Recently a person actually asked a question, which 3 teams
do not have a test bowler who has taken over 400 wickets and England is in the
list along with Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
It is this very question which is ripping apart Indian
cricket! Despite cricket being a team sport our over obsession with records and
statistics are the one which is tearing us apart. The whole nation is waiting
for a man’s 100 century but how many are actually bothered about going out and
fighting it out to save the test match.
Everyone knows that Tendulkar needs one more century to have
100 international centuries but do we know that Rahul Dravid during the course
of an epic marathon knock overtook Gavaskar’s record of 34 centuries and now
sits 4th in the all-time list.
Even during the World Cup it was all about do it for Sachin
and like Steve Waugh rightly said why should it be about one man when it is a
team sport! Indian Cricket team is similar to the English football team in many
ways. Despite England being a power center when was the last time the team won
a major trophy? In the run-up to the 2002 World Cup, England was more obsessed
with Beckham’s fitness than anything else.
10 years have passed and now when the English football team
finally has the talent which given a chance can do no wrong than the current
crop continues to languish as players like Lampard, Terry, Ferdinand and
Gerrard continue to play. Germany during the last world when Ballack got
injured, Schweinsteiger seamlessly took over his role and there is no looking
back. Germany had a young line-up with a few senior players and had did not
been for a freak Puyol header, they could have gone on to win the World Cup!
Spain and Netherlands the 2 teams which reached the World
Cup finals have one thing in common. Despite the teams having great players it
has always been about the team rather than one man, this makes the difference
and one reason why the teams has been successful when you compare it to
Argentina despite great individual players have failed repeated at the global
stage,.
Indian cricket is heading that way and English cricket found
out the hard way during their whitewash at Australia that cricket is a team
game and one man cannot make that difference.
Given our population and popularity of cricket, it is surprising
that India is not able to produce fast bowlers who can hit 90 miles. The age
old argument of physical disadvantage has to end. I know 10 guys who are
bigger, stronger and fitter than the current cricketing bunch! So we do have
people and many of these guys do play cricket. Also age should not be a factor
when it comes to fitness. The English cricket team looks as fit as any professional
football side while the Indian side barring a few looks like a Pub team!
Cricket is about 3 disciplines – Batting, Bowling and
Fielding. You need to be good in atleast 2 of these disciplines to succeed as a
team. VVS Laxman is old and his fielding is pathetic but then there are guys 10
years younger to him who are as bad as him. Laxman has to improve his fitness
or he needs to quit. We need to take harsh decisions if we are to become the
best team in the world. Batting wise he may have done nothing wrong but then
you can’t have 3 guys in the wrong side of the 30’s playing in one team. Simon
Katich despite being the leading run scorer for Australia for the last 2
seasons and being a good fielder was sacked because he was old and the team can’t
afford to have 3 guys over 35 in the same squad.
The age old argument of there is no one knocking the doors
has to be stopped. This team can’t go on forever and our obsession with records
& statistics has to end. Tendulkar is a run making machine but then I would
say Dravid has done more for the team than any other cricketer currently in the
team. It is sad sight to see so many portly men on the field. Raina may never
be a great test batsman and after this tour he has a better chance as a test
bowler but then the enthusiasm he showed in the field has to be appreciated.
Same with PK who bowled his heart out and did everything he can.
Dravid and PK are the heroes of this disastrous campaign but
in the end the nation was obsessed with one man’s pursuit of a record! Dravid
after 3 days on the field had to come back and open again? Why should Dravid a
non-opener has to come back and open. India would have been better served if someone
else had volunteered to done the same. Laxman’s form on this tour has fallen
rapidly after his rise to the #3 slot while Dhoni and Raina with their suspect
techniques just cannot do the job. If a man is truly an icon he should have
come out fighting and given it a shot. He is technically a very sound person
and has opened more than anyone else in ODI format. Can’t he do it for one
innings?
Did the fans does not deserve one Last Stand from the team?
Is this a way how the #1 team plays and loses its position? Zimbabwe of the 90’s
did not win much but then they were appreciated as they always fought hard and
gave it all. You do not have to be the most talented team but you can still
fight hard and give it all. Are we doing it?
No we are more obsessed with records and this is country
where crickets register as actors for tax purpose. The same country where
players are fit to play club cricket but will miss test matches to relax and
have surgeries.
Are we the fans idiots? I am an English fan and I would want
the team to always win all games but in the end I would like a good fight back.
Ashes 2005 was one of the best series
ever as both sides gave it all! Despite Federer winning the 2009 Wimbledon
title each one of us remember Roddick’s fight in the finals and that made it an
epic finals. Similarly Hamilton may have won the 2008 F1 World Championship but
Massa’s fight till in the end will always be remembered.
In sports there are winners and losers but then it depends
on how hard you fight and compete rather than go down in a wimp. Did we go down
fighting? Did we give it all?
A true fan has to accept reality and excuses will not do
anymore. Just ask Leyton Orient players last year when they played Arsenal
during an FA cup fixture and even managed to draw the game. A club which plays
in the 3 tier of English football gave it all against Arsenal, one of the top
teams in the country! The difference is they gave it all and they played 100%.
Enough of chasing records, the time has come to stand up and
deliver as a team. England may never have a bowler with 400 test wickets but
then who cares if they continue to progress as a team that is all which
matters. The team has to be one, records will automatically follow, case point
Steve Waugh’s Australian team.
Don’t look overseas we have our own team which won the 1983
World Cup! Kapil and his men then proved that you don’t need superstars to win
but 11 dedicated men for a cause to pull it off!
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