Ganguly’s selection a fair decision

The BCCI selection committee’s decision to include Sourav Ganguly for the first two Tests against Australia has shocked many. But considering that fact that Ganguly has had only one bad series in Sri Lanka since making a successful comeback, the decision seems a fair one. After all, even Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman had a bad time in Sri Lanka and if they retained their spots there was no reason why Sourav shouldn’t have. But whether there has been a compromise formula signed between BCCI and Sourav or not, it is crystal clear that it is perform or perish time for the ex-Indian skipper now. And so must be the case with the other seniors too.


But as we all know Sourav’s has always been an extraordinary case. When he was dropped during the Greg Chappell era, not many had given him a chance of making a comeback. But when provided with an opportunity he grabbed it with both hands. It wasn’t that he had done exceptionally well in domestic cricket to earn a recall. But whatever the reason Indian cricket benefited from it. The way he batted on the tour of England was heartening. And when question marks were being raised about him not being fit enough to get the big scores, he came up with a double century at home against Pakistan. But all that was forgotten once Sourav’s troubled times in began in Sri Lanka.

And now that he has got a last chance to prove his worth, he will have to make the most of it. And he may just surprise us again. A look at Ganguly’s international career will justify this statement. With him it’s never been about form. He got a recall for his debut Test series in England out of the blue. He had done nothing much on the domestic circuit to earn the Test spot. But the selectors spotted something in him and though India lost the series they had discovered a gem in Sourav Ganguly.

Again on the 2003-04 trip to Australia, not many had given Ganguly a chance of succeeding on the bouncy pitches considering his weakness against short bowling. But it was he who set India on the right track with a captain’s knock at Brisbane. As mentioned earlier, the same happened when he was recalled to the side after being dropped on the basis of his poor performances some seasons back.

It has to be said that Ganguly was lucky to hold his spot in the side for a long period during his captaincy days. He was looking completely out of sorts and when he was axed at that time it was definitely for the good of Indian cricket. Another criticism that can be made of Sourav is that he gets complacent once he feels he has a settled place in the team. This was evident in the days when he was captain. There were times when it seemed he was taking batting as leisure and over time, it resulted in him losing his touch. Maybe it has something to do with his princely origins. And thus he needed a wake call which eventually worked wonders for him.

History maybe repeating itself again. Will Sourav’s exclusion from the Irani Trophy squad act as a tonic for him to get his act right again? We will know very soon.

Raina’s revival augurs well for Indian cricket

One of the major plusses for India from the recently concluded India-Sri Lanka series has been the form of young Suresh Raina and his adept handling of Ajantha Mendis. Coming into the ODIs, India were mentally scarred by the spinner but Raina in the company of captain M S Dhoni helped India get over it. His knocks of 53 and 76 in the 3rd and 4th ODI respectively were worth its weight in gold as India clinched their first bi-lateral series win in Sri Lanka. More importantly it was the confidence with much he tacked Mendis that was very refreshing. He was amongst the few Indians who were able to read Mendis.

Raina's revival began much before he set foot on Lankan soil. After being in and out of the side during the Greg Chappell era - who rated him very highly - Raina forced his way back into the side with some smashing performances in the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings and played a big hand in them making it to the finals. With three 50s and an aggregate of 421 runs, Raina was one of the stars of the series. It only helped that he had Indian skipper M S Dhoni leading that pack of cricketers too.

The talent of this 21-year-old was never in doubt. The matchwining 81 not out he scored against England in the 2006 ODI series against Sri Lanka is a case in point. It was again him and Dhoni who rescued India from a precarious 92/5 and take them home chasing 226 at Faridabad. But like many other youngsters before him, Raina too struggled to live up to the expectations and frittered away, managing just one half century in fifteen attempts. It did not help that Greg Chappell openly went about showering praises on his talent even when he was underperforming, throwing his wicket away after getting stars. He managed to cling on to his place for a while thanks to his exceptional fielding but it was only a matter of time before he was shown the door.

Thankfully for Raina, he had age on his side. He was recalled for the tri-series in Australia which India won handsomely and was also part of the triumphant T2O World Cup squad. But he had precious little to do in both the tournaments. He had to wait until the Asia Cup to prove his worth again and this time he grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

With two centuries and an 84, Raina was back in the reckoning. Though the tons came against relatively weaker sides like Bangladesh and Hong Kong, it was the manner in which Raina scored the runs that was impressive. Determination was writ large on his face as he went about his job of reviving his international career.

And then came this Lankan tour for which Raina seemed ready. After all he had scores to settle. It was here that he had made an unsuccessful debut three years back falling leg before to Murali first ball, looking completely at sea. But the tables had turned this time round. A confident and slightly more experienced Raina was now picking Murali and Mendis by reading them through their hands as he himself revealed.

This talented lad from Uttar Pradesh has a big role to play in the future Indian cricket and hence it was of utmost importance that he got his act right. With his electrifying fielding and part time off-spin he can offer a lot to India cricket that just being a good middle-order batsman.

Raina has begun his second innings on the right note. But he has to make sure that he does not falter this time round.

Hick: A talent that did not blossom

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When Graeme Hick retires at the end of this county season, it will bring an end to a glorious domestic career but an unfulfilled international one.

From being picked as a 17-year-old in the 1983 Zimbabwe World Cup squad till being axed from the international side in 2001, Hick’s story has been one of ups and downs – with the former being more dominant. Post that he has had to be content at Worcestershire plundering hapless bowlers.

But then the great talent has himself to blame more than anyone else. Given the potential he possessed, a Test average of just over 31 was disappointing say the least. It just goes to prove that you need a lot more than just natural talent to succeed at the international arena. In many ways, Hick was the Steve Waugh in reverse. On his day, batting seemed like a walk in the park but such days were few and far between and most of his dismissals left one wondering whether he was just too gifted and could not handle the pressure of the big stage.

And looking back at Hick’s career, the answer is probably yes. There were signs in the debut series itself. After being drafted into the team on the back of some exceptional county performances (including the unforgettable 405 not out), Hick seemed totally out of place in Test cricket at home against West Indies. And soon was out of the team. While it always known that he would make a comeback given his prodigious talent, sadly it continued to be a case of being in and out for Hick. It was sad state of affairs for English cricket because no one doubted his talent yet the runs were not there often enough to prove it. Of course, it did not help that he kept getting dropped a bit too frequently but then he cannot complain that he did not have his share of chances.

Hick kept giving the England selectors and fans hope of a revival with some impressive knocks like the 178 against India in India (his first Test century). He was an integral part of the 1992 World Cup team that made it to the finals and also began the ’99 edition held at home with a bang – cracking consecutive unbeaten half centuries in the opening two matches. But every time it was too good to last.
There was amazing pattern too most of Hick’s dismissal. Either he looked totally at sea like in his debut series against the West Indian fast bowlers or just seemed bored out in the middle. He did not do too much in the ’99 World Cup after the above mentioned knocks as England got knocked out in the first round.

Why Hick could not overcome his initial hiccups and transform his domestic form into international runs will always remain a mystery but with well over 60, 000 runs in all forms of the game, he was in many ways the Bradman of domestic cricket.