Cricketing Yo-Yo

After being derided by all the "experts," the Indian cricket team has begun their campaign in the test arena. If there is anything in the team which leads one to believe for a better showing than in the one-dayers, I am yet to see it. The bowling has looked reasonably good, thanks to the generous amount of help the seamers are getting from the pitches. Even then, in the last one-dayer, India's bowling too looked rather pedestrian. Add to this a rather colorless fielding, and that paints a rather dismal picture.

The primary difference between a Ganguly-led India and anyone else-led India is the attitude. Under Ganguly, we had a drive to be considered as equals. For that, if sledging was required, we were ready; if gamesmanship was required, we were ready. Under Dravid, we are back to the Azharuddin, Tendulkar days when the Indian team would win a decency award hands down, but very little otherwise. It is fine for someone like Dravid to be quiet and still be attacking, but for certain others, a free rein of their emotion is required for the adrenalin rush. Ganguly, for all the pathetic batting that he displayed, could raise the bar for others in the team to perform and had the knack of getting performances. I wonder if Sehwag would have been as careless as he seems now. Having said that, I also firmly believe that the decision to get Dada out was a good one. Having taken such a bold step, I expect the selectors to look at people like Sehwag, Tendulkar, and company too with a similar view.

Just as I write this, Dravid too has fallen. Now, that is the 4th Indian wicket down. Ganguly is making a comeback. Will he make a grand comeback? My prediction is no. The romantic in me would like to believe he would shore up India's fortunes, but I have watched too many of these matches to know that India is going to crumple for something in the region of 160-180. For once, I'd love to be proven wrong. Will I be?