The Hindu : Sport : It was just a hollow win for India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 18, 2005

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It was just a hollow win for India

S. Ram Mahesh

— Photo: V.V. Krishnan

TROUBLED TIMES: Sourav Ganguly's controversial revelation seems to have backfired on the Indian skipper.

Bulawayo: There are victories and victories. Some are hard-fought battles unto death, others insouciant celebrations of superiority. Few are hollow, still fewer pyrrhic. India's innings win in less than four days over Zimbabwe at the Queen's Sports Club here fits snugly in the last two categories.

Reduced to cold black numbers on scorers' white leaves of paper, the first Royal Stag Test is moribund. Broad figures treat Sourav Ganguly well.

Record 48th Test as captain, twelfth century, eighth Indian past 5000 Test runs, and an away victory to top it off.

Yet, viewed in perspective, this match is a hotspot of unrest. A blip that could send India's performance curve either way. There is no gainsaying the victory was hollow. Despite coach Kevin Curran's best intentions and skipper Tatenda Taibu's superlative effort, Zimbabwe, Test status, and question marks are used in the same breath.

None of the hostile factors that stymie India abroad were present. The Bulawayo track was a snorer and the hosts' bowling equally soporific. They lacked pace, intent and skill; their best bowler Heath Streak's blood clot didn't allow him `the preparation desirable'.

India's stronger flank — batting — could dig in. Bat once, bat big is a simple recipe and the Indians were allowed its usage. Zimbabwe's batsmen managed to survive for more than a day in the first innings as much because of their `skill' as the wrong choice of length adopted by the Indian bowlers.

Regressive signs

But a team can only play as well as the opponent allows it to. This victory, however, is crucial because of how far back it may set Indian cricket. Or how many years it will knock off in the quest to being the best. The match had many regressive signs and perversely it could help India. After all, the cancer needs to be identified.

First, the deserving Mohd. Kaif was left out of the eleven. This betrayed thinking that was as closeted as it was hypocritical. The short term was given precedence over the long term; this with just two years to go for the World Cup and with the stars edging towards 35.

In-form batsman

Moreover, the 24-year-old from Uttar Pradesh was India's in-form batsman. Even if India's top batsmen are sacrosanct — "untouchables" as Sunil Gavaskar calls them — Kaif should have been picked ahead of Yuvraj Singh.

Then, Ganguly put self over team as he made 101 in six hours and two minutes. The skipper's spot in Test cricket has been a source of furious debate and his laboured effort to cling on showed just how much pressure he's under.

"Twenty?" asked an incredulous Ganguly when asked whether he was concerned about the surfeit of no balls on the first day. Surely, the captain of a side will notice.

The victory was inevitable because of Zimbabwe's lack of quality. Those concerned shouldn't be lulled into thinking all's well. A historic series win abroad — one that Ganguly attaches little significance to — beckons. It may be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

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