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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