da luck： Except for a couple of minor surprises the selection of theIndian team for the two Test series in New Zealand has been alongpredictable lines
da dobrowin： Partab Ramchand28-Nov-2002Except for a couple of minor surprises the selection of theIndian team for the two Test series in New Zealand has been alongpredictable lines.The first surprise involves the number of players making thetrip. For a three-week tour, consisting of just two Tests, onefirst-class game and a limited overs match, one would think that15 would have been enough instead of 16. This way, there is adistinct possibility that a player or two could return withoutplaying a single game on the tour.
© CricInfoOne recalls how Woorkheri Raman was subjected to this unfortunatetreatment on the tour of Sri Lanka nine years ago. That was afive-week tour comprising three Test matches, three one-dayinternationals and a first-class match and yet the left-handedbatsman did not get to play a single game. Besides the fact thatit is quite needless to take superfluous ‘baggage’ on a trip, itdoes no good for a player’s morale when he becomes aware that heis just a glorified tourist. Two wicketkeepers on a short triplike this is an obvious luxury. And certainly at least onebatsman or one bowler will have practically nothing to do on thetour.In this connection one recalls that even when India toured NewZealand in 1994, the team comprised only 15 players and that wasa four-week long tour during which two first-class games, a Testmatch and four one-day internationals were played. And the numberwas again 15 on the last trip there four years ago when the fiveweek tour comprised two first-class matches and three Tests.Perhaps, the extra number is an insurance against the growingnumber of niggling injuries carried by players as a result of toomuch cricket.Secondly, Indian spin bowlers have always done well in NewZealand from the spin quartet in the sixties and seventies toDilip Doshi and Ravi Shastri in the 80s to Venkatpathy Raju, AnilKumble and Rajesh Chauhan in the 90s. India, in fact, have nevergone to New Zealand without less than three specialist spinbowlers in the squad. Even on the lightning tour in 1994 whenonly one Test match was played, Kumble, Raju and Chauhan werefielded and in 1998-99 the spin bowlers were Kumble, Harbhajanand Sunil Joshi.Given this background one would have expected a third spinner preferably Sarandeep Singh – to get the nod unless the selectorsare thinking in terms of Virender Sehwag being a serious spinalternative.
© CricInfoIn the absence of Javagal Srinath and Kumble, the return ofMurali Kartik and Tinu Yohannan was always on the cards. Kartikcaught the eye with some penetrative bowling in the one-dayseries against the West Indies but there is no doubt that he canbe a handy proposition in Test matches too. An attacking bowlerwith the ideal temperament, Kartik should be given full rein onthe short tour to display his skill.Yohannan has been the first reserve among the pace bowlers forsome time now and his recall gives the Kerala bowler anotheropportunity to cement his place in the squad particularly withSrinath in the evening of his career.I am happy that Shiv Sundar Das is back. Not too long ago, thediminutive Orissa batsman was strongly challenging Navjot SinghSidhu for the tag of India’s finest opener in the post-Gavaskarperiod. Since then he has been discarded rather prematurely. Buteven with the selectors plumping for Sanjay Bangar, there islittle doubt that the need of the hour is a specialist openingbatsman.With his technical proficiency, Das, whose Test career average isstill almost 35, fits the role admirably. One can only hope thathe gets a chance in the Tests, for India could certainly do withhis intense concentration and fierce determination at the top ofthe order.The rest of the squad picked themselves but even among theseplayers the performance of two or three will be watched with morethan passing interest for they have either not exactlyestablished themselves in the team or have been in indifferentform.
