The Hindu : Sport : India should retain Raina and play Mishra

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India should retain Raina and play Mishra

S. Dinakar

Colombo: You hear endless tales about Mahadevan Sathasivam's exploits and wonder how some of the finest cricketers missed out on Test cricket.

The P. Saravanamuttu Stadium has been witness to some breathtaking strokes by the gifted Sathasivam. Old-timers here recollect his mastery and dominance over the bowlers. At his peak during the 1940s, he dismissed attacks ruthlessly.

Fascinated by Sathasivam's majestic ways at the crease, Garry Sobers called him the “greatest batsman ever on earth.” Sathasivam never played Test cricket like so many exceptional Sri Lankan cricketers until that monumental day in 1982.

It was here, at the Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club ground, that Sri Lanka met England in its first Test in '82.

This is also the ground where Sri Lanka achieved its first victory in Test cricket when Duleep Mendis's men defeated Kapil Dev's Indians in 1985.

Indeed, the P. Sara Stadium should provide the right setting for the third Test between India and Sri Lanka, beginning on Tuesday.

The pitch for the match has a fair cover of grass but much of it is likely to be removed before the start of the game. Nevertheless, there should be assistance for both the pacemen and the spinners at this venue.

Poor bowling

For breakthroughs to be made in Test cricket, there has to be pressure from both the ends.

Sadly from an Indian perspective, the Indian bowlers have provided the host batsmen with width and room. Runs have leaked on either side of the wicket; India has to plug the holes.

The Indians had a session at the ground here on Sunday. Sachin Tendulkar, recovering from a stiff groin, batted without any discomfort. Gautam Gambhir did not seem to be bothered by a sore right knee that kept him out of the second Test while Yuvraj Singh appeared to have put a bout of viral fever behind him.

However, Harbhajan Singh was not present at the practice session. Indian team manager Ranjib Biswal said the off-spinner did not have any fitness concerns. “It was optional nets and he was taking a break,” Mr. Biswal added.

The Indians will have to think long and hard about the composition of the eleven. Should Yuvraj Singh return to eleven despite Suresh Raina, scoring a hundred on debut?

Raina received a look-in only because Yuvraj was down with flu. There can be an argument that since Yuvraj has regained his fitness, he should be back in the side. However, Raina looks in better nick than Yuvraj and should be retained. Importantly, Raina's confidence is high. India would need plenty of this commodity when it strives to level the series.

The odds, though, are against this attack bowling India to a win. It is also time, the Indians became more flexible strategically.

India would do well to include Munaf Patel — a hit-the-deck seamer — in the eleven. If Ishant Sharma, pushed into the spearhead's role, does not deliver, it is time for a change.

Pragyan Ojha bowled marginally better in the second Test but leg-spinner Amit Mishra is a better option. Now, if the team-management does not have the belief to play Mishra even after Ojha's barren run in the first two matches, then he should not have been selected in the squad in the first place. Mishra is the more attacking bowler.

But then, the fortunes of the leg-spinners depend on the belief shown by the captain. No other breed of cricketers relies as much on the faith of the skipper.

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