That old familiar feeling

Written by Jaideep

Saturday, 06 January 2007

Three years ago, when India beat Australia in a 230-odd fourth innings run-chase in Adelaide, India’s man-of-the-match Rahul Dravid said that, during the run chase, he was mostly motivated by the desire to not feel that familiar despair of failure when it came to so-near-yet-so-far unsuccessful attempts to win overseas. It is sad to see that desire extinguished from the team, with the same man as captain.

After India won the first test, there was a tremendous opportunity for the team to notch up its first ever series win in South Africa. Especially with Kallis injured for the second test match and Smith miserably out of touch. Then, they had SA 28 for 3 in the first innings. But they could not press home the advantage. Two days later, they were 125 for 3 (in reply to SA’s 328), but Tendulkar, who had been treating the spectators to quintessential dazzling Tendulkar flash, played a horrendous stroke and got out, triggering a familiar collapse. They never really came back into the game thereafter. Dravid was hugely unlucky to be given out wrongly in both innings, but all in all, the “Big 5” did not fulfil the promise of the first test match, especially Sehwag.

In the third test, everything once again seemed right for India. They got the driest pitch ever in any overseas test match, with the option of picking Kumble and Harbhajan. Instead, they went with a half-fit Munaf. Still, their openers put on 153, and India were 337 for 4 at one stage. The game see-sawed several times, till India had a 41-run lead in the first innings, with two days to go. Kumble would get to bowl on a fifth day pitch, with SA chasing to win or save the series. After being 6 for 2, a superb partnership between Dravid and Ganguly suggested the moment of truth had come. But, after Ganguly departed at 90, Dravid and Tendulkar played out perhaps the darkest chapter of their cricketing careers. They suddenly slowed down, and made 24 runs in 15 overs. It was inexplicable. Harris, the rookie leg spinner was treated with respect that Shane Warne would have relished against India in 1998 and 2001. Harris began to bowl round-the-wicket, outside the leg stump and Tendulkar just froze.

It was fear of failure taken to extremes, a disease that has struck Dravid in his remarkable career a few times in the past (most notably during his early ODI career) when he tended to get bogged down as a batsman. But with fierce discipline, mental strength and considerable ability to back his desires, he emerged as India’s greatest ever batsman. This is the first time that dreaded virus struck him as captain. It lost India the momentum, and eventually cost India the series. It was a very sad sight, given Dravid’s exemplary cricketing career; and somewhat shocking that a player of his stature has not been able to transcend so fundamental a character flaw, and repeated such an obvious mistake at such a crucial time.

Tendulkar’s failure was not that surprising. His fear of failure has had a personal angle to it for quite some time now. Ravi Shastri related in commentary today how he’d asked Tendulkar why he’d slowed down yesterday, and he claimed he was injured, a bad hip sprain. Shastri wondered why he had not dropped down the order in that case, to which Tendulkar did not seem to have any answer. Of course, nothing will be made of any of this. Tendulkar is God in India, and blind faith will continue for a while longer. Sehwag may find it tough to stay in the team though.

Today, on the series deciding day, the big blunder also stars these two players, though with a different slant. This time it is squarely Rahul Dravid’s complete lack of imagination that he did not give Tendulkar’s leg spin a go until it was too late. Inexplicable again, because Tendulkar turned the ball more than anyone in the first innings, and as a surprise weapon, his bowling is well-proven over the years (especially in the fourth innings). It was probably the fear of giving away a four-ball or two in every over that inhibited him. But with 156 runs to play with at the beginning of today’s play, there’s a lot Dravid could have done with him. Ganguly would have smiled inwardly, maybe even sadly.

Speaking of which, Ganguly’s revival in the Indian team (India’s highest run-scorer in the series) is a wonderful example of what happens when purity of purpose comes to the fore. Ganguly has not tightened up his game by any means – his weakness to the rising ball, and outside the off stump is still very emphatically there. But he has got rid of his politics and that has made all the difference. Suddenly, his fierce fighting qualities dictate his consciousness, and the old, uncluttered Ganguly is back. His success is a great advertisement for the triumph of will-power and determination over pure ability. No doubt, he’ll be back in the one-day side, especially with Sehwag’s doubtful form.

Sreesanth is definitely a find, but given that he didn’t exactly set the match on fire when the conditions were not helpful (in the last test), makes one fear that he could go the Irfan Pathan way. Zaheer, on the other hand, has been impressive right through – yet another beneficiary of a clear, uncluttered mind to seal his comeback. Karthik has been magnificent in this match. In fact, given that his keeping is better than Dhoni’s, the latter is almost certainly under some pressure now. Embarrassment of riches finally in the wicket-keeping department, in India? Who could have believed?

Kumble continues to baffle. No one can doubt his big heart, but how great is his ability really? Is he one of the great spinners of world cricket? Given that his overseas wickets tally is 222 in 57 tests, at an average of about 36, does it really suggest that? He has often said that this record would be far better if his batsman gave him a foundation to bowl from, but then, what happened in this match? He got a home pitch to bowl on for all practical purposes. His captain won the toss and ensured he would bowl in the fourth innings, but Kumble could not get a single wicket on the fifth day. It bears examination, but his cumulative performances over the years abroad do sully his overall reputation.

On the other hand, Graeme Smith’s performance in the last two test matches, after being under considerable siege, speaks volumes for his mental strength. South Africa will only build on this, and their series against Pakistan will be interesting.

Meanwhile, not many seem to realize that this could have been Greg Chappell’s last test match as India’s coach. His contract is only till the World Cup, and if India don’t do too well, that will probably be it for him. And since, India don’t play any more tests now till then, this could be goodbye. He could remember the last two days with great regret in the future.

Most worryingly, this could be goodbye to the “Big 5” as well. Ganguly’s return has coincided with Sehwag’s slump. Tendulkar and Laxman have been erratic and Dravid not at his best (though he was the unluckiest with one third of his 6 dismissals being wrongly given). India’s next real test is in England in July 2007, and who knows what the lay of the land will be then?

Comments

Add New

RSS