THE PLAYING ELEVEN

Fifteen players for the World Cup have been selected in the expected lines. All the eleven who played against Sri Lanka in the last match, would be in the eleven in world cup matches, except Dinesh Karthik, who would yield place to Sachin and Srisanth to Munawar Patel. We have a batsman-wicket keeper (Dinesh Karthik), a fast bowler (Srisanth), a spinner (Anil Kumble) and an all rounder (Irfan Pathan), in the reserves- certainly an excellent team, on paper. However, one wish that a more capable batsman than Dinesh Karthik, finds place in the reserves.The availability of a better all rounder than Pathan has not been ascertained. The claims of an Ashish Nehra or an R.P.Singh, based on their track records, have not been looked into.

In the one day matches, unlike the test matches, we need not take twenty wickets to win. If we bat first, we need to set up a target which our opponent cannot reach within the prescribed overs. Therefore batsmen need to score fast without losing wickets. Glutton for runs should be provided ith opportunities to feed themselves with balls and the fasting ones should stretch themselves in the comforts of the dressing room. In the initial overs, as there is no field restriction, batsmen, capable of hitting over the head of fielders, a trend started by Sanath Jayasurya, make merry and multiply runs. Sehwag, Robin Uthappa and Ganguli should find their names high in the batting order. Mature players, who can adapt themselves to a situation, should be in the middle. Sachin, Dravid, Yuvaraj Singh and Dhoni ideally fit into this slot. We need an all rounder, who can take over from the top batsmen, and with the support of tail-enders set up a good target. Unfortunately we do not have an all rounder of the caliber of a Kapil Dev, or even that lesser mortal Manoj Prabhakar. Pathan is an apology for one.

As the batsman try to set up a high target within the available overs, bowlers should try to restrict the runs scored by the opponents. Containing the batsmen is more important than even taking the wickets. If we have five Babu Nadkarni type parsimonious bowlers, those who bat against us would never score more than 100 runs in 50 overs. Agarkar and Zahir Khan in their few earlier over have this virtue. Harbachan Singh is more economical than Anil Kumble. Munawar Patel certainly scores over Srisanth, in this type of game. .

To contain batsmen, apart from accurate bowling, bowlers also need support from fielders, in holding catches, even converting half chances into regular ones, saving boundaries and singles. Dropped catches and unsaved runs add to our misery. We have two fielders – Mohammed Kaif and Suresh Raina, who practice fielding as a fine art and who brush shoulders with Jonty Rhodes, the ultimate in fielding. Kaif and Raina can reduce 40/50 runs from the opponents, help us in getting wickets by holding sharp chances and accurately throwing on the wickets to get run outs, and can also score a few runs. From these two only, why do we ask for more? If atleast one of them had been selected, he would have played as the twelfth man, enhancing our fielding performance, without disturbing the batting or bowling line up.

If six or seven players find entry on the basis of their batting, an equal number on the pretext of their bowling ability, should we not include two players known for their international class fielding exploits? The mere presence of a Kaif or a Raina on the field would be a source of inspiration to the slow movers. One day game needs athletes and not also ran.

WORLD CUP FIFTEEN

It seems we have almost finalised the fifteen for the World Cup.

Team for the first two matches against Sri Lanka have been announced and as the second match would be played on 11th February, the Selection committee says that the performance in these two matches would be the basis for final selection for the World Cup.

One doesn't know who would replace Sehwag, if he fails to perform. Similarly an all rounder, as an alternative to Pathan has also not been thought of. Pathan needs to be included, whether he fails or not. Munaf Patel's fitness is suspect and his fielding is much below Ranji Trophy standard. Srisanth, though he bowled outstandingly well during the test matches, is yet to adjust himself to contain batsmen in limited overs game. These two bowlers would be playing the first two matches against Srilanka and if they fail, do we have other tested bowlers to replace them?

We have driven us to a situation, where the players perform well or not, they need to be included for the World cup fifteen. Did we not have a choice?

We had plenty of choice. We should have played R.P.Singh, VRV Singh and Munaf Patel and selected one or two most suitable for limited overs game. Ability to contain batsmen and fielding well are the two criteria based on which suitability is to be tested. For the all rounders' place, both Irfan Pathan and Joginder Sharma should have been asked to contest. Joginder Sharma just bowled four overs and from which the selectors have come to a conclusion that he falls short of world cup standard. If after a lay off, Ganguly and Shewag can bounce back, would not the law apply to Kaif too? Raina and Kaif can reduce 40 to 50 runs from the opponents and can also help in getting wickets. Crippling the opponent is one of the major strategy in war fare and winning the world cup is winning a war in the sports arena.