BOMBAY, 23 January 2004 — The prime reason why the Indian cricket team is performing so well and true to its potential is that it conducts itself, on and off the field, as a well-knit unit. There are no apparent differences among the senior players and, as importantly, the younger players are made to feel at home in their company.
Saurav Ganguly, despite the fact that he has brought rare aggression in his outlook, does not command but demands utmost commitment from every member of the squad.
After many years, an Indian team has emerged with such a profusion of talent, with an excellent blend of youth and experience. Especially in the batting department, the team “suffers” from an embarrassment of riches.
It boasts of the strongest batting line-up in world cricket, with so many highly talented players waiting in the wings to get a chance to make the playing eleven.
Although the attack is somewhat weak, the bowlers, most of them yet to gather enough international experience, rally well when given a formidable total.
These are the positive attributes that have enabled the Indian team, on the ongoing tour of Australia, to make light of injuries to top players like batsmen Tendulkar, and Sehwag, and bowlers, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, the last two having to return home with injuries early on the tour
The huddle in the middle of the field, after the fall of an opponents’ wicket, or during pause in play, started by the Indian team during the last World Cup, has today become a symbol of teamwork, something that many other teams have emulated.
All in all, it is a brave new world out there for Indian cricket, with players taking hard knocks on their helmets and suffering body and yet not flinching.
The Australian media had warned the Indian team that, with the coming of Brett Lee, one of the fastest bowlers in the world, the Indian summer would end. But what happened was exactly contrary. For Lee it was a nightmare bowling to the Indian batsmen, who notched up a Test total of over 700 runs at his expense.
Lee became only the second Australian bowler in over 100 years to go for over 200 runs in an innings. Instead of the Indians, Brett Lee sent shivers down the spine of his own captain. In just one ODI Lee conceded 84 runs in his ten overs. Now the same Australian media is questioning the very future of their fastest bowler.
So much for the Indian team. Now let us take a look at the Pakistani team, in view of the long-awaited showdown that is going to take place in March.
At the outset, it must be submitted that Pakistan produces as many talented young players as India does, year in and year out, perhaps even more. With such a rich supply line, the team ought to have worked wonders. If it is indeed not doing so, the fault lies elsewhere.The trouble with Pakistan cricket in the last few years has been the lack of unity and amity among the senior players. After almost every tour, differences between senior players surface.
In fact the last World Cup in South Africa saw a whole bunch of top players being sacked. It spoke volumes for the potential cricketing talent that the country possesses that the absence of the main bowlers was not felt to that effect.
Then the home series last year again saw some players, including skipper Rashid Latif and the one who was to be his successor, Inzamam ul-Haq, as well as leading bowler Shoaib Akhtar, being left out on disciplinary ground or for an attitude problem.
Inzamam has now returned as captain and the present team had performed pretty well, with several young players, most notably batsman Imran Farhat, settling down to take on big responsibilities.
But just when things were looking hunky dory, comes yet another hint of infighting in the team.
Shoaib Akhtar, who has sort of made it a habit of getting his head into a cloud of controversy every now and then, is reported to have spoken out against his captain. It is understood that he told several members of the team that he would be the captain in place of Inzamam against the Indians at home.
The Pakistan Cricket Board, which has a new chief, is not going to take kindly to this show of affront by their main strike bowler. Any split in the present team, in which several young players have already made a tremendous impact, will certainly not be tolerated.
Former fast bowling great and now a television expert, Wasim Akram, has been helping the young Indian left-arm pace bowlers, including the latest addition Irfan Pathan, to raise their performances by passing on some useful tips. Likewise, the present Pakistan team ought to take a leaf from their Indian counterpart to leave all differences out of their mind and forge a strong unity of purpose.
