Archives

NEW DELHI, May 23 (Reuters) - Indian players were criticised for poor temperament after their 2-1 defeat in West Indies dashed their hopes of a rare test series victory abroad.

"We lost a golden opportunity... after a gap of 16 years," former skipper Ajit Wadekar said after India lost the deciding fifth test in Jamaica by 155 runs on Wednesday.

India raised hopes of scoring their first series victory outside the sub-continent since their 2-0 win in England in 1985-86 when they won the second test in Trinidad.

But the hosts bounced back to claim the third game in Barbados by 10 wickets before claiming the decider to halt their slide after routs against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

"We lost because we didn't click when it mattered," Wadekar told Reuters by phone from Bombay.

Chief selector Chandu Borde blamed the batsmen's inability to come good on pacy tracks overseas.

India have remained almost unassailable on slow, turning tracks at home but have struggled overseas on livelier pitches. There have been constant calls to prepare faster pitches.

"We should have these fast wickets at home. Otherwise, this will remain a problem," he told Reuters.

Borde said the fast bowlers also should share the blame for failing to provide early breakthroughs in Jamaica after India chose to bowl on a pacy pitch.

Sprayed around

West Indies openers Wavell Hinds and Chris Gayle raised a century stand as the Indian seamers sprayed the ball around.

Borde agreed in part with captain Saurav Ganguly's assessment that his players lacked mental strength to overturn their poor overseas record.

"To a certain extent he is right. The psychological thing plays a huge part."

Wadekar criticised Ganguly's decision to field first in Jamaica. "It was wrong. When you don't know the wicket, it is better to bat first. And we are not good chasers," he said.

The Indian media focussed on the side's poor overseas record.

"Same ending, familiar sight for India," blared the headline in the Indian Express while the caption in the Hindustan Times read: "Dream over, Indians wake up to reality."

The Times of India, in its report titled "Windies rip India down the middle" criticised the strong middle-order for not performing when it mattered.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager