da bet esporte： With the four-match series against the West Indies winding to a close, India are stuck with more questions than answers. Rahul Dravid hoped a few solutions would emerge in the final game at Vadodara
Anand Vasu in Vadodara30-Jan-2007
Irfan Pathan’s form, both with bat and ball, are critical to the team balance and he’s likely to get a chance on his home ground © AFP
With the four-match series against the West Indies winding to a close, India are stuck with more questions than answers. While it would be over the top to say they are indisarray, the Indian team certainly needs to clear the question marks hanging over certain key players in the lead-up to the World Cup.The most important, perhaps, is Irfan Pathan, who had, through his ability to score runs both at the top of the innings and later on, given the team the option of going light on the batting and playing the extra bowler. But, with his bowling falling away to the extent that he lost his place in the team, all talk of balance seems a bit of a luxury.Speaking at a press conference ahead of the final one-dayer against West Indies, where Pathan is set to return to the side on the back of seven wickets in his last Ranji Trophy match, Rahul Dravid took the safety-first option when asked about him. “The proof of the pudding will be in the eating,” said Dravid. “When Irfan goes out there and playsa few games and performs, only then will we know. I’m just looking forwardto him playing again. Him bowling well and performing well – those areimportant words – are critical to the balance of the team so we hope thathe’ll do just that.” Pathan’s batting form has been on a steady rise, sothere’s no real concern there. If his bowling comes through then that’sone less headache India have.Sreesanth’s meteoric rise in Test cricket has, intriguingly, had little todo with his fortunes in the one-day game. His performances in Tests,both in West Indies and in South Africa, were forceful and filled withpurpose, sometimes even inspirational, but he has bled runsin ODIs. He’s the kind of bowler who you want to be able tocall up at any time, but he’s by no means a certainty to make the cut forthe World Cup just yet.”Sree’s a young bowler and is competing for a spot in the side as anyoneis. He’s finding out it’s not that easy to bowl on Indian wickets. He’sgot to keep learning and improving. That’s part of what it is to be ayoung cricketer. We’ve got to be patient with some of our youngcricketers. It can be hard to bring on and develop a young player here inIndia because of the expectancy of immediate results,” said Dravid. “Thatdoesn’t always happen, especially with the difference between domestic andinternational cricket being a big one. You look at some of the other teams – Marlon Samuels has been doing well but they’ve given him so much time and been patient with him. That’s something we have to learn.” The reason why most teams want to play three fast bowlers is thePower Plays. But with the experience of our two main spinners they might beable to do that job and that could be quite critical The other massive cause for concern is Munaf Patel. Not long ago he wasleading the pack of young fast bowlers coming through. Now, after thesorry episode of South Africa, where he sat out virtually the wholeseries only to return for the final Test well below full fitness andembarrass himself, the road back may not be so easy. Munaf’s honesty inrevealing the extent of his injury was under question, and no captain willstick his neck out for a player who he believes has been economical withthe truth. Dravid, though, had encouraging words for Munaf. “Just watchingMunaf in the nets today, even though he was not in the squad, was good. The way he was running in and bowling …” he said. “We needed to find outwhether he had come back fit and from what I’ve seen in the nets that’sheartening.”Dravid, who was batting against Munaf and even otherwise watching himfrom close quarters in the nets, may have seen something that was notobviously evident. But from thirty feet away it certainly did not looklike Munaf was near full fitness. He was not steaming in, appeared to bebowling well within himself – almost as though he feared a relapse – anddid not extract that trademark rearing bounce. But with only four gamesagainst Sri Lanka left before the World Cup, Munaf will certainly get alook in. Whether he goes on to book himself a place for the big tournamentremains to be seen.With so many doubts over the fast bowlers, the role of the spinnersbecomes far more critical and Dravid agreed when this was put to him.”The experience of Anil [Kumble] and Harbhajan might give us the option of usingthem even in the Power Plays,” he said. “If we’ve got four experiencedbowlers and Anil and Harbhajan can do a job for us in the twenty overs ofthe Power Plays it may even give us the option of playing an extra batsman.”The reason why most teams want to play three fast bowlers is thePower Plays. But with the experience of our two main spinners they might beable to do that job and that could be quite critical.” It might not only becritical to India’s fortunes, but also to Ramesh Powar’s, for as someone who’s performances are seldom mentioned, he could well find himself a place in the squadahead of one of the quick men.