From: 9063iyerm@vms.csd.mu.edu (Murali Iyer)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket
Subject: Re: Impressions on India
Date: 6 Jan 1993 19:46:59 GMT
Organization: Marquette University - Computer Services
Reply-To: 9063iyerm@vms.csd.mu.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: vmsa.csd.mu.edu


In article <16B4E1069F.074SPOCK@Witsvma.wits.ac.za>, 074SPOCK@Witsvma.wits.ac.za writes:

>The Friendship Tour is over. Thank Goodness !

I am sure you are not alone in expressing this sentiment. Most players from the
Indian team would also be saying the same, albeit for different reasons. :--)

> 
>India lost the one days 5-2 and the Test Series 1-0.

We are still not aware of the outcome of the final test, but judging by your
post, perhaps we can assume the test ended in a draw? 

The Indians did not lose all that comprehensively in the tests, IMHO. The first
two tests were pretty close, and but for the loss of playing time, the result
could have gone either way in the first test. The second test was drawn only
because India went for the runs in the initial stages and lost four wickets for
next to nothing, they closed shop. Every report I read has said that the SA
bowling has been very good, and it is no surprise if they could get the Indian
batsmen out. After all, not many of the SA batsmen were among the runs
consistently, either. And added to that were the usual umpiring ups and downs
which, overall, made a bit of difference. Especially where Jonty Rhodes and
Sachin Tendulkar were concerned.

> 
>There has been many excuses given as to why India did so bad on this tour:
>They dont play day-night games back home; The pitches are too fast here in
>SA as in Australia, they were not used to it; The Batsmen were off form;
>etc. etc. etc. etc.
> 
>My 2 cents worth on all of this:

IMHO, though you could have analysed the shortcomings objectively, you have
given way to an emotional outburst. 

>At the end of the day, a team is judged by its ACTIONS not its WORDS.
>SA produced the ACTION and did NOT need WORDS. If India just admitted
>to themselves that they are below par at International level and realised
>that they need to muscle up their batting, fielding and bowling it would
>make them much bigger human beings. This can be achieved by muscling up
>their Domestic game first, that is start at the ROOT of your problem and
>work up to the stems and eventually the leaves. They came to this country
>with reputations that were HOME GROWN and that is where it will remain,
>at HOME. I dont think SA thinks much of them !
> 

SRT, Manjrekar, Azhar, Kapil, Srinath, Prabhakar - none of these players came
with reputations "home grown". They all made their mark on the international
scene, on foreign grounds also. If a man is down, we the "fans" are the first
to throw a few boulders(not stones) at him. This is exactly what is happening
here. If someone has to be sacked, give valid reason and be objective, and then
sack him. Not because of some vague emotions involved. 

>Also, the players need to MATURE up. Many of them were seen partying
>till late hours of the morning. What did they think they were coming
>to: A Woodstock reunion concert? Also, most of them are lager louts:
>you'll never become good sportsmen that way !
> 
As already pointed out by some fellow netters and myself, partying is something
that goes with a touring team. I do agree that there should be a limit to this
kind of actions, and it is the management which should make rules. 

>I'm surprised England gave them a tour ! They should try and beat
>Sri Lanka first, get their act together, before thinking of touring
>here in SA again.

Sri Lanka can give a good run for anybody's money the way they are going now.
Do not belittle them in your urge to malign the players of the Indian team. Sri
Lanka has some class players, just like most other test-playing nations. It is
a question of quite a few factors coming together at a time for a team to
succeed. The crux of the matter is that India should get its act together,
which I entirely agree with. 

After reading your article, I can't help but get a lingering doubt - were you
also offended by the snubbing the Indian team gave the Indian repatriates over
in South Africa? Just curious.

-Murali
Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket