Team-man Sachin proves critics wrong

From Sachin getting 40 or 50 earlier was certainly a bad patch. The Indian team yet did well with that kind of his form since the tour of Zimbabwe two years back. That means, we certainly have now enough strength in our batting and the confidence in our abilities. Thanks to Laxman, the hero at the Eden Garden against the mighty Australians just two years back, that India could avert this defeat by hanging around with Sachin and curbing his natural strokes play. I suppose, that’s what you call team spirit! If Rahul and Saurav hadn’t had those bad decisions not only at Kolkatta but also in the previous two test matches, perhaps, it would have been a clean sweep with India finishing the 3rd Test within 3 and 1/2 days as usual!

All said and done, the umpiring was certainly not upto the mark considering the fact that these two chosen were supposed to be the best amongst the few favored by the apex body called ICC. I’m dead against further upgradation of technology in cricket for the fear that it might lose its originality and charm. However, looking at the performance of these two in the whites make me really wonder whether I should stick to my opinion steadfastly!

It is certainly high time that ICC review this highflying panel and change it at its earliest! Except giving no and wide balls and the LBW decisions, they have nothing else to do these days. That also they falter!

For a change I thought that it might be a repetition of the match we played at Mohali in Punjab way back in 1994 against the West Indies. We lost in 3 and 1/2 days. Thank God, it was not to be at Kolkatta this time. May be, the wicket down there in Moholi was really nasty and fiery, tailor-made for the bowlers like Walsh and Benjamin. And mind you, that wicket was prepared by our own cricketer, called Dalpat Singh, a former Indian wicket keeper. What I’m trying to say that there is really no need for spending a huge chunk of money on foreign experts to change the face of our docile and may be, spinning tracks as made out to be.

Also, such opinion expressed by our so-called experts do take away all the credit for the splendid performance put up by our team even against a formidable team like Australia at home. I really wonder as to why these foreign teams grumble against our wickets! A good team is supposed to be well balanced to play on any track.

And what difference it made by relaying the wickets and planting that Barmuda grass! While the wickets at Mumbai and Chennai went from bad to worst, the wicket at Eden Garden was a true batting or otherwise, it wouldn’t have lasted all the five days.

Looks like, this improved performance in the 3rd test is bound to rejuvenate the West Indies team to do well in one dayers where the wickets are true and good for batting.