BOMBAY, 30 September 2006 — They are all idols with feet of clay. Those whom the cricket crazy populace of the country had established as their icons came crashing down, once too often. But will they be disowned? No, not by a long shot. Just one or two good individual performances comes along, and back they will be on the pedestal, with all past sins forgotten.
This leads us to ask the patent question: Who then is responsible for Indian cricket team’s disappointing performances when it matters the most? It is not only the players themselves, but also those who, despite repeated failures, can see them as doing no wrong. It is this star value, truly worthy or otherwise, that is the cause of all the problems faced by the Indian team. The top players, it appears, are more worried about their star status than the demands of the team on their responsibilities, especially the batsmen when they go out to bat.
Take the case of Sachin Tendulkar. In the very first match of the tri-series in Malaysia, he proved the point that he was back to his best form, fitness, timing et al. The near six-month break due to shoulder injury had not made him any rusty. His failure in the next match was understandable, as inclement weather had a hand to play. A second good knock came from his bat and there was nothing more to prove. At least that is what he thought.
Surprisingly enough, that made him somewhat complacent. In the crunch match against Australia, which India had to win to make the final, he got a reprieve when the umpires called him back after being given out caught behind, off McGrath. This was a heaven-sent opportunity which was sadly frittered away by a rather careless stroke. Had he not shunned his responsibility by leaving the job to the others?
Sehwag’s problems are getting more and more complex. Back to his usual opening slot, it looked like he would click finally. But a total lack of concentration cost him his wicket. Skipper Rahul Dravid is not only confusing himself but also the rest of the team by playing havoc with the side’s batting order. Of late he has been getting out even before fathoming whether he is batting at the right position.
Dinesh Mongia ought to have thanked his stars that he regained his place in the side after being out of the Indian team for 18 months. Just when he was in the process of justifying his recall, he got drawn into a most unintelligent piece of cricket that eventually ruined India’s chances.
Instead of farming the bowling and keeping the tailenders away from the strike, he suddenly believed that the likes of R.P. Singh and Munaf Patel possessed the batting prowess of Tendulkar and Dravid. He left them to play ball after ball delivered by the most lethal of Australian bowlers.
Allowing the tail to handle one or two balls perhaps may not be avoidable on account of the tight bowling and fielding of the rivals. But to deliberately take a single off the first ball of a fresh over and leave the tailenders to face almost the entire over was the height of irresponsibility.
