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Monday September 6, 12:14 PM
Ganguly made the right choicesBy Khalid A-H Ansari
In Sunday Mid Day yesterday, this column had called for radical measures as regards selection and strategy as a cure for the Indian team’s recent travails. KHALIDOSCOPE had advocated a two-pronged spin attack with the inclusion of Anil Kumble and suggested that Rahul Dravid be relieved of his wicket-keeping responsibilities by bringing in Dinesh Kaarthick. It had also stressed the imperative need for a positive mindset. I was, therefore, delighted at the selection of the team and to note that Captain Courageous Sourav Ganguly symbolised his intent to lead from the front by himself opening the innings along with VVS Laxman, in the process shielding the woefully out-of-form Virender Sehwag from the new ball. When Laxman was yorked by a vicious toe-cruncher from Steve Harmison it seemed the strategy had backfired. Soon thereafter, Mohammed Kaif was run out by Ganguly, confirming the captain’s galloping notoriety as a run-out disaster waiting to happen. Whereas the change in batting order made no difference to the fortunes of Sehwag, the hitherto out-of -form Rahul Dravid lent credence to the adage that form is temporary, class permanent. The modest Indian score of 204 was almost entirely the handiwork of the Indian captain and vice-captain who added 93 for the fourth wicket to lend a semblance of respectability to the Indian score. The recent lacklustre Indian batting was underscored by the fact that the last seven wickets fell for 63 balls in 82 balls. Steve Harmison’s best-ever haul of four for 22 was the result of scrupulous observance of the verities of line, length and change of pace, whereas Darren Gough, that old warhorse toiled manfully for his two wickets which made him the first English bowler (and the 19th ever) to cross the 200-wicket mark in one-day cricket. Although Ashish Nehra bowled a hostile first spell while claiming Marcus Trescothick and Vikram Solanki to put England on the back-foot, Irfan Pathan’s dismissal of Andrew Strauss was the result of ingenious deception. After pitching two outgoing deliveries on the same spot, which the batsman played at and missed, Pathan landed the third on the exact spot but made it cut back to trap the bemused batsman leg before. Vaughan’s return to form, as well, was overdue and the England captain responded in his team’s hour of need with an innings of admirable grit and character. His 92-run partnership off 145 balls with Ashley Giles seemed gradually to be taking the game away from India’s stranglehold, but two wickets in quick succession by Harbhajan Singh put India on the path of victory. The Turbanator’s figures of three for 28, came on the heels of an impressive display in the previous match in which he finished with two for 14 off 10 overs. For young wicket-keeper Dinesh Kaarthick, the timely stumping of Vaughan off Harbhajan, the first on debut who finished with three for 28, will remain memorable, as will his first catch that sent back Alex Wharf. In the ultimate analysis, although Ashish Nehra (three for 26), Pathan (two for 22) and Harbhajan snatched victory for India under difficult circumstances, the team’s batting, overall, continues to provide cause for concern.
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