Opinion History repeats because India never seem to learn from it
But,the BCCI could well say,it has always been like this and we are still number one.
And so India lose the first game of a series again; and writers scurry along to write articles they have often written in the past,pundits voice the same thoughts,many more programmes are done,fans continue to moan and the sun continues to rise erasing the previous day. And the weeks go on and the months do. Its like deja vu all over again. Soon there will be another game,people will still be buying tickets,television rights will still be sold and loyal fans will find something else to cheer about.
But,the BCCI could well say,it has always been like this and we are still number one. Ah,that is indeed true but Im sure they know,for they are as shrewd as anyone else,that Indias ascent is not because it has always been like that but in spite of that! If a student gets a distinction studying under street lights,you dont make him study under street lights all the time. This is a very high quality Indian cricket team but the journey towards excellence never ceases. Intel make great processors but they are always trying to make better ones and for India to remain the best they must be passionate about being number one. That passion was missing at Lords.
Indias itineraries have always been like a school timetable. 09.20-10.10 English,10.10-11.00 Physics,11.00-11.50 History,11.50-12.40 Art. February 18-April 02 50-over cricket,April 08-May 28 20-over cricket,June 04-July 10 tour of the West Indies,July 18-Sep 16 tour of England. And so on and on and on. In the BCCIs defence they have always said that if a player needs rest,they will allow it and accordingly a lot of players missed the tour to the West Indies. So surely they should have been fresh for England. But resting and being ready are two different things. Hitting a ball in the nets cannot simulate batting against high quality swing bowling. If you just turn up you play like you have…well,just turned up.
It is not India alone. England came straight from Australia to the World Cup and lost matches they should have won. Some of Australias players came straight from the Champions League in South Africa to a Test series in India and struggled. Each time players and administrators knew what was right and yet did what was wrong. It is like sitting across the table and talking about peace; you know what to do but wont.
It can well be argued that had Zaheer Khan not been injured the result could have been different. And it could just as well be argued that injuries can happen anytime. It is a fair argument except that it leads you to a sub-optimal solution; which is to continue being under-prepared; to believe that the current state of affairs will continue to deliver results. Athletes and other sportsmen tune themselves to be ready for the big occasion. They may still lose but they will lose having prepared the best they could. England in England are an outstanding side. At the best of times it would require a great effort to beat them but India did not allow themselves that opportunity. An argument cannot erase the truth.
India should be a better side in Nottingham but will have to dust themselves and stand up again. England will emerge full of confidence and while voices in the media have already anointed them number one in the world,the word from within the team is appropriately cautious. We dont feel we are No.1 in the world because we are not. We are No.3, Andy Flower says. Talking rankings is pointless at the moment. It is precisely this thinking,as opposed to appropriating the future before it has presented itself,that sets this England team apart. There are many other reasons,most of them good,and as Nasser Hussain suggested: they are playing lesser and feeling fresher!
India have the pedigree to bounce back at Nottingham but must find a way to take twenty wickets. They will be tougher and better prepared and from that point of view a four-Test series allows them a little longer to force their way back than a three-Test affair can. But they shouldnt have to play catch-up all the time. Its an unlearnt lesson.
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