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I will have my say: Vengsarkar
The chief selector says he will make his word count when the Test team is selected, reports Kadambari Murali.
As the Indians made the journey back by road from baking hot Potchefstroom to Jo’burg on Monday morning, they were greeted by a chilly wind that blew gustily through the city.
Clouds hung ominously low while they practised at the Wanderers in the afternoon and they would be hoping that the showers predicted for the morrow hold off and they don’t have to move into the claustrophobic and frustrating indoor nets again.
At practice on Monday, chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar, who arrived in Johannesburg on Monday morning and denied he was on a ‘mission’, would probably have been glad to see that all the army-style training and the assorted training through hoops and on chairs and what have you, is no longer part of the regimen. It is all serious business at hand — there is an emphasis on regimented fitness drills and fielding, alongside the stretched out nets sessions.
Vengsarkar, incidentally, ran into Chappell and wife Judy at lunch while making his way down to the Sandon City mall from the team hotel. There have been some unfamiliar vibes of late with the selection committee chairman making a few typically blunt statements that might not have sat well with a team management used to a selection committee chairman who agreed completely with their line of thinking in Kiran More, but this impromptu meeting was extremely friendly.
How friendly that will remain when Vengsarkar puts in his ideas for the playing XI though, will have to be seen. While the selectors have a definite say in picking the playing XI in India, normally, while playing abroad, the team think-tank has a free hand. But Vengsarkar made it clear he would have a say.
“I will definitely have an input in picking the final XI and I think it is very important. We can give our views also, what is felt on the outside. I think they are on the inside but I think outside views are also very important and that is what a team can contribute then.”
But Vengsarkar said he didn’t visualise any problems, saying that they all went back a long way and were on the same wavelength. But he added that he could not understand why the team was batting so badly here. “While I think bounce is our main worry, they (the batsmen) have experience and have played all over the world, it really beats me why they haven’t scored runs,” he said.
“They’ve been here for one month, but hopefully, now that they have become used to the wickets, they will score in the Tests.”
The main worry for him (and everyone else) meanwhile, continues to be the lack of starts. He said the top order collapses were a worry. “I think it’s a matter of concern for all of us, and if you see, I think our top-order hasn’t really scored runs. And unless and until we have a good start, we cannot put a big total on board and that is very important.”
Of particular concern was the lack of opening partnerships and Vengsarkar (who also said there was no question of a makeshift opener — some reports have indicated Pathan might be squeezed in here as a short-term measure) said nothing could be done without an opening stand.
“The lack of opening partnerships is a worry because if you want to win a Test, you have to have a big total on board.” But he said optimistically, “I’m sure we’ll do it in the Tests… They have to really believe in themselves. They are class players and they will have to fire, now. The time has come now, the first Test is ahead.” Here’s to that eternal thing — hope.
Vengsarkar on different issues
On Ganguly’s return: It’s good to score runs in the first match of a tour and it will stand him in good stead for the Tests, which are the ultimate. I hope he performs, I think he has it in him to score runs and it is good to see him back.
On Pathan’s lack of bowling form: These things happen to all cricketers, not just Irfan Pathan. But I feel he is a talented player, he’s done it in the past and I’m sure that once he bowls a good spell, he will get back his confidence…. It’s all a matter of confidence.
On whether Dinesh Kaarthick being used as a batsman highlights a lack of bench strength: There are a few players in domestic cricket who could make the Indian team, but unless we make good wickets for domestic cricket, we can’t really produce good cricketers.
On the WC and the possible squad: We’ll be playing eight one-dayers after this and will assess the form and fitness of the players there. Some, I think, will get back into runs by then. I think eight matches is quite a bit and I think all the players who would be playing those eight games will be there. Those who are there will have to perform well.
On the balance between experience and youth: Experience is important, there is no question, but you have to groom players for the future. If you feel someone has potential, you back him to the hilt but again, potential’s not the only thing, you have to score runs and get wickets also. And if you feel someone is not doing justice to his talent, he has to go back and play domestic cricket.
