Mind Speaks - When the tail just can’t tell On India/South Africa One day Series 2011

Mind Speaks - When the tail just can’t tell  On India/South Africa  One day Series 2011

The just concluded series between South Africa and India brought out exciting cricket. The new breed of South African players who did well in the UAE grounds recently against Pakistan continued there excellent learning curve against the depleted Indian eleven. When the seniors opted and injured out, the onus was left with the new generation players of Team India to prove their mettle. Some of them are in the 15 selected for the forthcoming World Cup tournament and it was a real testing ground indeed. Results will speak by itself how many of them proved their worth. The opening slot remained open only with the makeshift openers failing. Parthiv Patel did well using his opportunity, but he was not to be in the squad for World Cup. Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina and Ashish Nehra failed to prove their selection a right choice. Of course the argument is there, it is a different track in India and they will come good. Except for Virat Kohli no batters performed consistantly.

Hope we come out good in our own home conditions. There is light at the end of the tunnel. We have a long batting line up on paper, if not the bowling attack. And yes, we do have singh of spin who bat golden runs for the team in every type of this game. It’s true. Gone are the days where Indian spinners are those who can’t bat. But, we expect more. What if our tail just can’t tell the tricks of the opposition team, when our frontline batters fail often. Not much time left for M S Dhoni and company to sort it out.

Ramesh Menon
24.01.2011