Jul 12, 2003 09:42 AM
1898 Views
(Updated Jul 12, 2003 09:42 AM)
First of all I take a note of deep satisfaction on performance of our team in the last world cup. Runners-up trophy is not so low as compared to the cup. Also it is a fact that performance of Australia was by all standards simply marvelous.
Now let us pay a little attention to our performance in each faculty of the grand game.
BATTING : Our star batsmen performed well but not outstanding. Leaving aside the statistics, no great inning, no huge score and no great strokes that will be remembered for long. To give an example, no inning like 175 by Kapil Dev in 1975 world cup. No historical stroke like the one by Javed Miyadad to register victory against India off the last ball .
BOWLING : We relied heavily upon Zahir and Harbhajan and I must say that they have done very well. But in one day matches it is equally important to bowl 50 overs. To complete the quota, we rely more on all- rounders like Yuvraj, Mongia, Ganguly, occassionally Sachin and Sehwag. All of these have been badly bitten one or the other time. It is only that so many all-roundres are there and we are able to manage 50 overs. Many times 250+ have been scored against us.
FIELDING : The standard of our fielding has been a liitle dis-satisfying. Against giants like Aussies or Pakistan, we start off very aggressively, may be out of “junoon” but soon normalize. The consistency through out 50 overs has not been seen.
WICKET KEEPING : I have to make a special separate paragraph on this. Rahul though quite ok, has been giving away at least 10 to 20 runs more which could have been saved. Look how. He lets off many balls when left arm bowler is bowling to right arm batsmen.
When rushing to stumps to receive a throw from field, he invariably goes to upstream side i.e. he is between ball and the stumps, he is seldom behind the stumps. Batsmen are probably aware of this and hence take a risk of second run which could have been avoided.
Many times wide balls result into boundary.
A specialist wicket keeper is must at least in crucial matches like semi final or final.
GAME PLAN: In my very personal opinion, we are weakest in this department.
In last 10 overs, we often have no slip, God knows why? In last 10 overs again, we have no long on as well as long off. It is this part of the inning where batsmen use power more than technique. Strokes are made to go as much away as possible. The fielder at cover and long on/off are seen running in4 out 6 or often7/8 balls of the over. It does affect their performance. Many towering catches were dropped may be because of this.
TOSS : I think we are quite strong but asking Aussies to bat first was no good decision. May be, rather quite likely, batting first would not have changed the result but we could have scored 25 runs more had we batted first.
BATTING ORDER ; Bating order may have to be changed but not like what we have been seeing.
in case of quick wicket falling, Srinath comes.
In case of fast run rate requirement, Kaif/Yuvraj comes and in the process they seldom pile up big score.
Ganguly is good against spin and hence must come only after 15 overs.
In ateam of 11, we have no front foot batsmen who can pierce through attacking bowling.
TEAM CONFIGURATION :
It is very risky, and if you don’t agree, at least not desirable to depend on mediocre all rounders even if they are too many ( like Sehwag, Ganguly, Mongia, Yuvraj). Rather , there should be one or two allrounders and then specialized batsmen, bowlers etc..Look at Australia, W.I. and S.A. They all have atleast 4 specialized batsmen,4/5 bowlers. After all specialization pays.
Penetrating bowlers are required by next world cup. We can have some body like Srinath and Harbhajan over and above them.
