Skipper Tendulkar’s tactical error

The whole nature of the day's play was altered in the space of two deliveries. Tillekeratne was given out to a dubious lbw decision and Lan...

The whole nature of the day’s play was altered in the space of two deliveries. Tillekeratne was given out to a dubious lbw decision and Lanka de Silva was hit in the face and had to retire hurt. Those two slices of luck — and make no mistake India were struggling to get wickets at that stage — changed a period of indifferent Indian cricket to one of positive opportunity.

With only Aravinda de Silva’s wicket in the morning session there was a certain amount of frustration beginning to show in the Indian bowling as the two Sri Lankans batted away with their rearguard action. Thirty six overs had been bowled — the new ball had made no effect on the batsmen and Tendulkar persisted with the seamers when it was `crying out’ for the spinners to be given a chance with the hard ball that would bounce more.

Kuruvilla was bowling straight up and down with hardly any movement, but bowling from around the wicket — very wide on the return crease he was lucky to have the left-hander Tillekeratne adjudged lbw. I felt it hit the batsman on his pads in front of the stumps, but from the angle of delivery would have carried on to miss the leg stump easily.

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Within seven balls Lanka de Silva got himself into a tangle to a fast short ball from Srinath. I think he was going to duck — realised it was not so short — then tried to stand up and play it. By changing his mind he was late and missed the ball as it went into the grill and his face.

It is always unpleasant to see a player injured. No blame should be attached to the bowler as he was just doing his job, but it goes on to show how important it is to check your equipment thoroughly and leave nothing to chance.

Seeing blood pouring from the mouth of the injured wicket-keeper-batsman must have had some effect on the incoming tailenders. Vaas tried to hook a bouncer and Wikremasinghe was bowled slogging. Uncharacteristic shots in the circumstances of Sri Lanka trying to save the game by taking up as much time as possible batting. I think they were concerned about getting hit and didn’t want to hang around. That one ball to Lanka de Silva injured him but did more psychological damage to the batsmen following.

So from a struggling situation whereby India couldn’t bowl Sri Lanka out, the whole innings collapsed quickly. This gave India the opportunity to grab the game by the scruff of its neck — and this they did.

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In a thrilling chase for runs, a number of batsmen were prepared to sacrifice themselves. It was admirable but not absolutely necessary. After Sidhu and Dravid got out, some reckless shot playing wasted wickets and was a little counter productive. It was like lemmings falling over a cliff as player after player went for a big hit only to hole out to outfield catches.

India would have got more runs quicker late in the day if the batsmen had picked the gaps. This would have allowed Tendulkar to declare earlier and get another few overs at the opposition. When India did get the opportunity to bowl at the Lankan opening batsmen, much of it was a load of rubbish. Fast, short and wide may look good to those who don’t know their cricket, but anytime an opening batsman doesn’t have to play at the ball he is happy. And two relieved opening batsmen survived easily to live to fight another day.

Nevertheless another superb day’s cricket has left us with the mouth-watering prospect and possibility of maybe an Indian win, i.e., if all the bowlers bowl well — which means pitch the ball up!!