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Tuesday, 7 February 2012

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Imran diagnoses reasons for India’s flop

With the birth of Twenty20 cricket, we saw the evils that emerge along with the sure fire excitement, although this is not the real cricket that has been handed down through generations. And today the country that is suffering most by indulging in surfeit of the game is without doubt India.

When this style of game first saw the light of day, one expected it to be played before or after a Test series between countries and that is how it is being played.

But the Indian Cricket Board was quick to spot the big money making in the game and rushed to organise an Indian Premier League, that not only brought in the mega dollars to the ICB, but also players.

Today Twenty20 has become a necessary evil and the International Cricket Council, the governors of the game, stand helpless unable to curb or stall it and the cricketers are craving to play in it because there’s bags full of money to earn.

Mega dollars

While we certainly do not envy the cricketers pocketing the mega dollars, they must also spare a thought for “Test Cricket” which is what the game is all about and not neglect or ignore that game.

The respective Cricket Boards too seem helpless to curb their players from figuring in Twenty20 cricket rather than concentrating more on Test cricket. Today outstanding cricketers are threatening to quit Test cricket and indulge in the big money earner.

The Indian Cricket Board in addition to the Indian Premier League has also allowed the conducting of the Indian Champions League.

Cricket Boards when they arrange their Future Tours Program must keep a window open for these two tournaments to avoid earning the wrath of the players signed on to play in these tournaments.

Suffering most

The country suffering most by concentrating in these styles of cricket is no doubt India as their recent thrashing by England and Australia in the Test series. Four nil defeats in each of the series is damning and a black mark on their game.

At one time Indian Test cricket was top of the world and other countries envied them. But today everyone is laughing at their debacles and if the present trend continues, Indian cricket will always remain top of the flops.

In this aspect it was heartening to read what former Pakistan cricketer and captain now turned politician Imran Khan, had to say about the Twenty20 and the downfall of Indian cricket.

Speaking at the First Annual Tiger Pataudi Memorial lecture in Kolkota he blamed India’s Test plight to playing a surfeit of Twenty20 cricket.

Cricketing legend

To quote cricketing legend Imran - ‘I can only use one word to describe India’s form....consistent. To lose eight Test matches in a row overseas is an achievement’. ‘It’s a wake-up call for Indian cricket. a team that won the World Cup and was number one in Tests a few months back is in the doldrums. If you want to be the leaders you can’t keep losing. If you pay so much emphasis on Twenty20 cricket, you’ve got to pay hugely.

‘India has to decide soon whether it prefers glamour, Bollywood and money to Test cricket. in my 20 years of cricket, I never made so much money as a mediocre player in T20 earns today.

‘The connoisseurs will rate a player by his Test record and not what he’s done in T20s. Test cricket is the ultimate test of a player and that’s the reason Test records carry value.

‘Talent can excel in one-dayers, but in Test cricket, your temperament and technique is tested besides the talent’, concluded Imran, the former Pakistan legend and Oxford educated all-rounder who was brilliant in his time. Words of wisdom indeed. We hope the Indian Cricket Board will take serious note of.

Aussie selectors determined

The Australian selectors headed by former Aussie batsman John Inverarity are probing and determined to see that their game in all forms reach the top soon. In this aspect they are experimenting and ringing the changes which are exemplary.

For the Commonwealth Bank Tri series they have infused new blood and have taken the bold step to drop wicket keeper batsman Brad Haddin and toss in hard hitting left handed wicket keeper batsman Matthew Wade. Wade is just 24 and has immense potential as a batsman wicket keeper and showed what he is capable of by smashing a belligerent 72 from 43 balls in the First Twenty20 against India at the Sydney Olympic Stadium before a packed house.

Haddin rested

According to Inverarity, Haddin has been rested after a grueling Test series against India. But Haddin is not satisfied with the chief selector’s explanation that he has been rested.

Haddin admits that he has been dropped and that it would not be easy getting back into the picture again. If Wade grabs the opportunity and scores heavily, which he is capable of and do a good glove job, then the 34-year old Haddin better call it a day.

Haddin has no one to blame but himself. He was given every opportunity to cement his place. But his efforts behind the stumps has not been what it should have been.

Not 100 per cent

His batting too had not been 100 per cent. He is renowned for his big hitting. But sadly has failed to deliver and has not been consistent. But if Wade fails to grab the opportunity, who know Haddin might be back in the selectors frame.

In the past Australia had some wonderful wicket keepers who contributed in batting. Names that come to mind from the time we remember the game are - Don Tallon, Gilbert Langley, Len Maddocks, Wally Grout, Rodney Marsh and Ian Healy.

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