Did India prepare for the Tests?

The one question that repeats itself in the aftermatch of the shambolic defeat at Karachi is: Did India have a gameplan for this Test series...

The one question that repeats itself in the aftermatch of the shambolic defeat at Karachi is: Did India have a gameplan for this Test series? Greg Chappell8217;s ploys for ODIs are well-known but he seemed to have missed a trick or two when it came to the Tests.

No regular openers, no right-hand fast bowler or variety in the pace attack, no genuine turner of the ball, no middle-order batsman who looked like showing enough spine to play quality fast bowling8230;And no sign of how Team India will change things for the Tests against England and the West Indies.

Indeed, it seems India never got out of the ODI mode, at which they8217;ve been far more successful. Their bowlers bowl in short bursts, the batsmen score at a rapid pace before getting out. Sachin8217;s injuries may prevent him from playing the longer Test innings but he can bat for 20 or 30 overs that an ODI demands.

Against England at home, and then in the West Indies, India will face an even sharper attack than what they came across against Pakistan. They cannot afford to risk Dravid8217;s no. 3 position nor continue to rely on conditions for Pathan and Harbhajan to take wickets. Tendulkar and Laxman are currently not in the best of their form and Ganguly8217;s future remains uncertain.

The time is finally ripe for India to go ahead and bring in more youngsters into the Test side, with proper planning, as seems to be the case in one-dayers.

Mohd Kaif has remained out of the Test team more often than his performances demand. VRV Singh8212;the Punjab fast bowler8212;is ready to play at the next big level. Wasim Jaffer8217;s outstanding performance in the domestic circuit certainly recommends another chance while youngsters like Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa and Sree Santh need to be given a serious look-in.

As much as India plan to work on the one-day team, match by match and day by day, to try and win the World Cup next year, there needs to be some serious planning in the Test format too8212;where maybe after a year, there is a young team ready to take over the responsiblity from the seniors who are approaching the end of their careers.