Talk about precision

By Gautam
February 20 2006

When Mahendra Singh Dhoni walked out to bat, he was told by his coach that by the 40th over, India's score chasing in the 5th ODI should be 206 (not 200, not 210!)

The actual score at the end of the 40th over was 205/2. That is the precision in chasing that this Indian team has developed. Today we concluded a 5 week tour between two extremely matched teams. We lost a closely fought test series 1-0, and that defeat still rankles. Team India, however, picked itself up phenomenally to thrash Pakistan in the ODI series 4-1. The journey continues, there are tremendous gains, and several areas to work on.

Firstly, credit where credit is due. It is very easy (and we Indians love to do it) to criticise, but you must in the same breath applaud the leaders of the team. Dravid has led from the front, right from the 1st innings of the 1st test when he went out to open. And the one test we lost, Dravid failed in both innings - you can't get clearer evidence of the importance of a captain scoring. He clearly learned through the tour, and while his field placings in the 3rd test left some baffled, he was brilliant in the ODI series. His field positons of Suresh Raina at short point in the 4th ODI and Yuvraj Singh at Fine Gully in the 5th ODI were phenomenal. He is developing very well as a leader, enjoying his cricket, and the boys respect him on the field.

Chappell of course inspires no lukewarm emotion - people love him or hate him. I am going to refrain from the emotional debate - we always have those journalistic pillars of integrity (Star News and Aaj Tak - please note the sarcasm!) to do that. One thing is clear, he is not out to make friends, just to get results. So we will judge him based on his mantra. In Test Cricket, India started under his tenure ranked at 3, and are still at 3. Two series is too early to judge, but clearly he has work to do here, especially in the bowling arena. In One Day Cricket, India have risen from a 7th place ranking to 4th in 5 months, with a possibility of becoming 2nd in a just another few weeks (if we beat England in the ODI's and a few other series results go our way). We have won 16 and lost 10 ODI's during his time. And the improvements in the ODI team are clearly visible. Chappell, congratulations on the results so far, but watch out for the downward slide in the Test team.

Yuvraj has graduated from a boy to man in cricketing terms in short span of 5 months. His average in the ODI series was a 174.00 - astounding by any terms. Couple that with his century in a losing cause in the Karachi test, this was an amazing tour for Yuvraj. One can finally say, that YV is starting to show the consistency his amazing natural talent always demanded. If he carries on, he will be India's future captain (after Dravid hangs up his boots, and Sehwag has a go).

Dhoni on the other hand never had to graduate. He entered world cricket a man. I for one have always thought that any sort of testing bowling may find him out. But so far, he is has completely proved me and anyone else wrong. He failed in a crucial innings in the Karachi test, so clearly he still has a lot to learn. And his keeping, though improved, still has some way to go. But his average of 59 in the test series and 219 in the ODI series.. enough said!

While YV and Dhoni were the standout performers, the others also contributed. But the key is that everyone contributed to the ODI performance and the Test performance (except for the last 2 innings in Karachi). And that is the key - a team is gelling and forming that can be a force in world cricket. I still maintain, as I did in the last article, that we need a bowling coach. But let's try an even more radical idea - and challenge the premise that you have to have experienced players in the Test team. So let's get Sreesanth and RP Singh as bowling regulars in the Test Team. Add VRV for his pace and then perhaps we will have the variety we need in our bowling attack that looked flat on a flat Karachi pitch. And why not extend this to the batting? Let Laxman and Ganguly be told - you are performing now, but you must keep performing in the Test team to keep your place. Raina and Kaif are waiting.

Lastly, in my previous article I had said Tendulkar should be put on notice. I have egg on my face (and last I heard, so does Moin Khan). His innings in the ODI series were of such grace and class with exemplary technique, that put all of us who dared question his ability to shame. So to the great man - a sincere apology. Will those who wrote the shameful 'Endulkar' headline also do the same? Perhaps not - afterall doing that may border on responsible journalism, and why would the tabloids masquerading as newspapers called TOI, IE and HT do that?

Well done to the boys. While the Test series (reduced to a one innings match) was lost, there are lessons that can be learnt. And the ODI team has travelled far in the right direction. Now Mr. Flintoff - there will be no shirt waving at the Wankhede this time. But knowing how Team India is playing, I am pretty sure you will lose your shirt.

Let the battle begin anew!