Laxman Too Good To Be Ignored

If India is keen to pick up hints from the drawn third Test against the WestIndies, they need to keep V.V.S. Laxman in the mix for the World Cup. I know hisfielding and mobility does not meet everyone's approval but he is too good abatsman to be ignored.

Rahul Dravid could take a leaf out of his own book. He wasn't initiallydeemed good enough in the limited format of the game but is now one of themainstays of the team. Laxman too deserves a run.

Laxman played a magnificent knock and his team owes him a debt for bailingthem out on that messy fourth morning. India's best were in the hut; the hugechunk of West Indies' run-mountain still needed to be negotiated. And five fullsessions remained.

In the overall context, it was a critical stretch. We can only ponder ifLaxman had failed and the tail not wagged. Then, perhaps, the follow-on couldhave been enforced.

Strangely, unlike most of the rest, I am not too critical of Brian Lara'sdecision to not ask India to bat again. He doesn't have a dynamic set ofbowlers. They would have always struggled to get hold of India in the secondknock.

However, a target on the final day could have acted as a bait. India, whoknows, might have gone for it and the West Indies could have found an opening. Iam with Lara on this issue.

I guess one could also pick on the field placements but then Lara has alwayschosen to do it his way. The issue of batsmen dropping shutters and making just20 runs from 14 overs on the third morning has also riled some. But it was acase of delicate balancing - pushing for runs while still making sure India werenot left with too much of time at their disposal.

As I mentioned in the previous column, this set of West Indian batsmen is notincompetent, they are just inconsistent. Most of the top order showed a richvein of form at the Warner Park. Gayle, Ganga, Chanderpaul all came to theparty. Ganga has shown good resolve to recover from the debacles of the firsttwo matches. He has now got the monkey off his back.

The team selection, I guess, would also open a debate. The West Indies hadjust three frontline bowlers and this must be viewed in the backdrop of the homecaptain pleading for extra ammunition at his disposal.

Who could the selectors have gone for? Daren Powell obviously doesn't meettheir approval since it is Tino Best who is talked about as possible induction.I have a feeling it is Powell's personality and not cricket which they sensethey can't control. It's the same thing with Wavell Hinds - he has a no-nonsensestyle and can't be controlled. It is not necessarily they are wrong but justthey hold strong views.

India should be happy with the return of Harbhajan Singh. He is a kind ofbowler who thrives on extra workload. Since he was coming from a break, heneeded to be given a defensive field to start with and then given the attackingset once he had regained his poise and control. India clearly missed him in thefirst two Tests.

One common thread running through this series has been the extra protectionin batting which the teams have sought. It would convey a defensive mindsetsince the two sides are not exactly overflowing with bowling talents, except forthe honourable exception of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan. Yet, the approach hasbeen to bolster batting.

It primarily has been the reason why no result has still been possible inthis series. On all three final days of the three Tests, the last day has heldforth some promise. That it has not actually materialized into somethingdefinite, must convey a tale about the bowling strengths of the two sides. Andof course, about the pitches!

We would have to wait and see if Sabina Park at Kingston can help alter thebalance. Bowlers could look better than they actually are on a helpful pitch.India would need to be careful. They could either rue the missed opportunitiesor regroup and produce the focus required to carry them over.

PTI