Once again India and Australia are set to lock horns on a cricket field and once again an Australian skipper says that playing India in India is the toughest assignment hitherto in his career. And, once again Team India are preparing or under-preparing to bask in another possible glory of beating the proven champions. Given the recent performances of the Team India, the cricket management and critics, both have had their sharp focus on the domestic cricket hoping that some of the problems of the national team could be solved. Alas! This could happen!
However, the focus on the domestic cricket season was welcome and well timed. Inclusion of Shikhar Dhawan in the national squad is a positive result of that focus. Though, Wasim Jaffer would consider himself unlucky. He must rue the fact that he is aging with time! (But, who doesn't?) This poses the eternal question once again: Should age be a criterion for national duty? This comes at a time when the team has consistently failed in proving good opening stand exposing the middle order, which has failed more often than not in such situations. India has witnessed many disasters in test arena in past couple of years.
Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman are gone and Sachin Tendulkar has played his innings. We can hear those words from the maestro any day. In such a phase of transition Jaffer would not have been a bad option. He is mature. He scores freely. He is dependable and has sound techniques. He may have one or two years of good cricket left in him at 34. His presence at the top may give some breathing experience to the likes of Kohlis, Pujaras and others. However, dropping Gautam Gambhir seems to have worked well and served its purpose. Gambhir hit a good century against the Australians while leading India 'A'. All the players must understand that their place in the national team is not to be taken for granted.
Harbhajan Singh may like to emulate in bowling what Gambhir in batting against the Kangaroos. Ishant Sharma would also sense an urgency to perform. No one can considered raw after playing more than 40 test matches. Virender Sehwag must think that he has been given one last chance to prove that he still has something to offer at the highest level. One hopes that a bespectacled Sehwag would be wiser.
On the other side, the Australians though have a depleted bowling attack, they are capable enough to bowl out India twice over five days. Australian skipper Michael Clarke does not think he is a fresher. Neither does Shane Watson think so. Watson can double up at a world class batsman and an equally good speedster. Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle have shown that they are dangerous against Indians. Fans must be waiting for a mouth-watering recipe of cricket February 22 onward.
However, the focus on the domestic cricket season was welcome and well timed. Inclusion of Shikhar Dhawan in the national squad is a positive result of that focus. Though, Wasim Jaffer would consider himself unlucky. He must rue the fact that he is aging with time! (But, who doesn't?) This poses the eternal question once again: Should age be a criterion for national duty? This comes at a time when the team has consistently failed in proving good opening stand exposing the middle order, which has failed more often than not in such situations. India has witnessed many disasters in test arena in past couple of years.
Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman are gone and Sachin Tendulkar has played his innings. We can hear those words from the maestro any day. In such a phase of transition Jaffer would not have been a bad option. He is mature. He scores freely. He is dependable and has sound techniques. He may have one or two years of good cricket left in him at 34. His presence at the top may give some breathing experience to the likes of Kohlis, Pujaras and others. However, dropping Gautam Gambhir seems to have worked well and served its purpose. Gambhir hit a good century against the Australians while leading India 'A'. All the players must understand that their place in the national team is not to be taken for granted.
Harbhajan Singh may like to emulate in bowling what Gambhir in batting against the Kangaroos. Ishant Sharma would also sense an urgency to perform. No one can considered raw after playing more than 40 test matches. Virender Sehwag must think that he has been given one last chance to prove that he still has something to offer at the highest level. One hopes that a bespectacled Sehwag would be wiser.
On the other side, the Australians though have a depleted bowling attack, they are capable enough to bowl out India twice over five days. Australian skipper Michael Clarke does not think he is a fresher. Neither does Shane Watson think so. Watson can double up at a world class batsman and an equally good speedster. Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle have shown that they are dangerous against Indians. Fans must be waiting for a mouth-watering recipe of cricket February 22 onward.
