Sachin8217;s captaincy on trial

DECEMBER 12: Even after 50 years of Independence, the Indian mindset is ever willing to be swayed by a Boycott, a Lillee or a Chappell. Th...

DECEMBER 12: Even after 50 years of Independence, the Indian mindset is ever willing to be swayed by a Boycott, a Lillee or a Chappell. Their thoughts on cricket are expected to go down as gospel. For our flannelled heroes, that is. It has never occurred to our obdurate cricket administrators to take a leaf out of say a Tony Lewis book!!

I am working on the premise that an imported8217; advice would be well taken. So here it goes; This maybe a 50-year-old story. The late Sir Len Hutton opined: 8220;There is nothing so humiliating to a captain as a public exhibition by one of his men who disagrees with an umpire8217;s decision. How much more is it so to his team or his country, when a captain is guilty of a similar offence?8221;

Of course, I am referring to Saurav Ganguly8217;s antics in India8217;s gainly win over New South Wales in Sydney. With or without the referee or the third umpire, there are certain conventions of cricket which can never be interpreted by any legislation. That is why cricket, for reasons comparable toany religion, shall always remain an institution worth a bow and worship.

Just like the North Indian winter, the first Test is already on at Adelaide. And Lo, behold we are not quite prepared. Should we be surprised or shocked? Not the least. Whether it is the last millennium or the next, certain things don8217;t change. Indian cricket8217;s caretakers can take pride in befooling the gullible Indian cricket follower. It is perhaps typical of the dour Indian cricket administrator that he invariably believes that every silver cloud has a black lining. It is well nigh impossible for an Indian official to love or respect players on and off the field.

The drama enacted to pack off Mongia to Australia despite the team management8217;s some other preference, smacks of clear prejudice. When are going to learn the ethics of spurning the petty? And how long before we start looking at cricket in a broad and impartial perspective?

If India8217;s game at Canberra is any indication, it appeared the Aussie PM8217;s hospitality was thelast outing for the tired and home-sick Indians. Poor Kapil Dev he has definitely bitten more than he can chew. Surely, Kapil needs a professional media helper, not to mention some aid on cricket strategy. Both Kapil and Tendulkar are on different planets not by the notorious designs of a Lele or his captain whoever that may be. Indians are up against a fiercely competitive Australian team who are well consumed by an intoverant anger directed against failure.

The Pakistanis were at best, competitive. But they had no clue to Steve Waugh8217;s team planning. The three-Test series against Indians is being marketed as Barood I8217;m not sure on what pretext. It is claimed that Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne will be India-friendly centres. Let me assure all my countrymen and women who follow the willow sport, there is no such thing as friendly opponent in Australia. Aussies love champions, but loath them in the opposition. They will encourage fraternization only if the home team is on top.

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But even among the mostsanguine supporter of Tendulkar8217;s enormous genius, there is a slight apprehension of Sachin8217;s ability to lead. So the quest for self-fulfillment and enjoyment are going to be matters of conflict. This trip will determine Tendulkar8217;s leadership qualities just as Kapil Dev will have his own standards to reach for. My fear is the mere mortals at the disposal of these two giants of Indian cricket. The show has begun and my fond hope is that somebody in the Indian camp will uphold the tri-colour.