Aye Aye Cap'n

They had just lost their match against Bangladesh - traumatic experience that - it threatened their very existence in the World Cup. The captain had a frown on his face - an expression of worry. Their coach - never known to smile - was probably ready with a dose of abuse. The captain wore the burden of loss. Bermuda won, Lanka not - we were out.

Would the captain survive? Would the core of the team survive? Would the coach survive?
The coach went - the seniors were under the scanner - the marginals were sacrificed but the captain survived. Bangladesh without two of the seniors in ODIs and with them in tests - revenge was taken without waiting for it to go cold.

The captain took them to a long tour of England and Redemption. He won against the Africans. He won the Test series (the seniors shone too) and did very well in the ODI series only to lose it marginally. The captain was on a high and looked like he would take us to Australia to complete what was left undone the last time they went there but unexpectedly he quit. Just like that - out of the blue, Rahul Dravid the Wall had turned his back on the captaincy to focus on his main art - his bread and butter - his batting.

Meanwhile a young team under MSD was playing in South Africa and winning a World Cup against all odds. Heroes were born and welcomed such. Dhoni also ascended the ODI captaincy. As usual the public and the selectors had taken stands. The contrasts of the performances in the ODI and T20 World Cups had brought forth a wave of support for 'youngsters' - the seniors were looked upon as unwanted baggage. Why dont they go now was the call! Ingrates who asked such questions - but these questions were to become large ones.

The series against Aussies followed and Rahul "failed" in all of 5 innings. And that was it - the axe was out for the ex-captain. We dont need you was the message! Our youngsters will perform - and drat those two Saurav and Sachin for performing and making it impossible to sack them as well. Never mind - they will fail in an inning or two and we will perform that cut too eh?


It was unjustified as hell. For the man had played well one tour back in England. For the man had been India's saving grace for uncountable series and matches before that. It was one series that one of India's most prolific scorer failed and he got the worst possible punishment. People had escaped with murder and here he was arrested and prosecuted for breaking the traffic lights.

And then they pick another guy who too is out of form with the reasoning that "He is a proven matchwinner and his record against Pak is really good". One assumes that Dravid is a proven matchloser ? But then rationality was never Indian Cricket's strong point eh?

With that we lost the one player who could see off a 20/3 situation or come in at 170/2 and launch a finishing move. Or for that matter come in a guide a run chase to its logical conclusion. A man for any situation - someone you could trust to take on any situation - no questions asked.

The one player who would do any role for the team and not complain. But rationality - no thats not our forte for sure!

And the drama - that never ends. Sachin refuses the Test captaincy - the selectors stumped again. (a wise decision by Sachin no doubt and i might write about it later)

But finally Kumble picked as the captain - a decision that i couldnt agree with whole heartedly. Kumble deserves the honour no doubt for his long contribution but currently one wonders if he would automatically be the first choice spinner for the team. There have now been more than 2 occassions tailormade for Kumble to spin his magic and take us to victory but on both occassions he was off key and the win didnt come our way.

Nevertheless lets hope his grit wins the day for us.

TOI says

http://cricket.indiatimes.com/Wholl_fill_Inzamams_big_shoes/articleshow/2506533.cms

Note this:

There are talented youngsters like Misbah-ul-Haq, who have the skills, but going by the evidence of what happened in World Twenty20, they crack under pressure. Who can forget Inzamam's glorious 122 off 105 balls that went in vain in the famous Karachi ODI?

and this

This tour offers the perfect opportunity for Misbah-ul-Haq to seal his case as the future batting star of Pakistan cricket.

What! Youngster at 33? Future Star at 33 ??

I guess Obelix says it best here - just replace the Indians with the Times of Indians and you have a perfect quote.