da bet sport： The second warm up game for the Indians touring Zimbabwe, playedagainst the CFX Academy side, was heartwarming and at the same timeset off some alarm bells at the back of the mind
da luck： Anand Vasu06-Jun-2001The second warm up game for the Indians touring Zimbabwe, playedagainst the CFX Academy side, was heartwarming and at the same timeset off some alarm bells at the back of the mind. Playing against aninexperienced side, the Indians showcased their batting might toperfection. Shiv Sunder Das (110 retired), VVS Laxman (100 retired),Hemang Badani (112 not out) all notched up tons and had an opportunityto spend time out in the middle in Zimbabwean conditions. SouravGanguly retired after making a half century, suggesting that he toowas comfortable out in the middle. It must be remembered that he didnot have a particularly memorable run with the bat in the three Testseries against Australia that concluded recently.However, all this is not source for any worry. If anything, it bodesextremely well for the touring side. But a look at the batting orderin the second innings is cause for minor concern. Opening the inningswith Sadagoppan Ramesh was statemate Badani, another southpaw. Havingdone well in the first innings, Badani is seen by some as aprospective candidate for higher honours. However, with Laxman, SachinTendulkar, Ganguly and Rahul Dravid forming the middle order therereally is no place for Badani in the playing XI. Unless of course, hereplaces Ramesh at the top of the order.Although it might be premature to speculate on the possibility ofBadani being asked to fill in as a makeshift opener, the rumblingshave already begun in Zimbabwe. Ramesh, looked upon as the dashing andeven reckless half of India’s opening partnership ‘needs to provehimself’ says a report. Ramesh’s scores of 42 and 52 (retired) in thesecond warm up game have not inspired enough confidence it seems.Although there is enough truth in the statement that Ramesh does havea somewhat cavalier approach to opening the innings, often chasing atballs that are best left alone, it would be a touch unfair to suggestthat he has failed at the highest level. In the 15 Tests and 29innings that Ramesh has played, he averages a healthy 40.17 and hasnotched up a score of 50 or more almost once in three Tests. What hasgiven detractors fuel for fire is a recent lack of consistency inRamesh’s batting. The last eight innings in Test cricket have yieldedscores of 13, 0, 48, 2, 44, 0, 30, 61 and 25.Through the recently concluded Australia tour of India, there werecries from all quarters to replace Ramesh. However, coach John Wrightbacked Ramesh to the end. The focus however seems to be a bitdifferent on an away tour for India. In recent interviews, Wright, aleft handed opening batsman himself, has stressed the need for a solidopening partnership.”We need a bit of consistency in the opening position. I would be veryhappy if we could go to lunch with only one or two down in the firstsession,” he said, speaking to the Press Trust of India. “Just getthrough the first session and see the new ball off and we have got themiddle order to take advantage of that situation,” added Wright.It goes without saying that Das is seen as the calming influence andthe more solid of the two openers. Ramesh himself is not one to runaway from things. “We start with the basic advantage of a right and aleft-handed opening pair. There is another advantage which comes withour batting techniques. While Das is defensive, I tend to go for myshots. It doesn’t allow bowlers to settle down,” said Ramesh.In recent times however, India have experimented unsuccessfully withmakeshift openers on more than one occasion. The last time India werein Zimbabwe, in 1998-99 stumper Nayan Mongia was asked to open theinnings. As it happened Mongia made 1 and 0 as India slumped to a 61-run loss in the one-off Test match. Another foreign tour and anotherscapegoat was found going back to India’s disastrous tour ofAustralia in 1999-2000. MSK Prasad, sent in at the top of the order inthe Sydney Test scored 3 and 5. It must not be forgotten that VVSLaxman opened in four Tests during the tour of the West Indies in 1997when India lost the series 0-1, failing to get 120 in the famous gameat Barbados. Fortunately, wisdom has prevailed in the end and Laxmanis now firmly ensconced in his rightful position in the middle order.Yet another foreign tour has come about and the rumours have startedonce more. If they remain rumours for the duration of the tour, Indiawould have done right by two talented left handed cricketers oneopener and one middle order bat.
