Line & Length
R Mohan
Oval ball is in Dravid's court
August 08, 2007
Geoffrey Boycott's old jibe on Team India - "Like wine, they don't travel well" - is passe. The poor traveller tag does not apply anymore to a team that has won 16 away Tests in the new millennium, a figure second only to the champions Australia (26). Considering the fact that India won only 13 Tests abroad in the 20th century, the case for the defence of India against the charge of being a homesick bunch the moment they leave the country's shores rests.
The away series win record against top teams even in the new millennium is, however, slightly less impressive, which is a reason why the Oval Test, starting on August 9, is going to be a very big game for India. The comprehensive win at Trent Bridge, completed on Tuesday, carries significance greater than its statistics. The victory, coming so soon after the team was on the edge of the precipice at Lord's, is by a team that, in the absence of a coach, is being run by collective responsibility among the seniors.
This coach-less status, which came about quite by accident, perhaps, proves the point that an ego-centric team is better off without the personality clashes inevitable when a head coach is in residence. Sachin Tendulkar is back in the thick of action, Sourav Ganguly bowls extended spells despite a back twinge and Laxman attempts to be a grafter rather than the regal stylist with loftier aims.
Add to the batting mix two openers, Jaffer and Karthik, who are expertly blending caution with aggression and, suddenly, the batting lineup has sufficient collective form to make close to 500 without any batsman making a century. No ego trips there either, although India would have dearly loved any of the top seven to pass such a landmark at Nottingham.
While India's batting strengths are well documented, what may not be common knowledge is the seam bowlers become an incisive bunch only when there is help either from the pitch or in the atmosphere. Zaheer Khan's performance would, however, have stood out in any circumstances. The fact that he outbowled the English seamers in their own bread-and-butter conditions tells the tale of an inspired performer who was left out of the team only last year for being over weight and lazy.
The sledging wars that degenerated to schoolboyish pranks like fielders leaving jelly beans on the pitch may have taken the spotlight off the man of the match, Khan. Such a media feeding frenzy is, however, a fact of life in the modern era. This very phenomenon has lent cricketers their rock star status and undreamt of riches. Vaughan's apology to Zaheer may have mollified the quick bowler who actually polished up his craft with a stint at county cricket last season.
It was once said of the England team that there were only three things wrong with them - they can't bat, they can't bowl, they can't field.
At Trent Bridge, they may have coped with the three departments of the game less well than the Indians. But, just a Test ago they were exploiting the conditions so well they came to within an umpire's trigger finger of winning.
While Australia still remains barely beatable, the cricket among the other top teams like England, South Africa, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka can turn on one good innings or one penetrative spell. Another reason why The Oval Test promises to be a classic in which India would have to play at their newfound best if they are not to show the chinks that surfaced late at Nottingham where Chris Tremlett showed up certain weaknesses against the steeply bouncing ball.
The latest entries in the Test record also reveal that India have been ahead four times in four series in the last four years against Australia, England, Pakistan and South Africa (at home against England and Pakistan) but failed to win any of those. A first ever win over Pakistan in Pakistan (2004) and triumph in the West Indies (2006) are actually the only embellishments when it comes to memorable series victories on alien soil in the seven years since the days of the 2YK scare.
There is much hard work ahead then of India if they are to keep the lead they have secured. Given the excellent weather forecast for London between August 9 and 13 (will the Met be right this time?), India can expect less help for the swing and seam merchants who fashioned wins in Durban and Trent Bridge. Since the draw is not an option the team should consider so early, the ball, as the saying goes, is very much in Dravid's court.
Republished with permission from The Asian Age
The away series win record against top teams even in the new millennium is, however, slightly less impressive, which is a reason why the Oval Test, starting on August 9, is going to be a very big game for India. The comprehensive win at Trent Bridge, completed on Tuesday, carries significance greater than its statistics. The victory, coming so soon after the team was on the edge of the precipice at Lord's, is by a team that, in the absence of a coach, is being run by collective responsibility among the seniors.
This coach-less status, which came about quite by accident, perhaps, proves the point that an ego-centric team is better off without the personality clashes inevitable when a head coach is in residence. Sachin Tendulkar is back in the thick of action, Sourav Ganguly bowls extended spells despite a back twinge and Laxman attempts to be a grafter rather than the regal stylist with loftier aims.
Add to the batting mix two openers, Jaffer and Karthik, who are expertly blending caution with aggression and, suddenly, the batting lineup has sufficient collective form to make close to 500 without any batsman making a century. No ego trips there either, although India would have dearly loved any of the top seven to pass such a landmark at Nottingham.
While India's batting strengths are well documented, what may not be common knowledge is the seam bowlers become an incisive bunch only when there is help either from the pitch or in the atmosphere. Zaheer Khan's performance would, however, have stood out in any circumstances. The fact that he outbowled the English seamers in their own bread-and-butter conditions tells the tale of an inspired performer who was left out of the team only last year for being over weight and lazy.
The sledging wars that degenerated to schoolboyish pranks like fielders leaving jelly beans on the pitch may have taken the spotlight off the man of the match, Khan. Such a media feeding frenzy is, however, a fact of life in the modern era. This very phenomenon has lent cricketers their rock star status and undreamt of riches. Vaughan's apology to Zaheer may have mollified the quick bowler who actually polished up his craft with a stint at county cricket last season.
It was once said of the England team that there were only three things wrong with them - they can't bat, they can't bowl, they can't field.
At Trent Bridge, they may have coped with the three departments of the game less well than the Indians. But, just a Test ago they were exploiting the conditions so well they came to within an umpire's trigger finger of winning.
While Australia still remains barely beatable, the cricket among the other top teams like England, South Africa, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka can turn on one good innings or one penetrative spell. Another reason why The Oval Test promises to be a classic in which India would have to play at their newfound best if they are not to show the chinks that surfaced late at Nottingham where Chris Tremlett showed up certain weaknesses against the steeply bouncing ball.
The latest entries in the Test record also reveal that India have been ahead four times in four series in the last four years against Australia, England, Pakistan and South Africa (at home against England and Pakistan) but failed to win any of those. A first ever win over Pakistan in Pakistan (2004) and triumph in the West Indies (2006) are actually the only embellishments when it comes to memorable series victories on alien soil in the seven years since the days of the 2YK scare.
There is much hard work ahead then of India if they are to keep the lead they have secured. Given the excellent weather forecast for London between August 9 and 13 (will the Met be right this time?), India can expect less help for the swing and seam merchants who fashioned wins in Durban and Trent Bridge. Since the draw is not an option the team should consider so early, the ball, as the saying goes, is very much in Dravid's court.
Republished with permission from The Asian Age
