By Bishen Singh Bedi
Courtesy: UNI

February 11, 2006
 
At long last Sunil Gavaskar has come out in the open on the topic of chucking. It is only fair that the chairman of a prominent cricket committee of the ICC makes his stance clear. Although it is still not very clear how the menace of the growing number of chuckers internationally will be curbed.

Only a few days ago, I was watching a replay of a fairly recent Sri Lanka vs South Africa match on the telly. Sri Lanka's highest Test wicket-taker bowled a couple of leg-breaks. I was baffled with the clean action, perfectly correct and normal release of the ball with least assistance from the elbow, which, for some odd reasons, is overplayed when off-breaks are thrown up. All puns intended!

So this business of seeking shelter in physical defects at the time of birth is nothing more than hog-wash. In any case, why should a natural defect become a source of strength in the eyes of the laws of the game. Would a naturally blind person be allowed to fly an aircraft? Or a handicapped person, in any other way, finds it easily comfortable to join the armed forces? All these queries I am posing for the technical committee of the ICC.

In Pakistan, a fair amount of heat has been generated with the javelin-throw action of Shoaib Akhtar. Greg Chappell has found a pleasant supporter in India's former coach John Wright. We can expect much of this heat to trickle on to the field in the remaining one-dayers.

Also the dismissal of Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq in Peshawar was not taken very kindly by the followers in the host country. Rightly or wrongly, we may find the 'dosti' aspect of the series taking the back seat. And a lot of fire will emerge in the remaining contests, making up for all the staleness in the first two Tests.

The Indian bowling has come in for a lot of flak on this particular tour. Both experience and inexperience have got the stick for obvious negative tactics. Looking for dot balls with wayward strategy is poor cricket thinking. But kindly allow me ask what is India's main strength? Is it batting or bowling? Batting, of course.

So, all the more reason to expect 40-50 extras runs to lend cover to the mediocre bowling. Also, every fielder on his toes would help the Indian captain look the man in charge, who must come in at number three. All other experimentations can wait till against inferior oppositions.

India's six main batsmen must last the 50 overs. In Peshawar, the entire side got bowled out in less than 50 overs. So with or without the deplorable Duckworth-Lewis law, India would have still lost.

And pray tell me does slowing down of the overs help in any way the scoring rate to drop? The Indian captain and the team were rightly fined. Hopefully, the entire unit will have learnt some vital lessons.

Ramesh Powar joining the squad is a sensible move. I would have liked Anil Kumble to stay on for the moment. Everybody is clamouring for one genuine fast bowler in the Indian bowling line-up. Well, if you don't have him, learn to live without him. Make the best of what you have, instead of cribbing about lacking what you don't. I still feel this Indian bowling is good enough to contain the Pakistanis.

All we need is discipline and loads of commitment. There can never be an excuse for lack of effort. Both Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan are not beginners. That is all I can say to spur them on.

Finally, Team India must show a strength of character. They can still win the one-day series and restore their collective self-belief. The need of the hour is staying together and to abstain from backbiting. Win or lose, the dressing room ought to give positive and happy signals. A little pause and thought into individual deeds needs appreciation at this crucial juncture. The loss of Test series will be erased from public memory if the one-day script is written with fresh impetus.