Jhakas | Sanjay Jha
That we should rejoice at India's phenomenal ascension to the pinnacle of Test rankings is indeed understandable. Is it deserving, absolutely. That we should believe that it signals the revival of Test cricket, however, will be foolhardy. But first the celebrations.
It was wonderful lounging at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) last week watching Virender Sehwag massacre the Sri Lankan bowling with the most unsparing ruthlessness that I have ever seen. The statistical feats are mind-numbing, so let me express this with the soul of a lingerie-brevity; it was brutal. In fact, after a while the thunderous applause became a process, and I could see flagging enthusiasm as palms hurt with repeated clapping. It was downright atrocious. Sehwag was seeing the red cherry like a tennis ball coming at him in slow motion, so contemptuous was his pre-engineered intent. Continue reading below
In fact, every time he played a dot ball there was an uncomfortable shuffle, as if it was some heavenly transgression most unbecoming of the inborn slayer. When he got out for 293, you were dazed that such a possibility even existed as an option.
India was extraordinary throughout and nothing manifested their brilliance better than MS Dhoni gradually ticking away till we suddenly discovered the explosive power of those biceps. The Jharkhand poster-boy and cool-head resorted to some belligerent hitting with a few monstrous sixes almost testing the strength of protective glass shutters of the august club.. And then with a dismissive flourish he hit another mighty flier and even as the umpire signaled a six, he ran rapidly back to the pavilion to have a few extra overs at the tired Sri Lankan openers. A canny captain, more courageous and composed you will rarely see.
In between, everyone ( Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, M Vijay, and VVS Laxman ) chipped in with meaningful contributions. By the time Sri Lanka batted a second time, the question was whether they would catch a late-night movie on the fourth day or simply keep the nation abuzz for another. The Indian bowlers, considered the weak link of the team, displayed tenacity and that was really the big difference. I think Kumar Sangakarra is justified in feeling a trifle riled at some ludicrous infractions but frankly he should be grateful that Lanka will also go down in the history books with Sehwag's plundering. Which brings me to the principal point; when are we going to see Test cricket in India again?
We have two inconsequential games against Bangladesh coming up and perhaps a few more ceremonial stuff before the year-end which amounts to a staggering 5 tests in 2010! Whew, aren't we taking our number one ranking to dizzying heights? That will mean an astronomical 11 Test matches in 2 years at current estimates. You can very well imagine the fate of Test cricket in 2011, the big World Cup year, IPL etc.
Left to the BCCI and ICC you are assured of glossy lip-service and frequent dialogues of extreme solicitude getting us nowhere. The helplessness was written on MS Dhoni's face.
If you look at the Indian teams in the last five years, you will realize that it's core composition has effectively changed just twice but has ended up with a metamorphosis like effect.
One with the arrival of a destructive wicket-keeper batsman later turned skipper in MS Dhoni.
And the other with the dazzling rise of Gautam Gambhir whose impertinent gait and plucky batting has pushed India into the zone of zenith.
Incidentally, they have ransacked opponents in all the three formats of the game giving India a unique stability, strength and superiority.
But we are unlikely to see Dhoni & Co. much over five days at a stretch even in 2011. Which leaves 2012. But then BCCI believes that the Mayan calendar says playing T20 will be more auspicious to combat climate change.
