Chika Talk
Kris Srikkanth
Team spirit showed in special win
January 21, 2008
Every Test win is special. This one is extra special, probably the best ever by an Indian team simply for the mental fortitude they showed. It could not have been easy for the side to prepare for this Test. The extraordinary circumstances in which the Sydney Test finished may never have allowed them to concentrate on the task at hand. It must have taken some doing to shake off all that and concentrate on the Test.
No praise is too high for Anil Kumble's exemplary leadership. As a captain of the Indian side in the past, even if only for a brief while, I know the difficulties in lifting the morale of the side after a defeat. And what had happened in Sydney was not a mere defeat, there was much more to it. To get the boys to think on the game and not stay distracted by what happened on and off the field in Sydney was special. To me the win was a tribute to Kumble's composure and commitment.
There were many aspects that made this win unique. To beat the World champions on their own turf without a single hundred or a five-wicket haul talks highly of how everybody chipped in. Usually strong individual performances are a must to beat a top-ranked side. In this historic win, India also killed doubts on their own ability to take on a good side on a fast paced pitch.
Much publicity was given to the bounce at the WACA before the start of the Test. The Indians showed they had the wherewithal to counter pace. Ironically it was not bounce but swing that did the hosts in. Having played in Perth I know the ball doesn't dart off the seam but this match was different. The batsmen did their job well. Every innings was vital but the efforts of Irfan Pathan and R.P. Singh with the bat needs special mention. They contributed even when taken out of their comfort zone. The tenacity of Dhoni and Singh showed in the second innings when they took the target right out of Australia's reach.
It is so easy for the bowlers to get carried away in helpful conditions. It is akin to spinners overdoing things in the sub-continent on turning tracks. When there is atmospheric help and purchase in the wicket, it is necessary to bowl within yourself. Pitching around the three-quarter length, the tri of medium pacers gave the ball enough scope for the ball to swing. Aussies have never been comfortable against the moving ball.
The body language on the fourth day also suggested the team moving forward as one unit. Each member of the side was happy for his colleague's success.
To bring about this thinking is another facet of Kumble's man management skills. To give the right inputs and get the best out of each individual is no easy task. Credit must be paid to Kumble for making every member of the side fulfil his potential. Each win will be remembered for a particular reason and this win will be noted down for the manner in which the team pulled as one cohesive unit and kept punching above its weight.
Republished with permission from The Asian Age
No praise is too high for Anil Kumble's exemplary leadership. As a captain of the Indian side in the past, even if only for a brief while, I know the difficulties in lifting the morale of the side after a defeat. And what had happened in Sydney was not a mere defeat, there was much more to it. To get the boys to think on the game and not stay distracted by what happened on and off the field in Sydney was special. To me the win was a tribute to Kumble's composure and commitment.
There were many aspects that made this win unique. To beat the World champions on their own turf without a single hundred or a five-wicket haul talks highly of how everybody chipped in. Usually strong individual performances are a must to beat a top-ranked side. In this historic win, India also killed doubts on their own ability to take on a good side on a fast paced pitch.
Much publicity was given to the bounce at the WACA before the start of the Test. The Indians showed they had the wherewithal to counter pace. Ironically it was not bounce but swing that did the hosts in. Having played in Perth I know the ball doesn't dart off the seam but this match was different. The batsmen did their job well. Every innings was vital but the efforts of Irfan Pathan and R.P. Singh with the bat needs special mention. They contributed even when taken out of their comfort zone. The tenacity of Dhoni and Singh showed in the second innings when they took the target right out of Australia's reach.
It is so easy for the bowlers to get carried away in helpful conditions. It is akin to spinners overdoing things in the sub-continent on turning tracks. When there is atmospheric help and purchase in the wicket, it is necessary to bowl within yourself. Pitching around the three-quarter length, the tri of medium pacers gave the ball enough scope for the ball to swing. Aussies have never been comfortable against the moving ball.
The body language on the fourth day also suggested the team moving forward as one unit. Each member of the side was happy for his colleague's success.
To bring about this thinking is another facet of Kumble's man management skills. To give the right inputs and get the best out of each individual is no easy task. Credit must be paid to Kumble for making every member of the side fulfil his potential. Each win will be remembered for a particular reason and this win will be noted down for the manner in which the team pulled as one cohesive unit and kept punching above its weight.
Republished with permission from The Asian Age
