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This is an archive article published on December 21, 1997

Selectors caught out between facts and fiction

NEW DELHI, December 20: It seems our National cricket selectors are too tired to talk. It must have been an exhausting day yesterday after ...

NEW DELHI, December 20: It seems our National cricket selectors are too tired to talk. It must have been an exhausting day yesterday after they swung the axe around like blind woodcutters and they are yet to give coherent explanatons for the large-scale felling. And, in the absence of any word from quarter, let’s check out whether the facts justify the selectors’ faith.

And, what do the numbers say? That except for Sachin Tendulkar, who is not part of the middle-order (courtesy orders from the wise men) none of the others can be said to be automatic choices.

Let’s check out the new team for starters. Well, what do we have here after openers Ajay Jadeja and Saurav Ganguly? Skipper Sachin Tendulkar, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Mohammed Azharuddin and a new entry VVS Laxman, who, all this while, has been seen as fit only for Tests. But wasn’t Rahul Dravid supposed to figure somewhere there? Or was his performance just not good enough?

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Maybe, a quick glance down the Indian team’s match-ups this year would provide a better answer. After all, numbers don’t lie.

Here is the low down on who, what, where and why:

Azhar was dropped in Independence Cup for what was not only seen as poor form on Windies tour, but also a veiled questioning of his attitude.

Sidhu has played only five matches for India this calendar year (three in Sharjah, one in West Indies and one in the Asia Cup in Lanka).

Laxman has not played for India in one-dayers this year

Dravid has been part of each of the eight one-day series in 1997. He has had to often come in at tense situations after India lost early wickets, and has played in every position from opener to No. 7. Interestingly, he hit two fifties in three matches as opener in the South Africa triangular series.

In India’s eight matches in the South Africa triangular series he was opener in three.

He came in at No.5 in two matches, No.3 in another two and No.4 in one. In Independence Cup he was No.3 for all matches. In Asia Cup, he had to bat at No.4 in first match and No.3 in the third one. In the three ODIs in Sri Lanka, he was asked to bat at No.4 twice and No.5 once. In Sahara Cup, he remained at No.3, except in the last when he came in at No. 7.

A look at each of the series:

ROUND ONE: (Triangular series in South Africa)

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The eight matches include the rained-off final which was re-started. In that Azhar scored 60 in 81 balls before being run out, while Dravid, coming in at two down for 54, scored 33 in 70 balls. That stats pulls down Dravid’s strike rate for the series.

India won just one match out of the eight — including the rained-off final.

Dravid got 84 in 94 balls in final but after his dismissal India collapsed to 234 in 39.2 overs.

ROUND TWO: (ODI series against WI)

Third match comes in at 27/1 and scores 74, but India lose due to late order collapse n Fourth match comes in at 4/1 and holds the top order with 30 (61b)

This time Dravid bats throughout at No.3

ROUND THREE: (Independence Cup)

Dravid’s best one-day series this year. One 100 and one fifty in three matches. Tops the run charts for India with 189 runs in three matches with strike rate of 81.89; Interstungly, Azhar does not figure in the series.

Highlight for India was Dravid’s magnificent 107 in 116 balls (slow coach?) against Pakistan in key match. Other scorers (Kambli 65 and Ganguly 33), Tendulkar scores 4.

ROUND FOUR: (Asia Cup)

Dravid shifted up and down the order; comes in at No.4 for first match against SL, situation 35/2 and he shores up India with 69 off 102 balls.

Azhar is promoted ahead of Dravid in second match against Bangladesh as India hit 132 for one in 15 overs for win and qualify for final.

ROUND FIVE: (ODI series against SL)

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Sidhu not in team

Dravid was asked to bat at No.4 for first and last match and at No.5 in second match and he came in at 106/3 and 107/3 in last two matches.

Dravid hit 42 in the final where Azhar (65) coming after Dravid was involved in a controversial runout. At that point, India chasing 264 crashed from 227 for five to 255 allout with Jadeja also getting runout.

Azhar makes his mark with 111 in first match to top the Indian run charts with 211 runs with one century and one fifty in four matches with a strike rate of 90.55.

ROUND SIX: Sahara Cup

Sidhu once again does not figure

Series good only for Azhar, who takes 197 runs at Strike Rate of 65.88; Tendulkar notches up only 99 runs in five innings for SR 55.00. Dravid plays four innings for 66 runs at 44.29. But then, he bats at No.3 for three matches coming in at 52/1, 34/1 and 12/1. Jadeja, Azhar and Robin are promoted ahead of him in next match where he doesn’t get to bat. Incredibly in last match, he comes in at No.7.

ROUND SEVEN (ODI series against Pak)

Once again Sidhu is not in the squad

Dravid plays only one match due to tooth ache; hits 50 (81b) with SR 61.72 (asked to bat at No.5). Azhar (highest 31 in first match) and Tendulkar have poor outing totalling only 30 and 43 respectively in three innings. Azhar run out for six in second match against Karachi. Close affair but doesn’t even wait for the third umpire’s verdict before walking off.

ROUND EIGHT (Champions Trophy)

Dravid kept out of first two matches then pushed into key match against Windies. Yet second highest scorer with 31 off 45 balls second only to Ganguly’s 70. Dravid’s SR 68.88.

Azhar, meanwhile, has a horrible series, 3 against England, 39 against Pak and 4 against Windies for total of 46 runs in three innings with SR 54.76. In the last match he is again caught in runout controversy. Coming in at 127 for three, all he had to do was stay there and lead the team to the not so imposing Windies total of 229 in 50 overs.

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