Virat Kohli and Wriddiman Saha justify the need for the inclusion of young blood

This post by the author appeared initially on http://cricketcountry.com

There has been a lot of hue and cry in the past few months concerning the need for the infusion of young blood in the Indian side after consecutive and humiliating defeats against Australia exposed India’s ageing stalwarts. Many believed that if India is losing, it makes sense to lose by blooding youngsters with a future. The cricket fraternity held no punches back while emphasising the need for fresh minds and legs out there in the middle if India wanted to better its results from hereon.

Justifying the above point was the refreshing approach of two very able youngsters in the form of Virat Kohli and Wriddhiman Saha in the post-lunch session on Thursday. They underlined the importance of being positive when the chips were down and seemed to have an uncluttered mind.

It was heart-warming to see these two youngsters put up a fight when the rest around them failed. The Adelaide Oval pitch is usually viewed as a batsman’s paradise and yet the rest of the Indian batsmen remained unsuccessful in their quest to score big. Kohli and Saha proved that there were no demons waiting to be exorcised in that pitch. If only the top order had exhibited a little more responsibility, the situation would have been a lot different.

Sourav Ganguly, who has had a lot to say throughout this series, was right when he opined, “The batting unit has struggled throughout the series, but this effort must be really worrying to the players. One can argue the wickets in the past Test matches had a lot more seam movement and it wasn't easy, but this was an absolute belter."

It was good to see Kohli belting the Australian attack in the session after lunch. Saha, too, was impressive, considering the fact that this was just his second outing in Tests. It appeared as if both these players were oblivious to the collapse that occurred before they walked out to bat. That is how the approach from every Indian batsman should have been right throughout the series. They proved that India’s problems were not in the pitch but because of their own paucity of confidence. Hunger to succeed is what youngsters like Kohli and Saha can get to this Indian side.

The way Kohli batted, with the axe hanging over his head, was commendable. He sure has got the monkey off his back by reaching that coveted three-figure landmark in Tests. He was in the news for all the wrong reasons until recently, but let his bat do the talking this time around. As is the case in all important things we try to achieve in life, success or failure boils down to just one word – attitude. And Kohli certainly had the right attitude that was backed with undying grit. With that knock, Kohli overtook Sachin Tendulkar to become India’s leading run-getter in this series.

Another classy player who was touted to be the right replacement for Kohli during his recent slump was Rohit Sharma. Unfortunately, Rohit continues to be sidelined, albeit possessing an attitude and determination similar to that of Kohli. His performances in the domestic and first-class matches have been impressive, to say the least. In spite of that, he’s been made to warm the benches. This exposes him to the danger of losing his impressive form due to lack of on-field action, and he may have to start right from the scratch again.

Being a reserve player for a considerably long period of time despite having given it all may not augur well sometimes. Wayne Holdsworth of Australia was one such player who completely lost track after he was stung by his non-selection in the playing eleven during the 1993 Ashes tour despite having performed tremendously well for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield just before that. Holdsworth’s performance further deteriorated owing to discouragement and he never played a Test thereafter. The intention here is not to sound dramatic, but to underline the risks involved in neglecting capable youngsters for long periods of time.

Youngsters like Kohli, Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin and Umesh Yadav have all shown how effective they can be at one point or another. Ashwin and Yadav are most certainly the future of India’s bowling attack that in all likelihood will be led by Ishant Sharma. It’s the batting department that deserves immediate attention. Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Abhinav Mukund, Ajinkya Rahane all deserve ample opportunities if India is to once again dominate in the Test arena. Indian cricket will have to take this leap of faith and believe that these youngsters are capable of delivering. For that, they will have to be groomed at the right time, and that right time is now.

The stalwarts have contributed immensely to Indian cricket, but it’s time to get in young and resilient players capable of delivering like Kohli and Saha did in the first innings of this fourth Test. Getting in youngsters right after this series and persisting with them will give Indian cricket the much needed stability and results in due course of time. The last thing India would want to do now is to waste its precious bench strength.

Unrewarding phase will mould luckless Ishant into a tough competitor

This post by the author appeared initially on http://cricketcountry.com

Eight years ago, India notched up a fine victory at Adelaide and managed to silence critics who claimed that the side was susceptible playing away from home. They displayed tremendous grit before settling for a draw four years ago at the very same venue. This time around, the Indian side has looked defeated even before the end of the first day’s play. Not even their recent records at Adelaide have managed to inspire this despondent looking Indian side. One gets the feeling that they are just content in going through the motions and waiting for the nightmare to end.

During recent times, it has been a surprise to see how often India has failed to capitalise on the impetus obtained after a good start. It was a tactful move by stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag to introduce Ravichandran Ashwin early into the attack, but it’s beyond explanation why he chose to set defensive fields to the likes of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, especially after having Australia on the mat at 84 for three. This only goes to show that India hasn’t learnt from its mistakes, considering the fact that it paid a heavy price for employing similar tactics during the Sydney Test which enabled the same duo of Ponting and Clarke to score heavily after the Australians were reeling at 37 for three.

It wouldn’t be fair to say that the Indian bowlers haven’t tried. Zaheer Khan did what was expected of him and got rid of the dangerous David Warner quickly. Ashwin struck twice before lunch and looked all set to inflict more damage later. Ishant Sharma bowled his heart out but hasn’t managed to add anything to the column that matters the most. Umesh Yadav was alarmingly costly, but one can understand such spells when a bowler is still learning the nuances of Test cricket.

However, the main loophole appears to be in the defensive field-setting and also the fielding. Ian Chappell rightly pointed when he said, “The fielders haven’t backed the bowlers at all. They’ve failed to prevent easy runs and have sometimes managed to give away more than what was available.” When the fielding isn’t up to the mark, it is difficult to sustain the pressure created on the opposition by the bowlers.

Ishant Sharma is one bowler who must be feeling hard done-by despite creating this pressure on a regular basis. He’s the only bowler to have troubled the Australian batsmen consistently right throughout the series and yet the wickets column do not reflect the hard work and perseverance of this speedster. He has managed to tighten things up and contain the run-flow; yet, the wickets somehow continue to elude him. Unfortunately, none of the remaining bowlers have managed to pick wickets from one end consistently to complement Ishant’s tight spells from the other.

Tough lessons for Ishant

Nevertheless, this unrewarding phase in Ishant’s career is only going to mould him into a tougher competitor. He has played 45 Tests but must realise that he still has a lot of scope for improvement and turn into a seasoned campaigner, considering that he is just 23 years old. He mustn’t be disheartened for not striking consistently enough. He must also note that his efforts are being recognised and that there will be days when he will be much more successful albeit performing half as good as now. For someone who has gained truckloads of experience at such a young age, it could augur well for the future of Indian cricket if the selectors continue to have patience and show faith in him. Ishant is the youngest among the bowlers in this current Indian side but is also the most experienced one after Zaheer Khan.

Questioning his position in the squad after the Perth Test was uncalled for. Bowling has been India’s weakness, but one must realise that the current crop of bowlers is the best India has at the moment. All these bowlers have enormous potential and are bound to grow and perform more efficiently as time progresses.  Umesh Yadav, Pragyan Ojha, Ravichandran Ashwin and Varun Aaron are all skilled bowlers and will prove to be a thorn in the flesh of the opposition sooner than later. Moreover, India’s problem in the last two overseas series has predominantly been the batting. The batting department has repeatedly failed to provide cushion and confidence to the bowling unit.

Looking at the last two Tests played between India and Australia at the Adelaide Oval, one can infer that the venue has always been a batsman’s paradise. Both teams have scored over 500 runs in their first innings on both occasions, and Australia look all set to repeat that feat in this Test as well. As mentioned earlier, Indiamanaged to win in 2003 and draw in 2008 despite Australia’s brilliance in the first innings. However, it will be interesting to see how India approaches this match from here. Honestly, looking at India’s horrendous performance in the last seven overseas Tests, there appears to be a very bleak chance of a fightback. Nevertheless, stranger things have happened in cricket.

England face major hurdles ahead

This article appears on http://cricketcountry.com

This series between England and Pakistan was touted to be a mouth-watering contest between two of the most formidable sides currently in the Test arena. Before the start of this series, not many would have disagreed to the fact that England deserved all the accolades that came their way in the past few months, especially considering that they’ve been defeated in Test matches only twice since January 2010; notwithstanding the recent 0-5 whitewash in India. But Andrew Strauss’ men have let skepticism creep into the minds of their supporters once again when they meekly surrendered to Pakistan inside three days of the 1^st Test in Dubai.

Appallingly, the same English side that ruthlessly dominated India a few months ago looked a completely different side as they appeared helpless and clueless against a decent Pakistani unit. It is surprising to see how much conditions can be a factor in the game of cricket. The English players couldn’t fathom the pace of the wicket and were bamboozled by spin. By continuously failing to perform in Asia and subcontinent type conditions in the last few years, England is inevitably proving the notion that they were crowned as the best side in Tests primarily because of their efficiency at home. If this English side wishes to be one of the all-time great teams like Australia or West Indies of the yesteryear, they’ve got to start winning irrespective of the conditions or surface.

England was bowled out twice in two innings in the first Test, and alarmingly lost 15 of its wickets to spin. However, nothing must be taken away from Saeed Ajmal. The way he tangled the English batsmen and had them reeling in the first innings is praiseworthy. Nevertheless, the batsmen showed lack of application while facing him. Former England skipper Michael Vaughan rightly claimed that England were around 200 runs short of a good score in their first innings since conditions for batting on the first day were excellent.

Such performances aren’t new to England in Asia. In the last one decade, they’ve played 19 Tests in Asia and managed to win just five. Now comes the surprising part – If Bangladesh is excluded from this statistic, the English have won just one of the remaining 15 Tests. This victory came six years ago against India. England has played eight Tests since then in Asia and has managed to win just twice; that too against Bangladesh in 2010. England’s last victory over Pakistan away from home has come almost 12 years ago.

They haven’t been at their best when playing One-Day Internationals (ODI) in the subcontinent either.

Geoff Boycott sums hits the nail on the head

Geoffrey Boycott rightly said, “They even played badly in the World Cup last year, which was held in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Until they start playing well in the subcontinent they can't call themselves the best team in the world and definitely can't be judged against some of the other great England sides."

However, the current English side is known for its resilience and is capable of silencing its doubting Thomases. Without a shadow of doubt, England has players who can script a dramatic turnaround and give the opposition a run for their money. Matt Prior and Jonathan Trott showed their efficiency with the bat in the first and the second innings respectively. Alistair Cook and Ian Bell, too, showed tremendous form against India but it is surprising to see that same intent from them missing during the first Test against Pakistan this time around. The fact that Bell has failed to pick Saeed Ajmal twice in two innings is a cause for concern.

England has the right bowling arsenal

England has the bowling firepower to blow away the opposition. However, it must be complimented by a good batting performance. One can only imagine how exciting the first Test would have been had the English batsmen managed to post a total of around 330 in the first innings. Andrew Strauss must begin to lead by example and its time Kevin Pietersen brought some solidity in the middle-order. It could only augur well for England if the middle-order came good against Pakistan in the next two Tests - like it did against India. England must remember that they reached the top primarily because they were able to amass huge totals on the board before ensuring that the opposition wilted under pressure.

The year ahead will be a litmus Test for England as they will be touring Asian giants like Sri Lanka and India soon. The hallmark of a champion team is to be able to raise the level of their game when the need arises. Now, the English must raise their game on subcontinental pitches if they wish to survive the plethora of spinning tracks that will inevitably greet them. A tough task lies ahead of England if they are to retain theirnumero uno status; especially considering the fact that South Africa is not far behind and Australia is catching up.

County cricket can help Indian youngsters acclimatize quicker

This post by the author initially appeared on http://cricketcountry.com/

The Indian cricket team’s performance since the past few months has been hard to digest. Although it is understandable that sometimes a team can have an extended lean patch due to unfortunate circumstances, the fact that India has gone down meekly seven times in a row overseas is disturbing, to say the least. The margins of defeats keep fluctuating between bad and worse. These days, almost every Test playing nation has become tough to beat at home. To be one of the top teams in Test cricket, a team must be dominant not only at home but also overseas.

Historically, India have been poor overseas travelers. But India were also a tenacious side known to put up a fight. Sadly, the same cannot be said now. Eight years ago, a side with similar abilities led by Sourav Ganguly managed to become a thorn in the flesh of the Steve Waugh led Australian side. In fact, India managed to level the series against an Australian side that was considered invincible back then, plainly owing to a positive mindset and attitude of the Indian players.

Of late, India are not an unbeatable team even when playing Tests at home. Of the three Tests that India played against the West Indies two months ago, it managed to win just one and draw the remaining two. If India was really invincible at home, it should have ruthlessly whitewashed the West Indies. That didn’t happen. It is clear from this that the problem lies elsewhere; probably in the combination of the team or its preparatory methods, and not the conditions. West Indies too are a poor team when they play overseas, but that didn’t stop them from putting up a fight against India and losing respectably. India’s heavy margin of defeats when playing abroad is a testimony to the fact that there may be something apart from the overseas conditions that is a cause to worry.

Top teams like Australia, England and South Africa are excellent at home too and yet cannot be taken lightly even when they are playing away. In the last two years, Australia has played nine Tests away from home and lost just three. Of those three, it lost one against India by a narrow margin of just one wicket at Mohali. South Africa too lost by an innings and 57 runs against India at Kolkata two years ago, but not before beating India at Nagpur by an innings and six runs. England’s overseas defeat in Tests came two years ago in Australia - by 267 runs. However, England eventually went on to beat the Aussies 3-1 in that series. These teams have proven that they can be a force to reckon with even in alien conditions.

When Australia toured Sri Lanka last year, not many gave them a chance. To topple Sri Lanka in its own backyard was not going to be a cakewalk considering the enormous confidence Sri Lanka drew from its fairly successful run at the World Cup. Moreover, Australia was a team that was in its transition. However, that did not stop the Aussies from playing their hearts out and snatching a surprise victory over the Sri Lankans in the Tests and also the One-Day Internationals (ODIs). They later toured South Africa too and managed to level the series against Graeme Smith’s formidable side.

The point here is that teams like Australia, South Africa and England are willing to compete at the highest level when playing away from home. They give the home team a run for its money more often than not. Also, many overseas players these days easily acclimatise to the subcontinent conditions, thanks to the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Champions League T20 (CLT20). As a result, teams touring the subcontinent in the future cannot be taken lightly considering that the subcontinent pitches and conditions are no longer alien to them.

On the other hand, the Indians will have to raise their game to a whole new level when touring overseas from hereon if they are to regain supremacy. They might still go on to dominate at home, but in future the crown may belong to the team that can win when playing away from home.

Considering that India isn’t touring much in the near future, it could augur well for the team if the younger players opt to play county cricket. This will help them understand and acclimatise to tough alien conditions. Zaheer Khan and Pragyan Ojha are two fine examples of current players who have benefited immensely by playing county cricket.

Merely replacing the players will not solve India’s decade long problem of performing below-par outside of the subcontinent. The root cause of the problem has to be addressed. The younger lot must be exposed to unusual conditions early on that can help them prepare accordingly. When this young lot of player tour overseas in the future, they can capitalise on the experience gained and thrive in such conditions rather than to fall victim to it. After all, success comes when preparation meets opportunity.

India needs to have a strict exit policy

Harsha Bhogle aptly puts it in his book ‘The Winning Way’ – “At Manchester United, when Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo arrived, Ruud van Nistelroy was bid goodbye and Ryan Giggs was found more often on the bench than in the field. When young players realize they are getting an opportunity because of a stringent exit policy, they also know that they can’t linger when their time comes.”

The above statement rightly emphasizes the importance of a strict exit policy.  Having a rigorous policy of this kind will ensure that the current lot of youngsters will not bask in past laurels and take their place for granted in the future when their time to exit comes. Agreed, it isn’t going to be an easy task replacing the ‘Big Three’ considering the emotional attachment to them and the invaluable service they have provided to us over the years. Also, they have performed much better than some of the other youngsters in this series. Nevertheless, this painful step will have to be taken, as it is high time for the young lot to be exposed to challenging conditions, so that they too can learn the nuances of International Test cricket before taking India to the pinnacles of success yet again.

Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath too could go on to perform for a year or more if they wished to, but they chose the right time to pass the mantle and hang their boots. Australia too remained unbeatable a few years ago because their players were challenged at all times, and even the stalwarts in their side were aware of the fact that they’d perish if they didn’t perform.

It is unfair to the youngsters if they are made to stay on the bench for too long despite giving it all in the domestic circuit. The likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Abhinav Mukund, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma etc, have been waiting to prove a point on the international stage since quite some time. Talent of that kind deserves to be given a decent run. India is losing anyway; why not lose by having youngsters in the side? At least they can learn from such experiences and get to better themselves in the following tours.

Virat Kohli can be taken as a prime example of this. He was under a lot of pressure to perform before the start of the Perth Test. But genuine talent eventually succeeds. Although he scored just 44, his knock underlined patience and persistence.  He was the top-scorer for India. Unfortunately, Kohli’s inexperience resulted in him throwing his wicket away albeit getting his eye in. Nevertheless, he is bound to get better with every match he plays.

Rohit Sharma too is one such player who possesses immense talent. Many expected Rohit to replace either Kohli or Laxman for the Perth Test. However, that did not happen. It was going to be a mountainous task for him to try and steer India out of troubled waters in his very first Test had he been selected, notwithstanding the fact that India was already trailing 0-2 in the series. There is no doubt that Rohit’s water-tight technique and experience at the domestic level could have added value and stability to this Indian batting line-up, but sadly, there was no place for him in this side despite being in top form before coming into this series.

Ajinkya Rahane and Abhinav Mukund too have been drafted in and out of the side often. Players of such caliber must be given more opportunities if they have to find a foothold in this form of the game.  Unlike most of the other Indian batsmen, Rahane has proved that he is an excellent player of short-pitched deliveries. He unfortunately failed a couple of times thereafter and has remained in the sidelines ever since.  Such youngsters deserve a place in the side, even if it is at the expense of a stalwart who is nearing the end of his career, as this will only augur well for the future of Indian cricket.

It is important that the ‘Big Three’ are phased out gradually and not around the same time. This will also ensure that at least one stalwart is present who is capable of guiding the youngsters drafted into the side. The head honchos of Indian cricket need to realise the importance of getting back that winning-cycle. One positive step towards attaining that cycle will be to infuse young blood in the side and groom them from the very next series.

India should have opted for a spinner instead of Vinay Kumar

In my previous, Agnipariksha awaits India against four-pronged pace attack on fiery Perth, spoke in brief about the difference in attitude and mindset between the Indian and the Australian side. After the first day’s play at Perth, it can be said that the Indian batting line-up hasn’t yet learnt from the mistakes it committed at Melbourne and Sydney. How else could one explain India’s batting debacle on the same surface that David Warner stormed to a century in just 69 balls?

Surely, it appeared as though the Indians did give a lot of importance to the green tinge on the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) surface. Few overs into the game, it was evident that there weren’t any demons in the wicket. Yes, there was extra bounce, but Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli’s brief persistence in the middle proved that it wasn’t unmanageable. Also, one gets the feeling that India missed a trick by not opting to play a spinner in this Test.

It is true that Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t really impress with the ball in the first two Tests, but things would have probably been a little different for India had skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni persisted with him for the Perth Test. Ashwin has been an efficient spinner on the subcontinent tracks, managing to extract bounce and turn even from flat surfaces. The Perth wicket could have been helpful for Ashwin considering the fact that it provides extra bounce.  Also, Ashwin was no mug with the bat down the order, and his contribution with it was certainly missed on Day One of the first Test.

However, Ashwin’s role in the side was to pick wickets. Any number of runs scored by him must be considered a bonus. Having underperformed with the ball, it would have been understandable if he was replaced by another spinner in the form of Pragyan Ojha. Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly too threw his weight behind the inclusion of Ojha saying, “I think the left-arm spinner could come in and do well. He's a good bowler and he's ready, and Ashwin obviously hasn't bowled well."

Unfortunately, Ojha was left in the lurch yet again.

The fact that India too decided to go in with four pacers was surprising. For decades, India’s strength has been spin. Moreover, the Australians aren’t very proficient players of spin; at least when compared to players from the subcontinent.  Vinay Kumar’s inclusion did take many by surprise, although it wasn’t completely unexpected. The hue and cry around the WACA surface before the start of the third Test definitely had an impact on both MS Dhoni and Michael Clarke’s thinking, and hence the inclination towards playing an extra pacer.  The move did pay great dividends to the Australians though, as Ryan Harris’ economical spell choked the Indian batsmen from one end, and ensured that they fell like nine pins from the other. He also dismissed India’s most successful batsman on this tour thus far – Sachin Tendulkar.

It is understandable that the Australians decided to go in with a four-pronged pace attack considering the fact that spinner Nathan Lyon wasn’t adding any value. Lyon never looked threatening even when he was bowling to the Indian tail. Added to that, the Indians never looked comfortable facing the quickies in Melbourne and in Sydney. Therefore, it only made sense that the Aussies had decided to use just pace against India at Perth. On the other hand, none of the Indian pacers except Zaheer Khan managed to get under the skin of the Australians in this series so far. Vinay was not going to trouble the Aussies in any manner with his medium-fast bowling. This was evident on Friday when Warner took him to the cleaners, making him the costliest of all Indian bowlers. Hence, one gets the feeling that India should have stuck with a spinner at Perth.

Ojha would have been a better choice ahead of Vinay. As Nishad Pai Vaidya wrote in his article Ashwin or Ojha Laxman or Rohit Tough questions before India's think tank, history reveals that left-arm spinners have been successful at Perth. The Australians have already found it difficult to score freely of left-arm bowler Zaheer Khan, and hence one gets the feeling that another left-arm bowler in the form of Ojha would have probably troubled the Australian batsmen further.

Nevertheless, the damage has been done. It will take a humungous effort from India to turn this match around from here. Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav will have to bowl out of their skins to script a turnaround. Vinay, too, has to focus on hitting the right areas rather than worrying about his pace. Only time will tell if India has the ability to bounce back from this situation and put up a fight.

Australia possesses killer instinct; India doesn't; Period.

This article was published by the author on cricketcountry.com

“It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult undertaking which, more than anything else, will determine its successful outcome.” – William James

Before the Boxing Day Test began, India was apparently the favorite to win this year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Considering the fact that this Indian side was skilled, had a perfect blend of youth and experience, and that the Australian side was going through transition, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that majority of cricket followers believed India would overcome a few minor obstacles with ease and eventually regain its lost glory with a win over this Australian side. But the Australian players had one significant quality that most of the Indian players failed to express right from Day One of the First Test – the right attitude.

Uneasiness was on the rise in the Australian camp, especially after the series against New Zealand. Fingers were pointed at stalwarts like Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey. Michael Clarke’s effectiveness as a captain, too, was questioned. It was appalling to see the noose around Ponting and Hussey’s necks despite averaging close to 36 and 44 respectively during their so-called lean patch and notwithstanding the fact that their overall career averages are close to 53 and 52 respectively. That was probably because of the high standards set by Australian cricket over the past few decades.

It is said that you cannot tailor-make situations in life, but you can tailor-make the attitudes to fit those situations. Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey did exactly that as they silenced their critics for the umpteenth time by proving that they still have it in them to perform at the top of their game and contribute to their side’s cause.

It wasn’t as though they regained their form with ease. Credit must be given to the Indian bowlers for troubling the Australian batsmen to an extent in the first innings of the First Test. Runs didn’t come easily for Ponting and Clarke, and Hussey was sent back for a first-ball duck in that innings – thanks to an umpiring glitch. Importantly, they didn’t let that dishearten them. Ponting knew he could get that ton that had evaded him for so long if he was willing to stick it out for a little longer than usual.

In the second Test, he scampered like a hungry 21-year-old, often converting ones into twos and twos into threes, and appearing to value his wicket all the more. He put away the bad balls with ease and more importantly respected the good ones rather than poking at them. He deservedly got to his century, albeit that risky single which was uncharacteristic of his running between the wickets in that innings.

On the other hand, the Indians aren’t doing any justice to their talent with a lethargic approach on the field. Even when batting, there were so many opportunities for the Indian batsmen to convert singles into twos and twos into threes, but it appeared as though they were contented with a little less than what was actually available. Never did the Australian fielders appear under any sort of pressure.

There also appears to be a lack of communication while the Indians are on the field. The Anil Kumble-led team that toured Australia in 2007 always gave an impression that they were striving on the field. Who could forget Ishant Sharma’s magical spell to Ricky Ponting and the conversation that took place between Virender Sehwag, Ishant Sharma and skipper Anil Kumble before that over. After Ishant had bowled seven overs, Ponting was on strike and that’s when Sehwag went over to Ishant and asked him if he’d like to bowl one more over. After Ishant agreed, Sehwag walked up to Kumble and suggested to him to let Ishant have one more go at Ponting. Kumble agreed and famously asked Ishant, "Ek aur karega? (Will you bowl another over?)" Ishant replied, "Haan karoonga (Yes, I will)". And the rest, as they say, is history.

Sadly, such moments reoccurring this time is hard to imagine looking at the body language of the Indian players.

However, credit must be given to Sachin Tendulkar for his positive approach while batting or fielding. He is India’s highest scorer in this series so far, averaging 56.50 with 226 runs from four innings. The way he threw himself at the ball to prevent Ponting from getting to a century shows his undying passion and determination even at the age of 38. It would be for the Indian team if the rest of the team took a cue from Tendulkar’s attitude on the field. Unfortunately, he has thrown his wicket away against the run of play right throughout this series thus far and it could augur well for India if he avoids this at Perth and Adelaide.

It will be interesting to see how India approaches the remaining two Tests after being ruthlessly hammered in the first two. This side needs more than just a stroke of luck to bounce back and level the series. It’s important that they have the right attitude and a killer instinct. They need to show a sense of urgency while fielding and a sense of purpose while batting. They have the skill to succeed in testing conditions and must strive for it.

The Indians will be served an unrelenting diet of pace at Perth in the third Test. Will the beleaguered Indians survive the firing from both ends from Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc? It’s truly anagnipariksha – ordeal by fire - for them!