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Journalism of Courage
Except for a brief half hour at Leicester when they embraced the predictable, this Indian team has been unrecognisable. Since that period of mayhem, and like a ghost it continues to haunt them, they have looked like they have worn someone else’s clothes. Their talent continues to shine through but it has been accompanied by the kind of resolve I have never seen in an Indian team. They have been cheerful, approachable, communicative but more than anything else, they have been positive.
They haven’t been brooding over defeat, they haven’t looked diffident in tense situations and their self-belief seems to be driving along a path where they can make their luck. They are not moaning over missed opportunities as they have in the past. Instead, they are going out and creating fresh ones. I haven’t seen them do that before.
I like this new air to them. It fits them quite well and I think the change in attitude will surprise many; if they stay with it. Their cricket at Edgbaston was some of the best I have seen;not as much for the talent on display but for the preparedness they showed in a close situation. It was clear there was a plan, bowling changes were made accordingly, field placements were immaculate and they even knew what the Duckworth-Lewis targets would be.
And I think we should put prejudice aside and put our hands up for the captain. He has taken more criticism than any other Indian captain but on Sunday morning he was brilliant. In the last couple of games there has been a new spring to his step and all those who have said that he passes the blame on to others would also have noticed that he took no credit for himself.
He did what every captain does under pressure; he threw the ball to the bowlers he trusts the most. And so, Srinath came on for a fiery early spell, Prasad got two more in to ensure that the excitable Mohanty wasn’t attacked early on and only then did he turn to his rock, Anil Kumble.
Before the game resumed, Kumble was aware that his ten overs controlled India’s future at thisWorld Cup. And he responded magnificently with as good a spell as any you will see. England played like him like primary school students tackling a graduate level physics course. They tried to go down the track to him, they tried to hit him across the line but they forgot that he bowls a wonderful line.
In doing so, they played into his hands. I sometimes wonder if we realise enough the value of the gem we possess. There is a very simple test and Azharuddin will give you the answer immediately. When you are in trouble who is the man you would like to see marking out his run-up?
If a lot of Indians slept well on Saturday night, it was because they knew Kumble had ten overs left and I don’t think a team-man can experience greater joy than merely knowing that.
And as we applaud the wonderful cricket India have played, and as we pass the credit around to Gaekwad, to Azhar, to the team, leave a piece of the cake for another man. If India’s body language looks transformed, up on the list of credits put BobbySimpson’s name. If India are looking at the positives rather than staring at the negatives, it is because in his persuasive but chatty style, Simpson has shown them another side to the same picture.
But India have only climbed a hill. Now the mountain beckons. They need to keep drinking from that bottle of self-belief.
