From: bharat@cs.uiuc.edu (R. Bharat Rao)
Subject: Re: Some thoughts...
Reply-To: bharat@cs.uiuc.edu
Organization: University of Illinois, Dept. of Comp. Sci., Urbana, IL
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1993 20:33:22 GMT

karnik@cs.umn.edu (Neeran M. Karnik) writes:

>	When Azhar was first appointed captain, I, and I suppose just
>about everyone else, was extremely surprised. Azhar had never been
>groomed to lead the team, in the way Shastri for example, had.  
>There definitely was hope, that beneath the cool,
>gentlemanly exterior, there might lurk an efficient man-manager, but I
>think by now, most have conceded that those hopes have been belied. The
>batting has simply been unable to click together, as a team, and the
>results over the last two years speak volumes.

I think you have hit the nail on the head.  Azhar is just too nice a
guy to captain the team.  Not that you need to be an a******e to
captain a side, but you need a certain streak of ruthlessness both on
the field and off (in the selection) to get the best out of the
players.  It has not helped that his own batting has been abysmal.

>	One thing is, I hope, clear, the batting line up has ample
>talent, and there need not be ay doubts about the abilities of Azhar,
>SRT and Manjrekar as batsmen. What is missing is perhaps the
>motivation, the application and the leadership. A year or so ago, when
>people called for Azhar's blood after the rout in Australia, I recall
>having stood up for him, and asked for another chance. That, he has
>been given, and he's failed again to produce results.  It may well be
>time now to move on to another experiment with the captaincy. (Yo Bharat,
>any more arguments left ? :->)

No more arguments.  I had said that Azhar would have to perform
creditably on this tour to be retained.  So far, this has not happened
with India struggling to draw with Zimbabwe, getting whipped in the
ODI versus RSA, and now losing the 3rd test comprehensively
(incidentally, I was soooo glad to see the absence of the whining
about the umpiring -- maybe neutral umpires are the way to go for
sure).  However, there is one more Test to go, and glory and self
respect to be won back.

If Azhar lost this series, I had said that would be it (not in my
mind, but in the selectors).  The question is who should we replace
him with.  I don't think Kapil Dev should be picked (which of course
assures that the selectors will pick him:-).  Even though Kapil is
superfit, there is not much left in his career -- maybe a tour or
three more, but he could start to slump suddenly.  He would be a stop
gap choice.  However....

There is one situation in which Kapil would be ideal.  If only we
could develop some decent bowlers -- then Kapil's great career could
be extended.  He could focus on his batting, perhaps even being a
number 6 bat and a 5th or even 6th bowler; bowling significant spells
only when needed desperately (every 3 Tests or so -- now of course he
must be the spearhead or even the work horse every single test).
Imagine Kapil as second change, coming on and bowling 4 quick overs
just before lunch with the ball 14-16 overs old.  Then a rest and a
second spurt right after tea.  Then a go the next day in the morning
-- a maximum of 10-12 overs a day...  Then he could play very capably
for another 4 years, and his superb physical conditioning and work
ethic would serve to motivate all the players (and if not, I can
imagine him being very tough).  But if we do not get the elusive
decent bowlers...

Speaking dispassionately, the best choice is probably one Ravishankar
Shastri.  Just as Azhar's batting went South with being appointed
captain, I think Shastri's batting will improve as captain.  The only
problem is that Shastri will then open for the ODI's, and THAT is a
problem...  Also, Shastri was reportedly hated by the players as a
captain, but perhaps a spell of having a hard taskmaster at the helm
will improve matters.

>	I agree, the England series will be an ideal opportunity for
>experimentation, with no 16-man restriction after a long time. However,
>I think that the core of the batting should not be disturbed, i.e.
>Azhar, SRT and Manjrekar. I would like to include Amre too in that
>core, but he's not yet done enough to be a certainty in the team. The
>opening slots are up for grabs, and Surendra Bhave should be one of the
>prospects. Kambli is almost certain to make the team, and one hopes he
>can live upto the expectations. 

It is perhaps a real pity that (a) Azhar was rushed into the captaincy
and (b) that he never got a chance to lead India at home.  If Kapil
Dev is made captain, it will be stop gap, and the sad thing is that a
personal failure would lead to his sacking.  It would be best for
India and Kapil if he could focus on 432 but...

>And yes, Sidhu should definitely be one
>of the openers. But he'll have to show his wares in the Ranji matches
>to impress the selectors, and so far, I don't think he's done anything
>big. Sugwekar has been impressive, and may well be in the Board
>President's side, on trial against the English in a few days time. And
>how about Srikkanth ? He appears to be in good form too, but age is not
>on his side.

I think both those two would be a step back.  They have been given
chances and failed.  Instead of blooding a new opener in an away
series, let us give them a decent chance at home.  I think Raman
should definitely play some more, his pair notwithstanding (I suspect
he may not have recovered completely from his injury).  Giving Sidhu
and Srikkant chances versus England at home means they will succed and
will in all likelihood flop again on the next tour...  Better to pick
a couple of youngsters along with Raman and Jadeja and try them out
for the ODIs -- and Raman should be given a shot along with Shastri in
the Tests as well...

>	However, the thorny issue of captaincy will remain... There is
>a lot of support for Kapil Dev, and it may well be him leading the team
>on to the field next time. However, this will naturally be a short term
>solution. They need to groom someone for the job for a couple of years,
>and the candidates aren't obvious. Manjrekar is mentioned often, as is
>Shastri, but while Shastri's place isn't safe, I have my doubts about
>Manjrekar being any different from Azhar.... Tendulkar is definitely a
>prospect for the future, but unless the selectors desperately want to
>erase Pataudi's name from the record books, :-> he won't be asked to
>lead in the near future. Hmmm... no easy answers here...

I think Manjrekar and Tendulkar would be a distinct mistake.  I would
like to see Azhar in place of Kapil since that would be a stop gap, or
to pick Shastri.  I reiterate, my only complaint re' Kapil is that he
will be captain for a very short time unless we can find someone to
spell him as a bowler.

The tragedy is that all this pressure has made Azhar lose his most
potent weapo as a captain -- his aggression and willingness to go for
it -- he may rue not having picked up the gauntlet in the second test
and playing for a draw....

>	Oh well, the first ODI against England is on the 16th of
>January, so we don't have much of a wait before the 'jokers' show their
>hand :-) Here's wishing y'all (and the beleagured Indian team) a happy
>1993!

Before that, the fourth Test...  heres hoping for a great Indian
showing.  Incidentally, one can appreciate the dedication and pure
professionalism of Kapil Dev.  He knows that he is the next to captain
India should India lose the series -- and yet he gave no thought to
any of that and played a superb innings that could have been
match-winning.  Not that there is any thing incredible about players
putting country and team over personal goals, Kapil is one heck of a
selfless person in this day and age of selfish, materialistic players..

>     | Neeran M. Karnik | #2 fan of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar on r.s.c.  :-> |

Bharat

#1 fan of Azhar on the net.

--
R. Bharat Rao                         E-mail: bharat@cs.uiuc.edu
AI Group, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
405 N. Mathews, Urbana, IL 61801   (217)-333-5978 (O), 337-6498(H)
Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana
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