India-West Indies ODI Series
India-West Indies ODI SeriesFirstly, I am not writing this blog just because India had lost the series and out to crucify them rather it is an exercise to put into perspective why we had failed in this mission. To simply put it, the strategy was all wrong. Just because it worked wonders in the subcontinent doesn't necessarily mean that the same would work all around the world, not that the pitches in the West Indies as it used to be before. Looking at the way the series has progressed, it is safe to say that it resembles, if anything, the pitches in Sri Lanka, where we failed too. Lemme deconstruct the strategy used by Dravid and Chappell. Firstly they used five batsmen and playing five bowlers with Dhoni as the allrounder. Much as we would like to think Pathan as an allrounder, he has a long way to go before he can be labeled one, but of course he can play this role in the subcontinent. Let us look at the five batsmen theory. If we are looking to play with five batsmen, then we three of those batsmen should in form and play well collectively, but this not the case with Sehwag firing only once in a blue moon with Dravid and Yuvraj being the only two batsmen in prime form, although Dravid has failed in the last three ODIs. Although Kaif had three scores in the 60s, he did set fire on the ground. When it comes to crunch and playing big shots, he is a big letdown. He never had the shotmaking ability nor does he have the innovativeness that one needs to overcome that limitation. That leaves Suresh Raina, the poor little boy who has already been labeled as the finisher, the Michael Bevan of India and all that, on whom the media has already built so much pressure. Although no doubt he is a great talent, he still has some way to go before he can assume the role of no. 3 batsman. The allrounder, Dhoni, although he did well in the last one dayer, is still not comfortable and has not adjusted to the slow, low conditions prevailing there, how hard he may try. The less about the bowlers about their batting the better. For the three matches successively, Bravo was bowling nothing but slower deliveries, still Agarkar could not really come to terms with it, for that matter even the top order batsmen like Kaif couldn't. It puzzles me why haven't they come to grips with his slower deliveries, what is the coach is doing here to overcome this problem???? Is that so hard to spot or is it really a surprise weapon. It hardly is one as we, the armchair critics, ourselves can see that he is going to bowl nothing but slower deliveries. The reason we lost the series is because he had a major influence in this series.
Now, coming to the bowlers, Agarkar and Harbhajan are the only two bowlers who are earning their respect. The others are just making up the numbers with Pathan being largely ineffective. So, whatever the target is we are not able to defend it, not that there are lots actually speaking.
So, what is the solution for this? Play with six batsmen, Dhoni and four bowlers, leaving out Sreeshanth and bring in Uthappa. Sehwag and Uthappa being the openers. Dravid should take the No. 3 position, followed by Yuvraj, Kaif, Raina, Dhoni (or Dhoni, Raina depending upon the situation), Pathan, Agarkar, Harbhajan, and Powar. Although the series is lost, the pride is at stake. This is, I think, they should have done in the last match itself. Anyways, lets hope that we will put the sword across and win this battle at least.
Thanks for your time. See you soon.
posted by Sprite @ 11:38 PM
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