On the field, only one winner

Controversy has rarely led to good cricket but sometimes it is best to exorcise the ghosts. Chappell made it clear, or so it seems for it hasn8217;t been seen in quotes, that he didn8217;t think Ganguly commanded a place in the test team. And Ganguly responded with the kind of vigil at the crease that we hadn8217;t seen for a long time. Indeed, for Ganguly the batsman, this might have been a blessing in disguise. Certainly it will be good if he can look at it that way.

I interviewed both of them live and I must admit that neither seemed to be gunning for each other. Ganguly was almost reluctant to talk about it and Chappell said he did not want to provide more oxygen to the situation. In public, both seemed to have handled it quite well. Now both parties need to approach the issue with maturity and with a clear vision; both possess it and have it in them to put India first. The rapprochement, like justice, has to be seen to happen and it needs to be swift, over the next couple of days. Otherwise things might fester and people could draw their own conclusions; either event could only fan the fire.

There is a deeper issue though and that has to do with team climate. For a while now this team has given the impression that they are going through the motions, there is insecurity in the air and, as a result, protecting the place is acquiring priority.

Chappell is trying to adopt the strong medicine route and while that may well be the best, the patient seems to believe that it might be too much too soon. Chappell, and indeed India8217;s selectors, need to find the path between creating insecurity and reducing this comfort factor.

Communication and respect will be the key. It shouldn8217;t be difficult provided the selectors have a long-term verdict on Ganguly. Currently the selectors themselves don8217;t have a long term existence and the truth is that most confidential discussions emanate from there. That is a hole that needs to be breached as well for the coach should be able to speak in private about his key players to those that take decisions without having that assessment communicated back to the players immediately.

It has happened. Too many people in our cricket protect their turf and give away the larger piece of land. The big picture to them is uncomfortable, the narrow constituency is the more critical.

Amidst all this a cricket match took place. India reconfirmed their strength, the major characters in the story got centuries, the justifiably aggrieved bystander got a strokeful 77, Pathan continued to demolish the minnows and Harbhajan became the fastest to 200 wickets!

Scoreboard

Zimbabwe 1st innings 279
India 1st innings 554.
Zimbabwe 2nd innings: B Taylor lbw Pathan 4, T Duffin b Khan 2, H Mazakadsa c Kumble b Pathan 2, D Ebrahim b Pathan 1, T Taibu c Kaarthick b Kumble 52, H Streak lbw Pathan 0, C Coventry c Gambhir b Harbhajan 24, A Blignaut b Harbhajan 26, K Dabengwa lbw Harbhajan 16, G Ewing lbw Harbhajan 13, B Mahwire n o 13, Extras b-2, w-2, nb-7 11; Total all out in 47.5 overs 185.
FoW: 1-4, 2-9, 3-9, 4-16, 5-18, 6-67, 7-110,8-130, 9-138.
Bowling: Pathan 12-4-53-4, Zaheer 8-1-28-1, Harbhajan 155-1-59-4, Kumble 12-2-43-1.