The 2000th test is heading to a riveting final days play. The people at the crease have done it on numerous occasions, yet this would test their mental strength at the twilight of their careers with India up there in the test rankings.
I thought of writing this small note after seeing the reactions on social networking websites and other modes of communication to the rest of the world. About one fourth of this world watches the game of cricket. That number would significantly decrease when the love for the game is restricted to the oldest form the game, test cricket. The latter that follow test cricket are of different types.
1. “I don’t have the time, I read Cricinfo, but I am still an avid follower of test cricket” – notorious college goers who do not read anything else on the web.
2. The thatha (grandfather) who sleeps 8 hours during the day, comes out to see test cricket on the TV and gives his expert opinion – “Dei, what are you watching I say? Ellam match fixing da (It’s all fixed), and this Dravid cannot play the ball outside the crease. Chumma lottu vekardhu paathu time waste pannadha (Don’t waste your time watching these people defend the ball). Not even one fielder sweats in this game even if they play it over 5 days.
3. The most popular fan – confused Indian youth who always expects the team to win. This has been happening for the past 22 years. For eg: They tweeted praises about Ishant Sharma when he rattled the Windies, but became his biggest critic after watching his first innings spell. He again became his hero during the first hour of play on day 4 and by the end they had a mouthful of things to say when England dominated the rest of the two sessions.
4. Lastly, an Indian, non supporter of the team. “Anyday Australia wouldn’t have thrown away the game. Zaheer, Sachin injured or resting are just excuses.” That would be their status, buzz, comment or their plus? To be precise, they have a list of requirements that India should have satisfied in order to support their ranking. Things like, not starting with Ishant after lunch 65/5, the 162 run stand for 7th wicket and talk about injury, they would find a way to bring IPL in and blame it all on the Indian cricket board. They would end the conversation with, “India is a good team, not the champ team, champion teams like Australia find a way.”
Frankly, I have started to love test cricket over the last decade but for the above mentioned pests. Legends retired, but new heroes are born in every test match. What is more pleasing than the Wall draining out the opposition, our wounded soldier VVS make batting look as simple as a child cutting a cake or dear Sach dominating proceedings in the first innings?
India does present a valid case to be termed the number one test side in the world. If we were to have Sehwag and Gambhir opening any innings in a test match, you sure would experience what I saw in Chennai 2008. I am not sure if there any other opening combination currently that can create the same magic which these guys present us with. For Sehwag, what matters is to make sure he gets into every bowlers nightmare. The more time spent analyzing Sehwag and his game, the more he stays at the crease to demolish the opposition out of the game. With minimal footwork but maximum intent, there is nothing much one can argue about a guy who has a strike rate of 82 overall and has scored almost 8000 runs in test cricket. Gambhir on the other hand, is a very talented test opener and plays within his limitations and the best opener to support Sehwag during any of the latter’s onslaught. Gambhir has proved to be the rock in the most difficult conditions. On most occasions, he finds himself against a bunch of fast bowlers twice his height trying to break his jaw but he is never short of words when they stare at him after the follow through. He has grown with maturity and is surely a match winner for the future.
Then walk in the TriGods-Lord Brahma (the creator), Lord Vishnu (the preserver) and Lord Shiva (the destroyer). Note: The Gods do not walk in the same order as stated and the analogy is very relative to the reader’s discretion. There are more articles about these three on the web than about any trending topic. I do not have anything to add on to what has been told.
The India team will struggle for atleast a period of five years when these three decide to hang up their boots. That would be a tough phase, like it has been for every other international team which hands over the baton to the next set of players.
The number 6 spot has always been a spot of bother for the Indian Team. I think Raina is an amazing find and it is a matter of time he settles in and understands the way it works. Sometimes, players do get carried away. Playing your first test at Lords is not always easy, even the legends have struggled here. Probably the only Indian who has found it like home was Dilip Vengsarkar, may be every batsmen might want to pick his brain before the second test.
And walks our superhuman Dhoni. Cometh the hour cometh the man. Will it be his day, like it did in his first tour to England? Can he save the Lords test again? From what we know, he surely is missing the next test because of the slow over rate. There ends our famed batting line up.
Can the tail wag a bit with our wounded soldier yet again? Is Sachin coming at 7 and Gambhir at 6 a blessing in disguise? I read somewhere that when the doors of the temple are closed, even the Gods are behind “The wall”. Can the Englishmen get past Rahul Dravid?
The last chapter in their respective careers. Can they do it, yet again?
