Pakistan Erred In Basics

Pakistan blundered on most fronts in the Kolkata Test.They chose the wrong team, bowled badly and batted with frail techniques. Indiawere far too superior. What they couldn't do in Mohali, they managed in Kolkata.

I have an issue with the team selection. They clearlydid not do their homework. Everyone knows that if you are playing on Indianpitches, the track would help spinners from the third day onwards. Still theywent ahead with only one spinner.

Arshad Khan was badly missed in the second Test.Instead of an experienced cricketer like him, the nod was reserved for ayoungster who is still to find his feet in international cricket. MohammadKhalil wasn't impressive in his first Test against Australia in Perth. He wasblooded in a match as big as an India-Pak Test and at an imposing theatre likeEden Gardens which can unnerve even the best.

I have nothing against youngsters like Khalil or for that matter Taufeeq Umar.But the basic technique of our cricketers is not as sound as that say of theIndians. Even Mohammad Sami, who has been around for a few years now, keepsoverstepping the line. His no-balls already number 30 in the series. He does notseem bothered by this excess which is distressful. It was a wicket where theball came at variable height and at all times bowlers needed to bowl within thestumps.

How beautifully the Indians, on the other hand, stuckto the basics. Lakshmipathy Balaji was a prime example of it. He clearly bowledwithin himself, tried to keep it within the wickets and pitched up to gainwhatever movement he could get on an otherwise flat pitch. In batting too, theIndians showed extremely sound technique.

They have their basics right. Unfortunately, we inPakistan are not producing players with basic techniques. Mere talent is no goodif your basics are messed up.

Inzamam-ul Haq and Danish Kaneria are the leadinglights in batting and bowling but both had an ordinary game. Kaneria sufferedfrom lack of support at the other end. Too much is being asked from him withoutgiving concession to the enormous task he is saddled with. After all he isbowling to the best in the business without any support from the other end.

You do not win Tests without good combinations. Once in a blue moon you mightwin but it would not be on a regular basis. He is being made to bowl 40-50 oversin every innings and a bowler could get overused.

If Anil Kumble still bowls 50 overs in each inningseven if he is past 450 wickets in Tests, it is a tribute to his resilience. Buthe also gets support from the other end. He is also vastly experienced and notbowling to his own batsmen!

Inzamam is also drawing flak as a captain but he is notgetting the right material within his team. If you do not make 400-500 runsregularly or do not have a good bowling attack, a captain is bound to facepressure. He now has only the Bangalore Test to salvage what appears to be alost cause. All-out aggression alone is the key but I doubt if Pakistan can plugthe leaks in a matter of four days.

As for the Indians, what a joy it was to watch RahulDravid in action. He is the backbone of the team, a batsman who unfailinglyproduces the goods when his team requires it. He does it against all oppositionson all kind of wickets. I still rate Sunil Gavaskar as the best Indian batsmanever but it does not lessen my admiration for the Bangalorean.

I would also not forget Dinesh Kaarthick who played a critical knock in alooming spell of crisis. He batted freely and kept the score rattling even whenDravid had fallen silent for a stretch of period. He allowed the Indians theextra time to have a go at the opposition in the second innings.

Finally, a word on the heat umpire Steve Bucknor seemsto have generated in India. It is said the third umpire should now be empoweredto reverse a decision given in the middle. By this rate, you do not need umpiresin the middle. Technology would do just fine.

If I was Sachin Tendulkar, I would treat it as a humanerror and leave it at that. He clearly benefited from an umpiring largesse inMohali. If he was given out on 8 in Mohali, he might have struggled to regainhis touch as he was coming off after a lay-off. That let-up might have allowedhim to find his feet and he has now three fifties from three innings.

PTI