The Hindu : Indians sound warning to Aussies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 17, 2003

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Sport - Cricket

Indians sound warning to Aussies

By K. SRIKKANTH

It was a tremendous win for India. Indeed, what a way it was for the host to reach the final!

The Indians fired on all cylinders in Hyderabad and the manner in which they batted would have put the Australians on guard as well.

I felt that the ball was not coming on to the bat initially, but Sachin Tendulkar cleverly took a little time to adjust to the pace of the wicket and then proceeded to play one of his best ODI innings.

The talent level in this cricketer is astonishing. When such a gifted player runs into form there is little that the bowlers can do.

Virender Sehwag too discovered his form at the right moment. He had a look at the bowling and then unleashed a barrage of shots that brooked no answer from the Kiwis.

After the opening partnership, the Kiwis were up against it, and to rub salt into their wounds, Rahul Dravid came up with a sensational fifty, to reveal another side of his cricket.

What stood out during his effort was that he got all his runs with clean, orthodox shots and there was no slogging involved. It was a majestic innings from Dravid.

It was also one of the finest fifties I have seen in limited overs cricket. There is so much class in this committed cricketer.

Once the Indians crossed the 350-run mark, the contest was as good as over. The Kiwis did not really have a chance and the Indian bowlers and fielders completed a fine job.

Now, coming to the selection of the Indian Test team for the tour of Australia, I must say I am extremely disappointed with the omission of L. Balaji and Murali Kartik.

Having groomed Balaji well, the selectors have chosen to ignore him. A break here could have done wonders for Balaji's confidence and could have learnt so much from the Australian experience.

If the selectors picked him in the eleven for both the home Tests against New Zealand, then he should have at least found a place as a support paceman in the Indian squad to Australia. To be fair to Balaji, he did not bowl badly at all under the conditions in the two Tests.

Kartik's omission is tragic. I hate to think what must be going through this young left-arm spinner's mind at the moment. In the opportunities he has been given, he has hardly let himself or the team down.

In the ongoing ODI tri-series, he has been the pick of the Indian spinners. On merit, he deserved to be in the team to Australia.

www.kris-srikkanth.com

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