Zachary GirsbergerAre India Serious Challengers or Old Has-Beens?
December 24th 2007 04:23
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The Indian cricket team is attempting to throw down the gauntlet one more time to an Australian side that looks nearly unbeatable. Following the 2-0 whitewash against a Sri Lankan outfit featuring Murali, Vaas, Sangakkara, Jayasuria and Jayawardene, serious questions are being asked as to whether any side can seriously match it with Ricky Ponting's men. With India opting for the experience of aging superstars Laxman, Dravid, Ganguly and Tendulkar, they are showing their determination to win with a line-up that has done well for them in the past. The problem is however, whether selecting age over youth bodes well for coach Gary Kirsten's men in the future, particularly if this last roll of the dice is unsuccessful.
On paper a line-up featuring Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S Laxman is enough to scare any bowling attack around the world. These four men have gotten India across the line so many times before that everybody has lost count. And, importantly, they have been part of Indian teams that have drawn series with Australia away from home and defeated them on the sub-continent.
Tendulkar at any age is still one of the most dangerous players in world cricket. He has the ability and stroke-play to make runs on any surface and has the steel and guile to take it to Brett Lee, Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark and Brad Hogg. So many times before, Australia has had Glenn McGrath to call on if the "Little Master" was in scintillating form, but this is no longer the case. Even aged 34, the Australians are wary of him, knowing that his career average is still a glorious 55.06 and that given that this is likely to be his final tour here, he would love to go out with a bang.
The man known as the "Maharaj" (or 'King') is coming off the back of a very successful series against Pakistan at home. Sourav Ganguly's 239 and 102 proved that he is still a very dangerous commidity in cricket today, even though at 35, his best years are behind him. The most controversial member of the Indian squad - due to run-ins with former coach Greg Chappell and Australian captain Steve Waugh amongst other things - he will certainly be a target of both the Australian pace attack and relentless local media circles. Ganguly will be looking to start well in the Boxing Day test, which will be his 100th.
Laxman and Dravid have been quieter achievers for the Indians over the years. Australian fans and players will remember Laxman for his astounding innings of 281 under immense pressure, at Eden Gardens in 2001. On the verge on an innings defeat Laxman - in a 376 run partnership with Dravid - steered India to victory, in a knock Wisden Cricket Almanac regards as the 6th best of all-time. While his form hasn't set the world on fire of late, his discipline and history against Australia - both at home and abroad - makes him one to look out for again this summer. He is 33 years of age. Dravid's relinquishing of the captaincy should see him return to his best. The 34 year-old is perhaps the most technically correct of all the Indian batsmen and maintains a test average of 56.5, which is outstanding. He has been slightly out of form but should return to his best here against Australia, knowing that he has troubled them on many occasions.
On their day these four batsman could destroy any world-class bowling attack in any conditions. They will go down as arguably four of India's best seven batsmen of all-time alongside Sunil Gavaskar, Mohammed Azharrudin and perhaps Gundappa Viswanath. However, this will almost certainly be the last tour of Australia for all these great stalwarts on Indian cricket. The same can be said for newly appointed captain and world-class leg-spinner, Anil Kumble (aged 37). Choosing Kumble as skipper is further indication of the Indian selectors resisting change, and instead opting for what has worked in the past.
Wasim Jaffer (29), MS Dhoni (26), Yuvraj Singh (26), Gautam Ghambir (26), Dinesh Karthik (22) and Virender Sehwag (29) represent the next generation of Indian stars with Singh a superstar in the making. His form recently has been very solid, particularly in the one-day arena. The selectors' overlooking of Dhoni as captain may come back to haunt them after his team-building job during the Twenty20 World Cup, which the Indians won. And, not selecting firebrand opener Sehwag for the First Test could be a big mistake, considering the trouble the Australians have had previously with the most unpredictable player in the line-up.
Without the boisterous quick Sreesanth and the possible non-selection of Sehwag, the Indian team looks predictable and old. Sure they have champion batsmen and a superb leg-spinner in their captain Kumble but there is little for the Australians to fear. Without Sreesanth, India's bowling - which has traditionally been its weakness, especially abroad - looks average, as he was the man who shook up the steady Australians during the recent home one-day series. Alone, his aggressive nature would have dragged spectators through the stands. If the First Test goes the locals way, crowds and series interest may again become issues, as they were during the Sri Lankan series.
I truly hope Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly, Laxman and Kumble can make a memorable contest on what is likely to be their last ventures Down Under. Australian fans have seen the best of them in the past but this tour may have been the perfect opportunity to have gotten a glimpse into the Indian side's future.
The old men are sure to be tested - and most likely defeated - by a hungry and seemingly unstoppable Australian side, starting on Boxing Day at the MCG on Wednesday.
On paper a line-up featuring Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S Laxman is enough to scare any bowling attack around the world. These four men have gotten India across the line so many times before that everybody has lost count. And, importantly, they have been part of Indian teams that have drawn series with Australia away from home and defeated them on the sub-continent.
Tendulkar at any age is still one of the most dangerous players in world cricket. He has the ability and stroke-play to make runs on any surface and has the steel and guile to take it to Brett Lee, Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark and Brad Hogg. So many times before, Australia has had Glenn McGrath to call on if the "Little Master" was in scintillating form, but this is no longer the case. Even aged 34, the Australians are wary of him, knowing that his career average is still a glorious 55.06 and that given that this is likely to be his final tour here, he would love to go out with a bang.
The man known as the "Maharaj" (or 'King') is coming off the back of a very successful series against Pakistan at home. Sourav Ganguly's 239 and 102 proved that he is still a very dangerous commidity in cricket today, even though at 35, his best years are behind him. The most controversial member of the Indian squad - due to run-ins with former coach Greg Chappell and Australian captain Steve Waugh amongst other things - he will certainly be a target of both the Australian pace attack and relentless local media circles. Ganguly will be looking to start well in the Boxing Day test, which will be his 100th.
Laxman and Dravid have been quieter achievers for the Indians over the years. Australian fans and players will remember Laxman for his astounding innings of 281 under immense pressure, at Eden Gardens in 2001. On the verge on an innings defeat Laxman - in a 376 run partnership with Dravid - steered India to victory, in a knock Wisden Cricket Almanac regards as the 6th best of all-time. While his form hasn't set the world on fire of late, his discipline and history against Australia - both at home and abroad - makes him one to look out for again this summer. He is 33 years of age. Dravid's relinquishing of the captaincy should see him return to his best. The 34 year-old is perhaps the most technically correct of all the Indian batsmen and maintains a test average of 56.5, which is outstanding. He has been slightly out of form but should return to his best here against Australia, knowing that he has troubled them on many occasions.
On their day these four batsman could destroy any world-class bowling attack in any conditions. They will go down as arguably four of India's best seven batsmen of all-time alongside Sunil Gavaskar, Mohammed Azharrudin and perhaps Gundappa Viswanath. However, this will almost certainly be the last tour of Australia for all these great stalwarts on Indian cricket. The same can be said for newly appointed captain and world-class leg-spinner, Anil Kumble (aged 37). Choosing Kumble as skipper is further indication of the Indian selectors resisting change, and instead opting for what has worked in the past.
Wasim Jaffer (29), MS Dhoni (26), Yuvraj Singh (26), Gautam Ghambir (26), Dinesh Karthik (22) and Virender Sehwag (29) represent the next generation of Indian stars with Singh a superstar in the making. His form recently has been very solid, particularly in the one-day arena. The selectors' overlooking of Dhoni as captain may come back to haunt them after his team-building job during the Twenty20 World Cup, which the Indians won. And, not selecting firebrand opener Sehwag for the First Test could be a big mistake, considering the trouble the Australians have had previously with the most unpredictable player in the line-up.
Without the boisterous quick Sreesanth and the possible non-selection of Sehwag, the Indian team looks predictable and old. Sure they have champion batsmen and a superb leg-spinner in their captain Kumble but there is little for the Australians to fear. Without Sreesanth, India's bowling - which has traditionally been its weakness, especially abroad - looks average, as he was the man who shook up the steady Australians during the recent home one-day series. Alone, his aggressive nature would have dragged spectators through the stands. If the First Test goes the locals way, crowds and series interest may again become issues, as they were during the Sri Lankan series.
I truly hope Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly, Laxman and Kumble can make a memorable contest on what is likely to be their last ventures Down Under. Australian fans have seen the best of them in the past but this tour may have been the perfect opportunity to have gotten a glimpse into the Indian side's future.
The old men are sure to be tested - and most likely defeated - by a hungry and seemingly unstoppable Australian side, starting on Boxing Day at the MCG on Wednesday.
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