Fingers crossed, mind knotted

If India had an all-rounder by the classical definition of one, team selection for the first Test at Johannesburg would be no more a problem than turning up for breakfast. But there are only two on the Test match scene today and neither of them can wear India colours. And so India must ponder over the old question of whether to play an extra bowler and hope one of them scores enough runs or go in with six batsmen and make do with four bowlers. The second is the more likely option though it is not one that immediately appeals to Rahul Dravid.

The other curious issue concerns definitions and whether the most in-form batsman currently can be called so! By consensus, nobody batted better in Potchefstroom than Irfan Pathan did. Had a batsman scored a century and a 40, he would have been among the first to be picked but is Pathan a batsman? Are we losing sleep over semantics?

But since Pathan is classified as a bowler who lends weight with the bat, his performance last week may not be enough to win him a place in the side. Powerful character roles in the past have tended to get ignored in the best actor category. And so India will go in with their best six designated batsmen and four bowlers. It is also an admission that Dhoni is not yet ready to bat at No 6 in a Test match.

Clearly it is a question of mindset. You could call it being defensive, cautious, maybe even realistic. India’s batting in the one-dayers has been pathetic and while it is not always the best option to draw parallels from one form of the game into another, it is currently difficult to pinpoint one player who will stand up and be the inspiration that India need.

A pair of battling openers might have been the solution. On the few occasions that India have played well overseas, they have had solid starts. Here in South Africa the two men assigned that job are, ironically, the two batsmen who are struggling the most. 20 for 2 on the first morning and it will be like the reprint of a popular paperback. Notice how defensive even the writer gets but that is the air everyone here in Johannesburg breathes. I fear a self-fulfilling prophecy is on the way.

If, however, India’s top three can blunt the opposition, then the rest chip in with runs, it will be interesting to watch South Africa go about a situation that I suspect even they wouldn’t have spent too much time over. South Africa are currently sixth in the world standings and while that could be the effect of playing a lot of away Tests, it is also an illustration of the fact that they aren’t the best batting line-up in the world.

... contd.

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