The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Pakistan's gameplan has helped India gain confidence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 19, 2006

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Sport - Cricket

Pakistan's gameplan has helped India gain confidence

In the final analysis, I thought the Indians stuck to their job pretty well, writes Bishan Singh Bedi

What an aimless draw! To watch the first India-Pakistan Test at Lahore was a painful experience.

To sit through the entire spectacle (with or without the inclement weather) was an achievement. Little surprise then that Gaddafi Stadium looked so mournful on all days.

No amount or variation of the shorter version of the game can kill Test cricket. Only Test cricket can annihilate itself by having dead playing surface like the one in Lahore.

The PCB deserves all the flak from all corners for laying out such a lifeless track where only seven wickets went to the bowlers after toil and sweat. Some lame excuses are being offered. Not too convincing at all.

Let us accept the fact that the Pakistan gameplan was to save the first Test and then formulate any strategy later on. Little does the home team realise that they may have inadvertently helped the Indians gain confidence as well as the much-desired togetherness.

Panic button

First PCB pressed the panic button fearing Indian batting and swing bowling. Now they are likely to press another one and go all out for a `faisla' in Faisalabad. No doubt confusion prevails in the home camp and the Indians must capitalise on the psychological gains in the remaining two games.

There was a glut of runs and famine of wickets — easily the most imbalanced contest to watch. There are too many mediocrities in our lives. Test cricket should not be one of them. It has to be extraordinarily passionate.

In the final analysis, I thought the Indians stuck to their job pretty well — first while fielding and then captain courageous Dravid walked in himself along with Sehwag. This is what I would call leading from the front. Admittedly, Rahul left himself open to ridicule. But his decisive mental strength needs to be applauded. For sheer determination to take on all odds, Rahul is peerless.

Sehwag was his butcher-self and gave plenty to Woolmer and Inzamam to think. None of the Pakistani bowlers appeared to have any answer. Suddenly, the Indian scoreboard read 400 for no loss. And then it occurred to Dravid and Sehwag they are close to a very coveted record although Sehwag wasn't quite sure whose record they were going to erase!

Unaware

By his own admission, the naive Najafgarh lad is not aware who Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy are. Perhaps therein lies justice well delivered — the first wicket stand of Mankad and Roy is still intact. Next time you go for a record, kindly do a little historical survey.

Both India and Pakistan have an onerous responsibility on their broad shoulders. They must keep alive the spirit of Test cricket if the sub-continent has to emulate the following of the England-Australian `Ashes'.

Fear of losing will not produce positive cricket. Playing cricket for the love and fun of it will throw up entertaining characters, something modern cricket needs awfully badly. — UNI

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