This ongoing India-Australia Test series is being played not just for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but also for the TVS Cup. Only in India an event can be played for two different trophies. Perhaps it is insurance in case the series is drawn and so each team can be given a trophy each. Whatever the reason, it’s something that will not happen in other countries. When do you see the Ashes series being played for any other cup or the West Indies-Australia series being played for anything other than the Sir Frank Warrell Trophy? The game needs sponsors and there is nothing against the current sponsor but has the Border-Gavaskar Trophy not been devalued by having another cup for the same series? This has nothing to do with my name being associated with the trophy but am sure ‘AB’ in Australia is also shaking his head in bewilderment of what’s going on.
Maybe the BCCI were too tied-up in the TV rights case and maybe the sponsors came in a bit late but surely its common sense that there cannot be two trophies for the winner. Earlier in the year when the India/Australia series came to an end at Sydney it was a pleasure for both Allan and I to present the trophy to the two captains for one of the most exciting Test series ever. India having won the series in India in 2001, retained the trophy with the drawn series in Australia.
This time in Bombay when Allan is also due to witness the Test, I am not sure whether he would want to be present, to hand over the trophy and anyway which one will be presented first? The sponsor’s cup or the Border-Gavaskar Trophy? Why would we want to get insulted further? In the Australia Michael Clarke making his Test debut played fabulously to get 151 and with stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist chipping in with his immutable batting and getting yet another Test hundred. Australia were able to put a total that puts pressure on India. Before that Simon Katich seemed to continue from his batting at Sydney in the last Test of the series Down Under and steadied the tottering innings along with the debutant Clarke. The highlights of their batting was the use of their feet to the spinners especially Kumble for it is not easy to go down the pitch to the leg-spinner who does not toss the ball as much as most leg-spinners are wont to do.
Katich became Kumble’s 400th Test victim and it was wonderful to see Shane Warne wait near the players enclosure to offer his congratulations. It was good to be in the dressing room when Anil walked in and there were smiles all round as he shook hands with those of his teammates who weren’t out in the middle when he snared his 400th wicket. This is probably the best ‘perk’ of being the team’s consultant wherein one can be present in the dressing room to see and share in the camaraderie of the team and the cricketing community. The next day there were congrats to Rahul Dravid for becoming the third Indian fielder to get 100 catches in Test cricket and before the series is over, I hope I am able to shake Sachin Tendulkar’s hand when he gets his 34th and 35th Test centuries. His injury is a big dampener as he has loved playing against the Aussies and scored heavily against them in their last two tours in 1998 and 2001. Though he wasn’t in the best of touch in the series in Australia he came back with a bang, scoring 300 runs in two innings in the last Test at Sydney where India came close to winning the Test and the series. The invitation to be involved with the Indian team came out of the blue when I was still in London after the Champions Trophy. I had stayed back for a week after West Indies beat England in a thriller of a finals and with the TV rights undecided there was no particular rush to get back in time for the first Test. Since there was little or no chance of me being in Bangalore I sent a SMS to the Indian captain wishing him and the team luck for the series and his response was the invitation to be with the Indian team. So here I am with the blessings of ESPN/STAR sports with the Indian team and hoping to make a contribution any which way I can. John Wright will continue to be in charge of the team and I see my role evolving as the series goes on. Indian cricket needs to look at not just Tests and One-Day Internationals but also the roots, which is junior cricket and first class cricket from where Test and international cricketers come through. The focus should be to ensure top facilities for junior cricket and first class cricket starting from pitches, to umpiring, to coaching and training.
Today’s cricket demands utmost physical fitness and the earlier the juniors know the right way to go about achieving it will be a big plus for Indian cricket as they’ll make the transition to international cricket a lot easier than otherwise. There will always be the temperament factor that can make the difference and that’s why it’s crucial to see that the domestic fixtures calendar is done in a way that will ensure the participation of the Test and international players at least in half the domestic first class and one-day matches.
That is the one way that the selectors will be able to see the real potential of the players when they bat and bowl against the teams consisting of the Test and ODI players. The BCCI must aim at not just being a rich body but also the most responsible and efficient one for the game that is loved by millions in India.
