So the test series is finally over. As the last wicket fell at the Adelaide Oval, India's tour of misery was over, atleast in the longer version of the game. For nearly half of the XI that took the field in Adelaide, it was surely their last Test innings in Australia, maybe their last innings itself. As another 0-4 whitewash became a reality (the writing was on the wall ever since that massive hammering at the SCG), the fans and media back home immediately jumped in with bazookas in hand. The usual suspects were rounded off and sentenced: the ageing seniors, captain and coach, BCCI, the selectors and, of course, that favourite whipping boy, the IPL. To condemn the last two was something I found amusing. When the squad of 17 was announced, there was near unanimity that this was the best the selectors could send Down Under. With the benefit of hindsight, to now say that Srikkanth and co. should have selected X instead of A is improper. As regards the IPL, when the majority of the batting order had already made their names before the IPL started, it beats me how the IPL could have corrupted their batting style. Indeed, India's batting star on the tour is partly an IPL product.
Anyways, now is the time to look forward and not behind. But it is important to remember the lessons of the past while planning the future. And the future is not far ahead. Starting in late 2013, India embark on possibly their most prolonged and toughest string of overseas assignments. Starting with South Africa, the Indian team move on to New Zealand, England and finally Australia in the space of 14 odd months, playing 15 Tests in all (this is excluding playing the West Indies at home). And if all this was not enough cricket, this crazy bit of scheduling finally culminates in the defence of the World Cup in Australia in 2015 (that is after a 4 Test and ODI series there). Hence the title of this post. It is for 2014 that the Indian Test team needs to prepare. And the change needs to happen at all levels. Here are my two cents on some of the things the team, the board and, finally, the fans can do:
a. Leave the seniors alone : The demand, indeed the insistence, from a section of the fans and the media, that the batting trinity call it a day immediately is sad to say the least. And I say this not because I feel that they still have more years to give to Indian cricket. Like most others, I am in agreement that the old needs to give way to the new (in fact, it has been my constant rant that Sachin, Dravid and Laxman should not have played the tests against the West Indies together, a rotation policy should have been followed). But then I also do believe that the decision to retire is theirs alone and no one else should dictate that to them. All three have been great servants of Indian cricket and they would be the last persons to be accussed of having anything else than the team's interest at heart. So, if they feel that their time is up and they are not adding value to the team, I am convinced they will be first ones to quit. I am sure they are in deep introspection now and we should patiently wait for the announcement, whenever it comes. In any case, the next Test assignment is not until September, so why fret over this issue now ?.
b. Start identifying the team for 2014: Here the role of the selectors and team management comes into focus. I believe that there should be a role identified for each of the core players in the team basically on whether he is a long-term test prospect or if he is more suited to the shorter versions of the game. And if people like Rohit Sharma, Kohli, Pujara and Rahane are identified as the core of India's test team in 2014 and beyond, it is essential that they are nurtured and yet, given good exposure before hand. For e.g. once the IPL ends in May, it might be worthwhile for these guys to undergo a county stint in England. If it means that they miss some meaningless ODIs in Sri Lanka, so be it. And it would be even better still if someone like a Dravid can travel and work with them on the county circuit. This, in addition to the very beneficial Emerging Players Tournament subsequently, will help the youngsters gain valuable exposure. The Aussies have used IPL and other visits shrewdly in getting used to Indian conditions. It is time we repay the faith.
Equally important is the role of MS Dhoni as a wicketkeeper. He has publicly announced his intentions to relook his Test feature after 2013. That would the most inopportune time, especially with such important series coming up in 2014. In case MSD plans to quit Tests, it should be sooner than later. The selectors need to have a word with him regarding this and accordingly, groom a couple of young stumpers for the job. Similarly, when it comes to bowling, there needs to be careful handling of the bowling unit. Zaheer, though he lasted very well in the 4 Tests, may not be around in 2014. And Ishant continues to baffle. For a man who has played 45 tests, he hardly looks like someone who is ready to take over as the leader of the attack. It is interesting to note the role played by Craig McDermott in shaping the current Aussie pace attack. Maybe having a bowling coach with vast test experience might be the answer. Another important aspect of the role of the bowling coach is to manage the injuries that have lately become part and parcel of a bowler's life. The same holds for the spinners as well.
These are just some of the steps that can be taken to ensure that, come 2014, India has a young and stable core of Test match players. Of course, this also needs measures to be taken at the ground-level (read our domestic structures) to ensure that we are ready even beyond 2014. In my next post, I will put down some thoughts on how, in my opinion, we need to look at the long-term.
Till then
Cheers
Amit
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