Due for dentures

Lacking in bite, is how experts view India8217;s bowling department in the West Indies

IF these were the days of Timeless Tests, India would have been leading 2-0 against the West Indies and could even dare to dream of a historic whitewash in the Caribbean. The stark reality, however, is that Indian bowlers have twice in two Tests failed to seal the issue in 90 overs on the final day and have proved the ineffectiveness of their toothless bite giving the team management a lot to chew on.

One can harp on the dropped catches, those flat newly-laid pitches, Brian Lara8217;s Soca Warriors8217; inspired resolve, but finally, the 8216;show cause8217; notice needs to be addressed to the bowling department. On the two crucial final days of the series, none of the Indian bowlers conceded more than four runs per over but at the same time the wicket-taking balls were few and far between. With the team8217;s vision focused on 2007 and the pre-Caribbean tour dream run in ODIs meant the economy rate was low in Tests, but the strike rate 8212; balls needed to take wickets 8212; was alarmingly high.

Former India captain Ajit Wadekar hits the nail on the head when he explains bowlers8217; mixed-up priorities. 8216;8216;They are playing like machines. With so many matches 8212; with Tests and ODIs overlapping 8212; they seem to have forgotten the difference between the two versions of the game.8217;8217; And, as an afterthought, adds: 8216;8216;Actually, tell me, do they even have the time to sit together and come up with a game plan?8217;8217;

The lack of a plan was noticeable in the second session on the final day at St John8217;s and St Lucia when the West Indies batsmen dropped anchor. 8216;8216;What matters is the killer instinct and the intelligence, which the pacers have lacked so far. Individually, Sreesanth or Munaf, both are fine. But they should be made to understand that you8217;ve got to make the batsmen play, and to do that, you have got to bowl straight if you want to dismiss the opposition. Sadly, that8217;s been missing,8217;8217; says former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad.

So, have the Indian bowlers hit a new low mid-way through the West Indian tour? Not quite, in case one takes stock of India8217;s recent record in delivering the knockout punch. The final day folly in the West Indies was just par for the course. Traditionally, the Indians have the worst record when it comes to getting a team out in the second innings. Recent records have reconfirmed the fact. In the last eight Tests that India have played 8212; three away in Pakistan, three at home against England and two in the West Indies 8212; Rahul Dravid8217;s bowlers have needed at an average, 108 overs to dismiss their rivals. So it doesn8217;t come as a surprise when India found 90 overs too few twice in the last two Tests.

Former India offie Erapalli Prasanna goes to the extent of saying that had 8216;8216;the team management got the bowling combination right, India would have been 2-0 up in the series.8217;8217; Prasanna gives his take on the ideal combination. 8216;8216;Not playing Harbhajan was the main reason behind the last Test8217;s failure. Harbhajan8217;s experience and, most importantly, his nature of playing attacking cricket would have been the West Indies8217; biggest threat. Contrary to popular belief that part-time bowlers like Sehwag lack the temperament to win matches outright, Sehwag was impressive, although he understandably lacks the killer instinct.8217;8217;

Former India coach Madan Lal seconds it. 8216;8216;The mindset of a batsman facing Harbhajan is different to the one when he faces a part-timer like Sehwag. Though Sehwag bowled well, you certainly need a regular bowler,8217;8217; he says.

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With K Shriniwas Rao
Inputs from Nadim Siraj and GS Vivek