.: Indian cricket in shambles

A new development is always on the news as I try to follow the latest saga in Indian cricket - The Ganguly-Chappel spat. Quite a few things need to be changed in Indian cricket and probably this event is the time to set things right. One thing seems to be inevitable. Either Greg stays or Saurav. And I really do not want both of them at the same time. It can be the worst thing to happen for Indian cricket.

With the 2007 World Cup not too far away, it is time to rebuild the team. And frankly, Ganguly does not merit a selection into the team. Common sense would lead to selection of the best 15 players in the country first and then selecting the right man among them to lead rather than select a captain first and then choose the team. The captain of the team should be the first person to warrant a selection into the team based on merit. I have nothing against Ganguly and have great respect for whatever he has done for Indian cricket. But sadly, everything comes to an end. And Ganguly must realize that he is no longer the force to reckon with which he was a few years back. He scores a century against a Zimbabwe attack against whom maybe you and I could have made a few runs. But once that painstaking century lasting six hours is completed, he plays a horrendous shot to lose his wicket. Was he just playing to prove a point or to help the team’s cause? Sadly it was very evident that it was the former. No team has nor will benefit from such an attitude from a captain. And I think Ganguly will stay as long as Dalmiya is at the helm. Ganguly has a big “support” team rallying behind him for reasons unknown to you and me.

Saurav has always tried to “divide-and-rule”, something we Indians must know very well from our struggle against the Brits back in the early 1900’s. He has always backed a few players in hope that they will back him in times of need. And it looks like that plan is working very well. Saurav must take a lesson or two from the former English skipper Nasser Hussain. England owes a lot to him for their current successes against the Aussies. He gave Vaughan a well knit unit and decided to quit when he realized that he was no longer contributing and was preventing better players (on form) from making it to the team. Exactly what Ganguly is doing right now (preventing “in-form”, talented players from getting a break into the national side).

So much for Saurav. I personally feel that whatever the decision is taken should be taken keeping the World Cup in mind. A good team needs a lot of playing together before they can perform at their best. Ganguly should only be retained as a captain or even a player if the selectors consider him to contribute during the pinnacle of world cricket. There is no place for him as a captain if he can’t make it into the team as a player. I can’t reiterate this more. The same holds good for the little master. The years of competitive cricket at the top has taken its toll on Sachin and he is no longer the dynamo he used to be. Sadly, it looks like he is just playing for records, but knowing the kind of person Sachin is, he will no longer play if he thinks he is not delivering (unlike Ganguly !!).

Greg is a class act, no doubt. But he is a typical Aussie. The combination of Greg and Ganguly seemed to be a great one on paper, but sadly looks like it might see its end soon. It clearly looks like a clash of egos. In retrospect, maybe a Tom Moody or a Dav Whatmore might have been a better bet. Only time will tell. The only thing I want to see from this Indian cricket team is good performance when I go to see the World Cup in the Carribbean (its 3-4 hours cruise from Miami )