Line & Length
R Mohan
Success or failure, Viru gambit is worth a try
January 17, 2008
It is an eerie calm that prevails in the wake of the Sydney storm. Perth, where the wind known as the Fremantle Doctor blows freely to add further credence to WACA being the pace bowlers' den, was expected to hold the hottest reception for Team India that is playing a Test there for the first time in a decade and a half after the rout of 1992.
Given the background of his most recent form, to have sent Virender Sehwag in as opener was actually a romantic notion, even more so in Perth . It would, however, be the stuff of dreams if the opener could take on the battery of quick's and come out triumphant, slashing and slamming his way to some runs, as indeed he did on the first morning of the Test.
If he had come a cropper, much like Don Quixote tilting at windmills, it would not have been a tragedy for the simple reason that India had few other options. Having lost the first two Tests, Team India had to believe it can play positively to win at WACA where draws are virtually unknown, even over the last decade or so in which the pitch is thought to have slowed down considerably.
The impression is India has too often picked teams on justice calls rather than judgment based on the conditions in which a particular Test or series is to be played.
Those who open in Tests on the softer wickets of England or the slower pitches of the sub continent will always shine, thus spoiling the argument about the need for picking the right guys to go out at the top of the order in places where the ball is not going to stay down knee-high.
Wasim Jaffer who has looked terrific on slow pitches around the world and has built up an enviable record as Test opener is not really equipped to take on the bounce and pace. With Dravid making a fetish of survival, Indian batting had not presented a rosy picture against a fresh Australian attack until Sehwag came and swung his bat about.
It took the dulcet touch of Laxman and the technical mastery of Sachin Tendulkar to turn the tide in Sydney . Alas, all the gains were lost in the second innings when the two great batsmen were unable to rise over their technical difficulties with the up and down bounce that is all too common on wearing pitches.
Sehwag had last played a Test more than a year ago, at Cape Town in January 2006, since when he had been banished to the Test wilderness.
He batted at number seven in the first innings (making 40) and opened in the second innings where he failed.
To have thrown him back into one of the most arduous tasks, which is to open at WACA when the new ball picks up a steepling, trampoline-like bounce, may not have been the kindest thing to do.
The question is did India have a choice? To have sent Sehwag in was to gamble. Since the Burswood Casino virtually forms the backdrop to WACA, this is probably appropriate.
No one is more qualified to tryst with the new ball, however exasperating his flirting with chance may seem to the onlooker as he flashes his bat. There are times when Sehwag makes Krishnamachari Srikkanth look as if he is batting out of the coaching manual.
When he is on song, the swashbuckling opener can make the game seem so very easy, as he did when he put away the new ball for fluent boundaries. In 10 innings since his 180 in the West Indies in June 2006, Sehwag has topped the half century mark only once while getting out in single figures on 5 times.
The opener did play the Russian roulette, often flirting with balls just beyond off-stump until he nicked one. Up to that point, Sehwag was at least demonstrating that it is possible to take the fight to the Aussie quicks, many of whom are more effective with the new ball than with a worn cherry, Clark being the exception because he gets the ball to seam and reverse swing.
Sehwag's record may be far from convincing. Even so, he represents a worthwhile gambit because desperate situations call for desperate remedies. Our hearts went out to the Nawab of Najafgarh as he went forth on a difficult assignment.
It would be easy to say I told you so if he fails in both innings. Putting him in now is not about seeking justice or a fair selection system for all but to pick someone who may fire and help his team's cause. Sehwag has another innings to justify his inclusion.
Republished with permission from The Asian Age
Given the background of his most recent form, to have sent Virender Sehwag in as opener was actually a romantic notion, even more so in Perth . It would, however, be the stuff of dreams if the opener could take on the battery of quick's and come out triumphant, slashing and slamming his way to some runs, as indeed he did on the first morning of the Test.
If he had come a cropper, much like Don Quixote tilting at windmills, it would not have been a tragedy for the simple reason that India had few other options. Having lost the first two Tests, Team India had to believe it can play positively to win at WACA where draws are virtually unknown, even over the last decade or so in which the pitch is thought to have slowed down considerably.
The impression is India has too often picked teams on justice calls rather than judgment based on the conditions in which a particular Test or series is to be played.
Those who open in Tests on the softer wickets of England or the slower pitches of the sub continent will always shine, thus spoiling the argument about the need for picking the right guys to go out at the top of the order in places where the ball is not going to stay down knee-high.
Wasim Jaffer who has looked terrific on slow pitches around the world and has built up an enviable record as Test opener is not really equipped to take on the bounce and pace. With Dravid making a fetish of survival, Indian batting had not presented a rosy picture against a fresh Australian attack until Sehwag came and swung his bat about.
It took the dulcet touch of Laxman and the technical mastery of Sachin Tendulkar to turn the tide in Sydney . Alas, all the gains were lost in the second innings when the two great batsmen were unable to rise over their technical difficulties with the up and down bounce that is all too common on wearing pitches.
Sehwag had last played a Test more than a year ago, at Cape Town in January 2006, since when he had been banished to the Test wilderness.
He batted at number seven in the first innings (making 40) and opened in the second innings where he failed.
To have thrown him back into one of the most arduous tasks, which is to open at WACA when the new ball picks up a steepling, trampoline-like bounce, may not have been the kindest thing to do.
The question is did India have a choice? To have sent Sehwag in was to gamble. Since the Burswood Casino virtually forms the backdrop to WACA, this is probably appropriate.
No one is more qualified to tryst with the new ball, however exasperating his flirting with chance may seem to the onlooker as he flashes his bat. There are times when Sehwag makes Krishnamachari Srikkanth look as if he is batting out of the coaching manual.
When he is on song, the swashbuckling opener can make the game seem so very easy, as he did when he put away the new ball for fluent boundaries. In 10 innings since his 180 in the West Indies in June 2006, Sehwag has topped the half century mark only once while getting out in single figures on 5 times.
The opener did play the Russian roulette, often flirting with balls just beyond off-stump until he nicked one. Up to that point, Sehwag was at least demonstrating that it is possible to take the fight to the Aussie quicks, many of whom are more effective with the new ball than with a worn cherry, Clark being the exception because he gets the ball to seam and reverse swing.
Sehwag's record may be far from convincing. Even so, he represents a worthwhile gambit because desperate situations call for desperate remedies. Our hearts went out to the Nawab of Najafgarh as he went forth on a difficult assignment.
It would be easy to say I told you so if he fails in both innings. Putting him in now is not about seeking justice or a fair selection system for all but to pick someone who may fire and help his team's cause. Sehwag has another innings to justify his inclusion.
Republished with permission from The Asian Age
