The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Batsmen were far too circumspect

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 31, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Batsmen were far too circumspect

We believe we can come back, writes Anil Kumble

I don’t really know what to say. I never expected the batting to fail like it did. I never expected our batsmen, all experienced players who have done really well at this level, to walk out there and not apply themselves, to look so out of sorts.

All of us had understood the wicket. We knew well that this was not a wicket you could just go out there and blast yourselves out of trouble. It was not a wicket either, that you could get set and then blast yourselves out of trouble.

We knew one had to approach this by batting right through like you approach the first 20-30 balls of an innings, cautiously, watchfully. Yet, we didn’t do it. We knew that a lot would depend on rotating the strike as much as possible, running the ones and twos hard, yet staying positive enough to punish the loose balls whenever they happened. Yet, somehow, we didn’t do it.

Spirited bowling

Cricket, like any other sport, is won or lost in the mind. I was delighted by the way our bowlers won the first battle by refusing to give up on Day 1. They could easily have let things go at one stage and waited for Australia to rack up 350 for two or something. But we just didn’t give up.

Our batsmen, on the other hand, went in far too circumspect. They should have gone in and played a few shots when possible, given themselves some confidence. I think that losing wickets at regular intervals didn’t help either, especially when we had a couple of partnerships developing — like Sachin and Sourav in the first innings and then Laxman and Sourav in the second innings.

But there was no reason for them to be this way, so I don’t understand it. But we’ve spoken about it, about the importance of thinking and staying positive and I’m hoping that we can work out the things we need to do in the short time we have before Sydney.

There’s been a certain amount of talk about Rahul, expectedly, given that he has been our best batsman here last time we toured and there are huge expectations from him. The expectations can’t be wished away and are there because you’re that good but I’ve suggested he try and relax. I don’t think it’s a question of form at all, but he’s probably too uptight. Sydney should be a different wicket and I think he needs to open out a little. I’m confident he will.

We go to Sydney on Monday afternoon and there might be some changes when we see the wicket. We should not panic after one loss, but we have to tackle the problem best by making sure we have the people best suited for a job doing it.

Good record

After the game, I spoke to the team, we just talked about positive things. I see no point in blowing your head off, I thought I just needed to suggest we pick ourselves up. After all, this is the same bunch of players who won a Test in South Africa, came out on tops in the Caribbean in 2006 and in England this summer. This is the best we’ve done in Test cricket in 75 years.

When we last drew a series here in Australia in 2003-4, we did it against a team that was No. 1 in the world. We have a lot going for us, our senior group, plus the younger lot. There are expectations because we’ve achieved all this. I just reminded them of that. Everybody is still in good spirits. We believe we can come back in this series. It’s a question of going in with an open mind rather than worrying too much about what could have been.

Hawkeye / Chivach Sport

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

Sport