The Indian skipper did just about everything right
Sourav Ganguly had made it very clear that his bowlers have been found wanting during this series against Zimbabwe
Woorkheri Raman
12-Dec-2000
Sourav Ganguly had made it very clear that his bowlers have been found
wanting during this series against Zimbabwe. If his intention was to
prove a point to his bowlers, then one must hand out to him as he did
it in style by reaping a five-wicket haul at Kanpur. He stuck to the
basics of bowling stump to stump on a pitch which was on the lower
side bounce wise. The skipper also demonstrated what batting was all
about in the afternoon although he would have liked to time his shots
better. Then, of course the pitch at Green Park was never a total
delight for stroke makers.
Except for the toss, nothing went right for Heath Streak and his team
on a day when they would have hoped to square the one-day series. The
batting was strengthened with the inclusion of Trevor Madando at the
top and the relegation of Guy Whittal to number six. The obvious
strategy would have been to bat first and pile up enough runs to put
under pressure. Considering that the visiting bowlers have been
totally exposed in India, the Zimbabweans got into the game with the
right idea. Unfortunately it was their batting which let them down
badly on a day when it mattered the most.
Campbell and Madando provided a start, which was important, as the
team was packed with batsmen. Madando was as usual hesitant in his
footwork and his tendency to play across the line led to his downfall.
After Agarkar accounted for both the openers the Zimbabwe batting line
up made heavy weather of things by adopting over cautious methods.
Ganguly does bowl line and length fairly consistently but not many
would expect him to dismiss half the side and that too in a one-day
international. He just ran through the Zimbabwe middle order and
Whittal's run out added to the woes of the visitors. Agarkar came back
towards the end and mopped up the tailenders to return with impressive
figures.
The Indian skipper did just about everything right including the final
playing eleven. Joshi, Yuvraj Singh and Sodhi were dropped and
rightfully so as they have not done enough to warrant a place in the
team. While Joshi has been below par right through the series, Yuvraj
Singh has not done much since his sensational innings against
Australia in Nairobi. With these decisions, the message that current
form is the only criterion has been established and one hopes that it
is maintained in the future too. On a day when Ganguly stood out in
all departments of the game, it was a bit disappointing to see the way
his appealing went overboard.
It was just not that Ganguly was singularly guilty of going against
the grain, the visitors also got involved in acts that are
euphemistically called as gamesmanship. It was rather strange since
both the sides have exhibited exemplary behaviour right through the
series. It was understandable in the case of the visitors as the
Indian opening pair just about finished the match without any trouble
at all. Tendulkar and Ganguly played a bit of a mixed innings as the
ball started squatting far too much in the second half of the game.
Still the pair thrilled the spectators with some magnificent shots
before Tendulkar became a victim of the low bounce.
Besides the fact that the pitch was a reasonable one, serious thought
must be given before the BCCI gives a match to Kanpur. The spectators
were outrageous in their behaviour pelting things at the players. If
that is their way of celebrating they might as well do it at home in
the comfort of their living rooms watching the television. Not that
there is a scarcity of venues in this country.