da casino： Wasim Jaffer, who has just 30 runs from eight innings on this tour, mayyet get a final chance, with the powers that be tacitly admitting thatthey made a mistake by bringing him out for the one-day leg of the tour.
Dileep Premachandran in Durban24-Dec-2006
Munaf Patel was on target from the first ball he bowled at the nets and the team management might just be tempted to risk him at Kingsmead © Getty Images
Only Sourav Ganguly and Munaf Patel availed of an optional training sessionon Christmas Eve, as the Indian team took it easy ahead of one finalworkout on Monday. The two-day game against a Kwazulu-Natal Invitation XIprovided some respite from the monotony of net practice, and the return ofMunaf after a month out with a sore ankle was a massive boost.Munaf was on target from the first ball he bowled, and though he didn’t gofull pelt, there were enough encouraging signs over the eight overs hebowled to tempt the team management to take a risk at Kingsmead. VRV Singhwas adequate back-up at the Wanderers, without threatening as much asZaheer Khan and Sreesanth did. Munaf did a sterling job against Englandand also in the West Indies, and his accuracy allied to the bounce heextracts makes him an appealing option, even as first change.Irfan Pathan’s wretched showing with the ball in the warm-up gamedestroyed whatever little hope he might have had of making it into the XI.His batting has come on tremendously in recent times, even as his bowlinghas declined dramatically. His presence would have given Indian anallround option, but it’s not one they’ll exercise as long as his bowlingis so bereft of inspiration.Victory at the Wanderers was achieved primarily because India’sinexperienced pace trio comfortably out-bowled the opposition. GregChappell had no doubt that a change in the mindset had played a massivepart in bringing out such spectacular success. “Most bowlers hate to bedriven straight down the ground,” he told Cricinfo. “But if you don’tpitch the ball up on these pitches, you drastically reduce your chances ofgetting wickets. No good batsman will ever be bounced out. If you makethem drive, you always have a chance.”We had to convince our bowlers that they needed to keep it up to thebatsmen, and forget about the odd shot that went for four. I thought theybowled beautifully. Sreesanth’s use of the seam was exceptional. Weshouldn’t expect him to do that every game, but if he can manage it on aconsistent basis, it’ll be a priceless asset.”Much of the conjecture at the practice match revolved around whetherGautam Gambhir, who made 79 in quick time, would replace Wasim Jaffer atthe top of the order. Gambhir has always pillaged mediocre attacks,without suggesting that he has the wherewithal to flourish at the highestlevel. Jaffer, who has just 30 runs from eight innings on this tour, mayyet get a final chance, with the powers that be tacitly admitting thatthey made a mistake by bringing him out for the one-day leg of the tour.Chappell has always believed that it’s better to give a man one Test toomany than one too few, and Jaffer could be the beneficiary of thatphilosophy. After the most woeful of starts to the tour, it will be up tohim to prove that the faith isn’t misplaced. His opening partner, VirenderSehwag, hasn’t been any more convincing, but he has been workingdiligently on his game in the week leading up to the second Test. “Viru’sreally focussed on what he needs to do,” said Chappell. “He’s getting intoline, and I think we’ll see a big innings from him before the tour’sover.”Though only Ganguly and VVS Laxman went past 50 in the first Test, it wasthe grit and patience they showed as a unit that helped clinch the game.With the exception of Jaffer, everyone chipped in with vital runs atimportant junctures, and for perhaps the first time in recent memory, amassive win was clinched without a sizeable contribution from RahulDravid.Over the past few seasons, Indian performances abroad have beencharacterised by an inability to finish off a job well started. Theysquandered a 1-0 lead in the West Indies in 2002, and victories atAdelaide and Multan were followed by crushing nine-wicket defeats. Thatlack of consistency has prevented them from challenging the likes ofAustralia, and if they do go on to seal the most famous series win intheir history, it’ll be the best Christmas present that Indian cricket hasever had.