Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown
Sandeep Dwivedi

NEW DELHI, March 3: There is just one instance of an Indian captain leading the Board of Control for Cricket in India President XI. That was way back in 1995-96 when Mohammad Azharuddin did so against New Zealand in Rajkot. Saurav Ganguly will do a historic second on Tuesday. But it will not be a badge on his chest, just the signs of trouble within it. In case the Indian skipper regains his form by getting some match practice against the Aussies, that may sort out one of India’s on-field problem. The root cause, it seems, lies elsewhere off the field.

A virtual failure of the Indian think-tank and general lack of inspired leadership has meant a 10-wicket loss for the Indians in the first Test at Mumbai.

POOR PLANNING: Ganguly’s pre-tour counter snipes at Steve Waugh about the pitch meddling controversy puts in perspective shows that it was nothing but a needless show of aggression, besides highlighting the total lack of planning on India’s part. Whether or not the skipper and coach did have a say in the pitch preparation is not the point. The point at issue that the Indian think-tank was far away from the ground realities. An adamant curator meant a glum-faced skipper on the eve of the match and selection committee’s so-called coup de grace Narendra Hirwani warming the bench. An ambiguity in the minds of the Indians saw them play two spinners and two pacers. The middle-of-the-road approach led them to nowhere and the so-called home advantage was frittered away. In contrast, Steve Waugh read our home turf better. Concentrating on pace, the Aussies kept their spin option open, too. Shane Warne took the lead with part-time spinner Mark Waugh and Damien Fleming, with his fastish off-break, playingcameos.

Reports from Calcutta say that the Eden Gardens wicket, too, has grass and the experts feel that it’s going to be another hard and bouncy track. With the team for the second Test yet to be announced, the wise men should keep their heads together for the battlefield before chalking out the war plans. A home skipper complaining about the wicket on eve of a match does not really augur well for the set norm.

ATTITUDE: Ganguly’s virtual stroll which ended in his run out while the Indians fought to save the match in the second innings was not an act which the fans would want his teammates to emulate. Though the rival skipper Steve Waugh’s contribution with the bat was nothing to write home about, his on-field personae and strategy went a long way in his boys breaking the great Indian hoodoo. But the Indian skipper’s drooping shoulders and a confused head during the Adam Gilchrist-Mathew Hayden show the turning point of the match too had a major role in the final result of the Test.

Ganguly’s recent show of aggression, which saw him get a one-match suspension during the last series against Zimbabwe, was sorely missing this time around. His loud on-field vocals, which might have scared the minnows, were conspicuous by their absence against the tough-talking Aussies.

Moreover, if aggression just meant theatrics on field then the poker-faced Steve Waugh could be the meekest of all cricketers. Aggression with the bat a la Gilchrist should be the order of the day for Ganguly.

After the first-Test loss the pressure will be all the more on Ganguly. And with the skipper’s on-field and off-field actions religiously followed the ‘Prince of Kolkatta’ is in for a difficult home coming.