Will India Pass The Acid Test?

One all with one to play. Can the fighting spirit typified by Anil Kumble’s broken jaw dismissal of Brian Lara inspire his countrymen to stand up and be counted at last after a dismal away record?

Of course, they have been here before. Ajit Wadekar led his team to a 1-0 victory in the Caribbean in1970-71, winning the second Test and holding on for the next three to clinch a rare away series victory. The next Indian team to visit the islands in1975-76 knew that one all feeling.

The Windies won the first Test, and the second was drawn. Sunil Gavaskar and Gunduppa Viswanath inspired India to a famous victory in the third Test as the visitors chased down a target of 406. The three West Indian spinners were unable to make any impression on the master batsmen.

And so the action moved to Kingston. A change of tactics saw the infamous West Indian pace barrage being introduced for the final Test: Holding, Daniel, Julian and Holder. The Indian batsmen held out well enough in the first innings, passing 300.

It was not without cost, Gaekwad and Patel being injured by a barrage of short-pitched deliveries. In fact, Bishan Bedi was forced to declare prematurely to save his tail enders from harm.

The second innings was pure carnage as India were dismissed for 97, their cause not helped at all by five batsmen being unable to reach the trenches which were the batting creases. Hostile fast bowling, a reputation that lingers to this day, had cruelly exposed India.

And so the Test and the series were lost. India toured West Indies three more times after that, losing all three series. In fact, they suffered six defeats without reply, although they did manage to play out eight draws in that time. But Saurav Ganguly’s team has managed to restore pride in Indian cricket with a brave display thus far in this series, and the question must now be asked: Have India turned a corner?

Well, so far in the series we have had two high scoring draws, separated by a glorious victory in Port-of-Spain and an ignominious defeat in Bridgetown. There were certainly shades of Kingston 1976 in the Bridgetown defeat. It looked like some of the gutless performances of recent years as the Indians were skittled for 102 in the first innings there … just five runs more than at Kingston all those years ago, and this time with a full complement of batsmen.

Recovery was partial, but defeat was bitter. So much more remarkable the result at St John’s, as the Indian batsmen shrugged off the Bridgetownblues to post a match (and possibly series) saving first innings. That the bowlers, Kumble’s heroics notwithstanding, failed to take advantage of the platform set was disappointing, but not the end of the world. One all, one to play.

Perhaps the most heartwarming aspect of the St John’s Test was the batting success despite Sachin Tendulkar’s absence. Sure he was there, but made more impact as a bowler than a batsmen. Fickle fans will soon have forgotten his 79 at Georgetown, which steered India to a position of safety, and almost as soon have forgotten the 117 at Port-of-Spain, which ultimately set up victory. A duck followed in the second innings there, and his last four knocks have produced just eight runs- all of them in the second innings at Bridgetown. He embarked on the tour with just seven ducks against his name in 91 Tests; so far it has been three ducks in four Tests.

So welcome to the party V.V.S. Laxman. The scourge of Australia at Kolkata, he has promised much since then while not producing the goods. This tour has shown a welcome revival. Scores of 69, 69 not out and 74 were instrumental in India’s early success.

His failure at Bridgetown, out for a single in the first innings and 43 in the second, was the main factor in the hosts getting a foot back in the door. So his 130 at St John’s was a great achievement, and significantly his first Test century since his monumental effort at Eden Gardens.

And let’s not forget Ajay Ratra. With the match still far from safe, this plucky new wicket keeper produced a maiden Test century to steer the Indian ship into safe waters in Laxman’s distinguished company. A partnership of 217 was the first ever-double century seventh wicket stand conceded by the West Indies that in a series where the tail has tended to fold like wet tissue paper. A great effort by a batsman who had scored just 16 runs in his previous four innings.

A final note on Saurav Ganguly’s captaincy record. He remains India’s most successful Test captain, if one considers the fact that he has led India to ten wins and six draws in his 22 Tests in charge. That is a useful winning percentage of 45.45, comfortably more than any other Indian. Gavaskar, hero of Port-of-Spain 26 years ago, counted 30 draws in his 47 Tests as captain.

And so back to Kingston. Who will have the red eyes and the turning head of the famous ballad as they bid Jamaica farewell in a week’s time?