Baggage from Mumbai just adds extra load

Baggage from Mumbai just adds extra load
Bishan Singh Bedi

Last night, the affable Indian coach John Wright was a bit dejected. ‘‘A lead of 150 would have been just fine,’’ he told me on the phone.The New Zealander would have been reasonably satisfied with India’s last-wicket stand. You have to give it to the Mumbai cricketer. He may not relish his training, fielding or even bowling sessions. But he loves his batting. Both Kulkarni and Bahutule frustrated the Aussies for almost 40 minutes and made them earn the last wicket. The message to the Australian opening batsmen was ‘‘nothing drastically wrong with the fourth day Chepauk wicket.’’ Quite an amazing statement really considering the much visible wear and tear of the playing surface. And yet, who can question all the runs scored by both of them? Indians, particularly, cannot think of losing after crossing the 500-run mark.

But for some odd reason, the urgency part and the collective personal power of the Indians going for the kill was sadly missing. Mind you, the Aussies had lost four wickets when the Waugh brothers were forced to be content with a rearguard action.

Three outstanding catches, two by VVS Laxman in slips and one by Zaheer Khan in the deep was screaming for a concentrated effort from the Indian captain and his bowlers. Hadn’t the Indians witnessed an all-out total commitment from M/s McGrath and Gillespie?

Harbhajan was again the most and only likely wicket-taker. The average speed of his delivery was somewhere near 90 kmph. I am surprised nobody told Harbhajan to slow down his approach to the wicket and also the release of the ball. Admittedly, he has had a dream series. So, not many will question his wicket-taking wisdom for now. But one trip abroad to Australia, South Africa or the West Indies and Harbhajan may have to start all over again. So the right thing to do would be to go for the right thing while the going is good.

Want to know about bad days in cricket? You don’t have to go far just knock at Ricky Ponting’s door. For such a fine team-man, Ponting may well have to spend a lot of time at the cricket academy in Adelaide. More importantly, with psychologist Sandy Gordon.

This game can be really cruel to some and exceptionally kind to some, like the trio from Mumbai, who are all set to belong to the winning combination without quite belonging there. Sameer Dighe’s keeping was atrocious, to say the least. Kulkarni’s continued preference to bowl over the wicket without turning a single ball from the rough was baffling. Now, please bear with me. I don’t wish to be very harsh on these youngsters. I am only writing what I am seeing, not creating any hallucinations.

The game is already into the fifth day and a win for India should be a formality. But there is Steve Waugh still to be removed from the scene.

India’s catching today was extraordinary, something which ought to please the Indian coach, and the team as a whole. Super effort, India. Please take this habit onto the one-dayers.