Tags:
Journalism of Courage
NAGPUR, Nov 30: The second Test between India and Sri Lanka met a watery grave at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium. The unseasonal rains which continued to batter the Orange City for the second day in succession today washed away the interest generated by India8217;s batting display.
South African umpire Cyril Mitchley and India8217;s V K Ramaswamy did not even wait for the scheduled start and called off play at 0900 hrs 8212; a clear indication of the heavy rainfall that the city has been receiving.
Only three sessions of play out of a possible 15 could take place during which the Indians, batting first, made 485.
The spotlight now shifts to Mumbai where the last Test of the three-match series commences from December 3.
The onus will be on the Indians more than their rivals. A victory in the third Test would be a fitting reply to critics who have doubted the hosts8217; winning abilities.
The batsmen appeared to have ironed out the Mohali Test creases if their display here was any indication. Except for opener Nayan Mongia and skipper Sachin Tendulkar, all the other batsmen including Anil Kumble were among runs on a slow track where the ball was turning with the odd ball keeping low.
However, the bowlers have not been able to justify their potential to compliment their batsmen8217;s performance. Besides, the Indian think-tank has to do some soul-searching if the likes of Venkatesh Prasad continue to languish on the bench when the situation is crying for him to be in the eleven.
From the Lankans8217; point of view, it has been a fairly successful run so far. The tactical acumen of Arjuna Ranatunga and the batting depth of the team was instrumental in keeping the Indians at bay at Mohali. Despite the Indians8217; domination here, Ranatunga made his mark by plotting the dismissals of Navjot Sidhu, Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly to deny them well-deserved hundreds.
The Lankan bowling lacks teeth and left-arm spinner Jayantha Silva8217;s inclusion in the side replacing off-spinner Kumara Dharmasena did not help the cause on the VCA strip any better. It was the same error that the Indians too committed by opting for an extra spinner rather than a medium-pacer as the track had even bounce on all three days. However, rains ensured that there was no room for any such retrospection.
However, there is enough space for some introspection as the two teams fly off to Mumbai to renew their rivalry.
