The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : In quest of a glorious English summer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Cricket

In quest of a glorious English summer

S. Ram Mahesh

CRICKET / Time for the Indian middle order to translate its experience into a series win

— PHOTO: AP

UNITED WE STAND… More than individual brilliance, a collective effort is the need of the hour for Team India.

London: The architecture at Lord’s presents a conflict of the ages.

At the Pavilion End stands the past. The yellowstone archways that lead to it along St. John’s Wood set the tone. The pavilion still has about it the aura that compelled Neville Cardus to describe Lord’s as cricket’s Valhalla — “Countless days, famous for great deeds, come to a resting place at Lord’s.”

The pavilion’s turrets and balconies, a shade of aged terracotta, were built back in 1890. Its many rooms contain bats used by Sir Jack Hobbs and Sir Donald Bradman, period fireplaces — refurbished recently — and oils on canvas.

Leering at the pavilion from the Nursery End is the media centre, the future. Described variously as a spaceship set to leave Earth, a barcode reader, and Tony Blair’s frozen wide smile, the media centre is straight out of 2080. Behind this giant, gleaming mushroom pod are other markers of the future: the ECB office, all steel and Plexiglas, and the indoor nets.

Uninformed views

This conflict of the ages will not be lost on Rahul Dravid. He has brought to England an Indian Test squad that has, on one hand, a well-worn middle order, a veteran leg-spinner, a left-arm seamer of some experience, and, on the other, a bunch of fresh faces, some less fresh than the others.

India faces Michael Vaughan’s side in three Tests, the first at Lord’s from Thursday.

To no one’s surprise, the star-heavy middle order has sparked the most interest here in the English media. Most views are uninformed and drawn from the past. Some writers have called it arguably the best middle order on paper, thereby saying nothing.

Commentators of nuance — Michael Atherton, for instance — have, however, pointed to a decline in skill. Among the four, only Dravid’s record over the last five years in a variety of conditions is of exacting excellence; it’s beyond reproach. Even if his physical skill has decayed, he has made up with control of mind.

V.V.S. Laxman, in this period, averages more than he does over his career, and Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly have had their moments. But, they no longer are the batsmen they once were.

Young and evolving

England ’s young, evolving batting line-up demands attention — it’s rewarding to watch the transition from good to great. India’s middle order collectively made that transition five years back; they continue to fight a younger generation’s battles.

That they still are, collectively at least, India’s best is another matter. India’s success will depend on whether they can seize defining moments. The middle order’s performances will, in turn, depend on the conditions, and on how soon they are exposed by the openers.

This is the second half of the English season — traditionally, by this time, wickets shed their early-season moisture and ripen into good batting tracks.

The summer thus far, however, has been miserably wet. Some experts say the conditions could be similar to those found in May and June, when the ball swings and cuts. And the wicket for the third Test at the Oval is expected to have pace. This is as good a time as any for the middle order to translate its experience into a series win.

Catching problems

The other facet affected by the cold is the catching. For some reason, catches are shelled when the wind chills and the fingers chap.

Often in England, the ball swings – sometimes changing direction – after it passes the stumps. M.S. Dhoni didn’t cope adequately in the practice matches. His experience isn’t unique – the admirable Kamran Akmal turned a bumbling novice with the big gloves here in 2006.

India’s inexperienced seam attack needs all the support it can get; it’s tough enough taking 20 wickets without having to do it twice over.

India hasn’t travelled well to England; only four wins have come in 45 Tests dating back to 1932. India, in the last five years, has done enough to lose the tag of reluctant tourist — the side has progressed from struggling to win abroad to struggling to string wins together abroad. Yet, areas of concern remain.

In India’s worst displays abroad, certain trends repeat. Rarely does India deal ruthlessly with the opposition tail; seldom do India’s batsmen successfully bat time — often they are inexplicably defensive; and the fielding in pursuit of victory splits like a stuffed grocery bag.

An astrologer reportedly picked out the date India departed for the successful 1971 tour.

India will need more than a favourable alignment of the stars this time around. The English side it’s up against seems to be building nicely towards the 2009 Ashes.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail