Mumbai sets the tone for the Collapso tour

Earlier, we used to be thrilled talking about three Ws, Hall and Griffith, Kanhai and Sobers, Roberts and Marshall, Walsh and Benjamin, Lloyd and Richards, just to name few. Since Brian Lara is not accompanying the team, why should a cricket fanatic rush to the stadium.

This team of West Indies is full of youngsters amongst who only Sarawan looks very promising. There are only two experienced battle weary soldiers in Hooper and Chandrpaul who would require someone reliable to stand at other end to get some worthwhile total for their bowlers to bowl at the opposition.

The bowling too does not look that menacing except Dillon and Cuffy provided they get responsive wickets. The fielding also looks quite sloppy.

Whereas, Indians appear formidable in batting, perhaps the best batting line up in the cricketing world at the moment with almost each and every batsman in good nick. Though it is too early to compare, Sehwag is heading fast towards getting close to Sachin’s talent, technique, strokeplay, attitude and the urgency to murder any attack in the world. His knock of 147 runs was a real treat to watch and that too in that sweltering October heat in Mumbai. His shot selection too is improving with each innings he plays.

If somebody asks you who is the most organized batsman in the world at present, I am sure you will say without any hesitation that Great China wall called Rahul Dravid, the most impregnable one! To get four centuries on the trot, to get 1106 runs in last 1o tests and only 15 innings with an average of 87.08, one needs lot s of temperament, great deal of patience and tremendous talent. And whatever Rahul does, he does for the team and that too very stylishly.

Isn’t Saurav lucky to have a galaxy of such star batsmen like Sachin, Sehwag, Rahul, Laxman and himself! Anyway, there were great expectations of public from Sachin, a youngest player to have played 100 tests, to get a hundred on his 101st test on his home ground.

Looks like, he is averse to such functions on the eve of such occasions, wherein others bloat in his glory and the glamour! He also failed to get a hundred on his 100th test at Oval, England having come so close to it! Will somebody get the hint! The way India started with a record opening partnership after winning the toss, it was almost certain that it would pile up huge total, say somewhere around 550 runs. It could not be achieved basically because the West Indies bowlers went negative. They cordoned off one side for the medium pacers and also bowled the spin wild outside the leg stump, the theory advocated by Nasser Hussain, that great captain of England. Such negative tactics take roots only when the team is suspicious about its strength and is not willing to take any chances or does want to think positive.

Or otherwise, England could have easily gobbled the series against India played recently with one up to start with. Such tactics definitely amount to unfair game though within the rules. It need to be changed or the test matches will not have much following in future. Is ICC listening! Can BCCI take it up with ICC strongly!