From Mid 70s to the late 80s, there were no ICC team ranking, but then no one ever argued that West Indies team then was the best Test team of that era. Similarly the cricket of the 90s and a good part of the 2000s was dominated by Australia. It has been 1 year since India has become no.1 team as per the ICC test rankings and yet people don’t think it deserves to be there. As a fan of test cricket I agree. India has not done enough to prove its outright superiority over others.
“Test” of the Indian Test team starts from 15th Dec 2010, when India takes on the no. 2 test team South Africa in 3 test. Indian team will then be distracted by the world cup but after that we go to West Indies for 3 tests in May to July 2011. India then head to England from July to Sept 2011 for 4 tests. Later in October India host West Indies for 3 more tests. Finally in End 2011,India tours down under to meet the Oz in 3 tests. These 16 tests will determine how great Indian test team is.
There are two main questions that need to be addressed if we are to ensure, test team is at No. 1 position.
We all know that tests are won by bowlers. While the batsmen can ensure that they make enough runs and save the test, one has to take 20 wickets in each test so as to win it. Our bowling department is spearheaded by Harbhajan Singh. Now Bhajji has scored two back to back 100s against the Kiwis and thats what is worrying me. Harbhajan will need to guard against believing that taking two wickets and scoring 45 is good enough. Taking five wickets and scoring 15 would be a more valuable contribution most times. This is not to suggest that he ignore his batting. Merely that he needs to regard himself as a bowling match-winner first. Harbhajan is now 12 years old in the test arena and now your tricks become familiar, your metaphors tired, your slower balls predictable. But it is also a phase that separates the best from the very good. It is a phase that Harbhajan is going through. In the last two Test matches there has been a hint of a new dawn, but South Africa will be the challenge. Harbhajan’s revival as a test bowler will determine India’s success in next year. I am more assured of our fast bowling spearhead Zaheer. Zaheer now has a correct mind on his shoulders and hence, one can rely on him. The only concern will be his body. Hope he is not over burnt.
The “Test” lies beyond these two as well. India does not have a defined No. 3 and No. 4 bowlers. Munaf, Sree, Ishant, Ohja, Nehra and Ashwin are the alternatives we have. On the test level, not very good alternatives to have. Ishant and Nehra have struggled to come back and swing the ball, the trait which separated them from the rest. Munaf on the other hand is not consistent enough in his performances and also he has lost that zip of the surface. Ashwin is too flat to be a test bowler at this time and as it is with Bhajji in the team, it is very unlikely that India will ever opt for 2 right arm offies in their team.
In short India’s no. 1 worry is its bowling department and its depth. I will put my neck out here. Groom Deepak Chahar, from the looks of him, seems to be a bowler hungry for wicket and I have heard hi is nippy as well.
While the amplitude of the team will be decided in the next 12 months, the duration of time at which India can remain No. 1 test team will also be interesting. In all probability, the big batting guns of Indian cricket should play in the next 12 months. What happens after that will determine the depth of India. We need an answer to fill in slots of Sachin, Rahul and VVS and trust me its a daunting task for even reputed international stars to fill in their slots. But then the show must go on even when they leave. A disclaimer that I would like to put here is that I am going to suggest a shape of Indian team after these greats have left, but we should not get in to the trap of comparing the young players to the greats. One can never fill in shoes of Dravid, leave aside Sachin and VVS.
Shewag and Ghabhir are most likely here to stay for 3-4 years. Rahul- the wall isn’t getting any younger and its time that Chitteshwar Pujara is groomed for the no. 3 spot. Similarly, Rohit needs to get his act together to play at no. 4, a place which Sachin has made of his own. Virat Kohli and Raina should look themselves to be at 5 and 6 with Dhoni at 7 and Bhajji at 8.
While the above line up isn’t as impressive as that we have now, but then I don’t think we will ever have a time to have a line up which is any where close to what we have now.
The greatness of this team shall lie on the shoulders of the bowlers. While the void created when Sachin, Rahul and VVS leave can never be filled, bowlers will determine our Ranking in 2015.
