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India needs three-dimensional players
Pak coach Bob Woolmer analyses the strengths and weaknesses of the Indian team, seeking reasons for the home side's poor performances.
One of the great things about cricket is that it stimulates debate. It is the sort of game where no one really knows if they are right or wrong when they assess teams or individuals.
After conceding the lead in the Test series against Pakistan and then again losing their way against a Pakistan team in the One-Day Internationals, naturally pundits, critics, coaches will ask the question: 'why?' to India.
Indeed my guess is that it was caused by a multitude of factors, one being that Pakistan played as a team and all contributed and that the side seemed to have a better game plan.
Of course this is pure speculation as I do not sit with the Indian team and discuss these things. I am only able to comment from our perspective as the opposition.
I am often asked what I think of the Indian team. In fact, someone asked me the other day can India win the 2007 World Cup. So much can and will take place between now and the World Cup that the only answer is that India have the same chance as most other teams in the competition.
India's performance in the last World Cup in South Africa was interesting. They were unheralded before the tournament started, for reasons I am unable to explain.
They have on paper a batting line up that rivals Australia's, both in ability and talent. Yet following their World Cup performance they have been unable to sustain that momentum and probably, as I write, have regressed slightly.
With a batting line up boasting of Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammed Kaif, most of us would agree that they would never be short of runs.
Apart from the Delhi chase on a pitch not fit for One-Day International cricket they stacked up the runs heavily against us in the just-concluded series. So why did they fall from a 2-0 lead to concede the series?
