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Team still in holiday mode
The Indian team appeared well below par in whatever they did. It does appear that they are still rusty and in holiday mode, writes Arun Lal.
The Indian team appeared well below par in whatever they did. It does appear that they are still rusty and in holiday mode. While everybody may have an off day, from the outset it seemed that they did not believe in themselves.
Harbhajan was played because Laxman is unfit. Although I felt that this was the most balanced team even if by default, one felt that the captain had been forced into it and was unhappy. Firstly, if the strategy is that you have to play seven batsmen, then there should have been another batsman in the reserves. Secondly, as it transpired, with Balaji failing to find any sort of rhythm, if Harbhajan had not been there, the score may have reached 350.
Both the spinners bowled their ten overs for less then fifty and took three wickets. Tendulkar, in the end, bowled a superb spell of tactics and control and maybe that is the reason we are still in with a chance.
The body language of the Indians left a lot to be desired. It is high time that someone took note of how many players get injured. Either they are being over-trained or they are not hundred per cent fit when they embark on a tour. Whatever be the case, the trainer and physio must bear the responsibility. It is far too debilitating for a team on tour.
This has become a regular occurrence with the Indian team. Some are injured and out and some of those who are playing appear to be half fit.
Here too, after a three-month lay-off and two camps, we have Zaheer and Laxman unavailable for selection. Sehwag too, it seems, from his movements on the field, is far from fit.
His posture and body language suggest that he has not been much in training, probably because of a lingering injury. Having said that, he is just the type who can step out on the field the next day and smash his way to a match-winning hundred.
Inzamam definitely missed a trick in the book. Around the 30th over, after Kaif was out, it did not need an Einstein to figure out that the Indians could not win and were then merely trying to defend the bonus point, which in this instance, was of paramount importance.
He still kept the same field, defending boundaries, while the Indians were happy taking four singles an over. At that stage, if the field was brought in, especially for Pathan, then the Indians would have been forced to take risks.
Which brings me to the fact that often a captain can miss the moment but what was the coach doing? Woolmer could have sent in instructions or is the coach's job restricted to before and after the game?
On the other hand, the ploy of using Malik at number three worked like a dream.
