INDIA AND THE NO.1 TEST STATUS

Sometimes, expecting a sunny day ahead, it feels miserable when one reaches the office drenched in rain! Indians ought to be feeling the same way after NZ, by no means a strong test side, surprised many with their performance in the first half of the ongoing tournament. For NZ, though, the situation is as unexpected as a call from your ungrateful boss breaking you the delightful news of a promotion and a salary hike!

In my view, such a unidimensional team has never occupied the No.1 status as a test side in the history of cricket. To start with, India has not been able to produce a genuine all rounder since Kapil Dev. The No.5 batting spot has been a concern ever since Saurav Ganguly hung his boots. Barring Anil Kumble, the only consistent Indian bowler in the past decade and Zaheer and Harbhajan to some extent, India has always been marred by a dearth in the bowling department, resorting to the part timers (mainly spinners) to provide support to them in the absence of an able fourth and fifth bowling option. Neither has India been fortunate enough to enjoy the luxury of having a tear away fast bowler such as a Brett Lee.

India, relying thoroughly on its consistent batting performances, has made its way to the top helped by some uninspiring bowling. Indian bowling performances over the past decade have just been like lightning in an otherwise dark sky! They have been inconsistent to say the least, looking like tigers ready to pounce on their prey on one day and looking utterly helpless and lost on the other. No wonder that the Indians were denied a win in this series as batting collapses were triggered by the Kiwi medium pacers in the ongoing test series. Though in terms of being a complete team, Indian current test side shall always be an arguable No.1 side, Sachin,Dravid and Laxman are great legends and unparalleled jewels of the game and perhaps, the team for which they play deserves the No.1 status. The magical feeling one experiences when watching Dravid and Sachin bat together for India shall certainly be missed in the future. Hence, let us sit back and enjoy what shall be remembered as the golden era of Indian test cricket.

AN UNAPPEALING SERIES

In the times when the image of test cricket is already languishing, a contest between the number one ranked test side with the sliding and disarrayed Kiwis is vastly improbable to generate any interest among the viewers. Its just like pitching Ashish Nehra against Matthew Hayden in a boxing ring! The New Zeland team, which was recently bulldozed and humiliated by the minnows of world cricket (Bangladesh) is hardly anticipated to provide any resistance to the Indian team, which boasts of a virtually invincible batting line up. The likes of Chris Martin, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel and Andy McKay are highly unlikely to trouble the legends of the game, v.i.z, Dravid,Tendulkar and Laxman.

From an Indian point of view, this series provides a beneficial prospect for someone like Gambhir and Dravid to spend some time in the middle and be back among the runs. It also provides Sreesanth, known more for his over aggressive and uncontrollable behaviour than his bowling these days, with a good opportunity to prove his worth.The disappointing aspect has been the persistence the Indian selectors have shown with Dhoni, who could well have been rested for this series keeping in view the South African tour and the world cup. Also, considering the fact that Dhoni injured his fingers in the last series against Australia, the time was apt to rest him as he is one of those whom India want to see fit and charging with the world cup around.

From the Kiwis point of view, Williamson shall be looking to come good by scoring heavily and justifying the faith of the selectors in him. Its a lovely chance for the Kiwi bowlers to test themselves against the famed Indian line up in trying and slow conditions. For NZ to provide a stiff competition to India, their batsmen have to apply themselves posting huge scores on the board and Jesse Ryder, back from a rehabilitation process, is expected to be the mainstay along with Ross Taylor. Considering the phenomenal plan execution and ample patience that Ryder displayed on his last tour to India, he is one batsman Indians would want to get rid of quickly. In Mc Cullum, they have one of the most devastating batsman when on song and in Daniel Vettori, they have an all rounder who is resilience personified. Indians shall certainly set a big foot wrong if they decide to take the series lightly. Cricket is a funny game and no one knows what the outcome of the series shall be but in this festive season, cricket, for once, has taken a back seat in our cricket crazy nation.

IND VS AUS - THE INDIAN SQUAD

The board took no half measures in making clear their infelt feeling about the pratice game against the Aussies. Announcing the test squad before the practice match is a direct indication to the players looking to make a mark that all their efforts, atleast for the time being, are futile and hardly necessary. Once you get over this shock, a look at the squad furthur confirms your belief of the declining cricketing standards in India. The fact that an out of form and a lacklustre Ishant continues to share the burden of opening the attack along with Zaheer is a testimony of the obvious. Sreesanth, a circius clown more than a cricket player, is the back up bowler!
Instead of criticism of the selction process (The board has made almost all the right calls),the squad further confirms the absence of a genuine all rounder and the dearth Indian cricket is facing in the bowling department.

For a change, the selection doesnt leave anything unfulfilled this time except the absence of a reserve wicket keeper. To be fair to the selectors, they hardly have any option but to select an extra bowler or a batsman which is why the selections appeal to you even more.A back up opener in Murali Vijay, a reserve batsman in Pujara, three spinners and three medium pacers to go along with the captain and wicket keeper Dhoni give a complete and balanced look to the squad.Guys like Badrinath miss out but in this golden era of Indian test cricket which comprises of,perhaps the best test batting line up ever in cricket, it is next to impossible to find a place for everyone.

Once again, cricket shall be played as it is meant to be when Dravid,Tendulkar and Laxman take the field.Watching them play is like eating a delicious ice-cream; you want more and more...and more!Once again, the majestic batting of "The Master", the commitment to the cause of "The Wall" and the almost illusionary effect of things being normal in crises of "The very very special" Laxman shall be on display.As a viewer, let us sit back and enjoy the game of cricket the way of these unparalleled jewels of the game.Perhaps, it is because of the nature and sportsmanship of such legends that cricket is still known as the gentleman's game.