhaps even more essential, is stability.

Dravid did mention after the Lankan series that the team requires players who are willing to enjoy every challenge thrown to them and not ones who get bogged down by it. While it’s exactly the way things should be, it’s always easier said than done. If a player is not aware as to where he is supposed to bat in the next game, there might be a case for him not being mentally prepared for the situation. This again doesn’t mean that the team should shun out all the modifications. They should be used but only sparingly as a surprise packet. As the issue of discussion here is the No.3 spot, it would be apt to say that the Dhonis and Pathans should be tried out but only in extreme situations, say when India are chasing a massive 300 plus or if the regulars are suffering from injury woes. That brings us to the big question- who should occupy the permanent No.3 spot? Rahul Dravid held possession of the vital number in the batting order for most part of his career. But post the arrival of Sehwag, Ganguly dropped himself one spot down the order and later even Laxman held fort a while. So now with both running out of favour in the shorter version of the game, should we revert back to Dravid? Well, not quite.

Since the days Dravid vacated his No.3 spot, circumstances have changed and in a big way. He’s off the burden of donning the ‘keeper’s gloves, thanks to M S Dhoni. Also Dravid is no longer a slow scorer in one dayers, a crucial factor that led to his axing in the late 90’s. Having developed the ability to play the big, airy shots and the odd cheeky strokes as well today Dravid is as dangerous as any one-day batsman- a tribute to the hard work put in by the man whom many had dubbed as Sanjay Manjrekar-II. As a result, he can be a great asset in the slog overs these days (His 50 of 22 balls against New Zealand in 2003 at Hyderabad is ample proof of his newly gained hard hitting ability). Another reason why, Dravid’s presence in the middle order is crucial is due to the lack of inexperience in lower order. While the likes of Dhoni, Pathan and Raina have been successful, an assured, guiding hand like Dravid will certainly do them no harm.

With Dravid out of the running, it leaves us with two major choices- Kaif & Yuvraj. The two great buddies seem inseparable from each other. After all, Yuvraj won the Man of the Series in the Under-19 World Cup under the captaincy of who else but Mhd. Kaif. Then, at the international level, their Lords partnership will, without an iota of doubt, be rated among the best ever. If that’s not all, both are unofficially competing for the throne of India’s best fielder. And so there should be no surprise that both are in the reckoning for the No.3 spot.

Last issue we discussed about who would be the better choice for the Test squad with Kaif getting the thumbs up. And this time too, the lad from UP has his nose in front for reasons which shouldn’t be unobvious. Kaif has been tried out at the No.3 spot before against Pakistan and had reasonably fruitful outings. Having said that, it’s not going to be easy for him by any means to step into the Dravid’s giant shoes’. There are definitely a few aspects of his game that he has to work on. His technique is reasonably sound and competent. Too often, though, he gets trapped on the backfoot by the incoming deliveries while his flirtatious tendency to poke at widish deliveries has also got him into trouble. Another highly essential weapon missing from his armoury is the ability to produce the big strokes. With scores in one-day cricket constantly touching the 320-330 mark, it has almost become a prerequisite for all batsmen to know how to clear the field. Kaif only has to look as far as his skipper to gain confidence that he too can develop his skills in this regard. Also, Kaif himself is known as one of the hardest workers in the Indian team and a highly committed one at that. He’s got all the basics to be a good No.3 batsman and all that is needed is some good fine-tuning. So it is essential for the Indian team management to groom him properly.

If Kaif indeed occupies the No.3 position, the responsibility on his shoulders will be tremendous, as he will have to play the role of an anchor. There are some other issues too which make Kaif’s slot even more crucial. With Virender Sehwag as opener, you certainly aren’t sure what is going to transpire out in the middle. Also with age and injury, Tendulkar’s consistency levels have also dipped to a certain extent. It is pretty evident that his reflexes are slowing down. (The writer overheard some stalwarts of Indian cricket discussing this at a cricket meet some time back.) This is not to take anything away from the Little Maestro though. He began his international at the age of 16 when the other superstars of this era like Gilchrist and Lara were probably still busy with their studies. Sachin has spent half his life on the cricket field and it is but obvious that the rigours of international cricket have taken its toll on his body.

And looking at the middle order, Yuvraj Singh comes into the picture once again. Apart from Dravid, he’s the only experienced middle order batsman in the squad. But his consistency levels aren’t good enough as yet for him to be considered as a dependable bat. Yuvraj’s performance ratio is highly disappointing, with a big score coming from his willow only twice or thrice in ten games, which means every time his place in the team is in doubt, he comes up with a fruitful knock. Having followed the lanky left-hander’s career over the past five years, it is pretty clear that you cannot judge him on form. He is one of those freakish cricketers who, on his day, can demolish the best of attacks and on other days struggle to score even against part-timers. Considering his tremendous ability and talent plus fielding skills, it is very difficult to leave him out. But his inconsistency amplifies the need for a stabilizing influence like Dravid in the middle overs.

India have now entered a rebuilding phase with a new skipper-coach combo at the helm of affairs. The Indian team has seen many a low in the past season which led to constant chopping and changing. But the current squad comprising a blend of youth and experience is showing good promise. And if Kaif too can deliver consistent results at the pivotal No.3 spot, it will go a long way in helping India become a force in international cricket once again, something last seen in the 2002-03 season under Sourav Ganguly. And it is no co-incidence that Kaif was the one who began the scripting of that glorious phase in Indian cricket with his match winning 87 not out in the Natwest Final. Though he faded away later, his innings did give India a renewed confidence, which saw them holding the Australians to a 1-1 draw in the Test series in their home den and a few months later demolishing the Pakistanis in Pakistan.

Time for history to repeat itself? Well, let’s wait and watch.

Kaif deserves a Test spot ahead of Yuvraj

The previous issue of Cricket Today dealt with the significance of Yuvraj and Kaif to the one –day side; how both players have managed to keep their form going even when the rest of the more experienced members of the side have struggled miserably. And they rightfully are worthy of all the laurels being showered upon them.

However when it comes to selection for the Test team, things are a bit different. With the Indian middle order being so strong (at least on paper) there isn’t enough space for both to walk into the Test squad. And hence the big issue as to which of these youngsters should make it to the playing XI whenever the opportunity arises. After his showing in the last two one-day tournaments, it was almost taken for granted that the position left vacant courtesy Sachin’s tennis elbow would be occupied by the ever-improving Mhd. Kaif.

But that did not happen. Instead, a huge furore erupted and rightly so as Yuvraj Singh was included ahead of the in-form Mhd. Kaif in the Bulawayo Test. Of course what happened later totally overshadowed the whole controversy (the Chappell-Ganguly spat). But still, Kaif’s exclusion is a serious issue. Especially after considering his current performances in the Zimbabwe triangular series (277 runs from five innings). Even before that, he had some impressive scores in the series’ in the Sri Lanka triangular (180 runs from five innings) and the home series against Pakistan. In the longer version of the game too he showed he has the mettle to succeed against the best in the world by scoring two consecutive half-centuries against the Australians when they toured here last. If this is not consistency, then what is?

On the other hand, Yuvraj also has come on in leaps and bounds during this short season so far. But the fact remains that he is a flamboyant strokemaker and is more likely to get out to rash strokes, which we have often seen him doing in the past. India already have too many too many attacking batsmen in the Test team (Sehwag, Laxman and now Gambhir) and someone in the Dravid mould is needed to steady the innings. That someone has to be none other than Mhd.Kaif.

There are a few attributes that definitely give an edge to Kaif over Yuvraj when it comes to performing in the longer version of the game. His mental toughness has come to the fore on quite a few occasions. The one instance that instantly that springs to mind is when he came into bat against the world champs despite suffering from severe cramps. Kaif had registered his half-century before that and even though he could not add too much to his score considering his physical limitations at that point of time, it unraveled the fighting the nature of the man. He was eventually run out for 64 not being able to regain his ground after realizing that he had a runner.

Also Kaif has proved to be a good finisher. This was evident as far back as the 2002 Natwest final at Lords when the young duo of Yuvraj and Kaif stunned the cricketing world with their breathtaking partnership. It is not to take anything away from Yuvraj’s knock. But, harsh as it may seem on Yuvraj, the truth remains that his innings will be remembered all the more only because Kaif managed to stay on till the end and finish the game. Even though the two set up the game for India magnificently, Yuvraj left at a stage after which the match could have gone either ways. But Kaif showed his maturity in such a tense situation. It is at times like these that you judge the true worth of a player. Even his contribution of 35 in the tensest of games in the 2003 World Cup against Pakistan was worth its weight in gold.

For most of their one-day careers, both Yuvi and Kaif have been major disappointments. The talent was there for all to see, the results however weren’t. But of late, things have changed and both have shown an amount of maturity and looked more consistent than ever before. While Kaif’s performance has improved tremendously even since his promotion to the top of the order, Yuvraj too has scored 2 ODI centuries in a short span of time, be it against weak teams like West Indies and Zimbabwe. But considering Kaif’s current form and his above mentioned attributes, there should have been no reason for him to have been left out of the Test XI against Zimbabwe.

But Sourav Ganguly doesn’t believe so. "Both Yuvraj and Kaif are playing well but Yuvraj has a better Test record than Kaif at the moment," was how Sourav defended the decision to play Yuvraj at Bulawayo. Looking at the Test record of the two, you will find that both have played almost the same number of matches with Yuvraj indeed having a slightly better record (Kaif- 7 matches, average 24.50, highest 64) & (Yuvraj- 8 matches, average 33.89, highest 112). Having said that, it is too early to get statistically inclined. In fact, though stats can’t be untrue, they can often be misleading. In Kaif’s case, he played some of his Tests at the very beginning of his international career when he was way too raw. But of late, he’s blossomed into a full-fledged cricketer and his performance merits a Test berth. As such, Kaif should be the preferred choice over Yuvraj for the Test matches for the betterment of Indian cricket. That wasn’t the case in Bulawayo raising the million-dollar question- is consistent performance the only criteria of selection for India? And the answer is plain, simple NO.

Media has often been criticized for creating non-existing rifts between players in the past. But in the current scenario there cannot be any other explanation given other than politics and favouritism. What else can explain Yuvraj’s selection above Kaif when the right-hander has been the most consistent performer this season, outdoing even the regular contender for this post- Rahul Dravid? If Kaif is not given a chance despite such wonderful performances, it will definitely leave a big question in his mind as to what more he needs to do to attain a spot in the longer version, which he must definitely feel he deserves.

It is no secret that Ganguly does favour a few players in the Indian team whom he rates highly. Yuvraj, Harbhajan and Zaheer are definitely among the lot. And to be honest, Ganguly has proved that he has the knack of spotting fine talent. But on the other hand, there were a few players who never got the full backing of the skipper because he probably did not believe they were all that good. How many of you remember Sarandeep Singh who represented India in a few Tests at the start of the millennium? He played in a handful of Tests but even against a weak team like Zimbabwe, Ganguly did not give him a fair bowl. Then even the left-armers like Murali Karthik and Sunil Joshi were often ignored by the skipper probably because he did not rate that kind of species highly as he himself was exceptional against left armers during the peak of his career. Another glaring example is that of opener Akash Chopra who had done a reasonable job for India during the Australian tour and yet Ganguly came out with the statement that Yuvraj was being considered as opener for future Tests. Everybody knew the results of that misadventure in advance. And it wasn’t too different from what was expected; Yuvraj struggled as an opener and Chopra lost him form after being publicly disowned by his skipper.

Ganguly’s experiments have always been like a double-edged sword; they either work out magnificently or backfire horrendously. He did stretch his luck too far though at times. And at least in the case of Kaif some logical thinking ought to be applied.

Speaking of Ganguly, he himself doesn’t fit into the scheme of things for India anymore, at least not in the longer version of the game where he doesn’t merit a place anymore, more so after his struggle to crawl towards a century even against arguably the easiest attack in the world. Ganguly has done some great things for Indian cricket over the years but the time has come for Indian cricket to look in the forward direction. So it shouldn’t be too difficult for the selectors to shut the door on the Prince of Kolkatta and give Kaif his hard earned Test spot. As for Yuvraj, he too should get his chances but not ahead of Kaif despite that fact that he is more talented of the two. Kaif is worthy of the spot because he has done more than enough to earn it on the basis of pure merit.

In the present scenario, the best possible Test team is incomplete without Kaif’s inclusion and Indian will only benefit from this decision will shouldn’t be too difficult. Hope the Indian team management is listening.