Monday, April 7, 2008
Whom to blame....
Even as the players are being held responsible for the defeat in Ahmedabad, there are some important factors that point out that the selectors are equally to be blamed for the debacle.
The Indian team is fighting to put up XI fit players for the crucial second Test against South Africa but it is more baffling as to why the selectors picked a squad full of injured players.
Do we need stars or eleven players who can compete for five-days. It defies all logic as to why the five wise men decided to expand the squad to 16-members for the Kanpur match and brush off the injury concerns till the last day. A fully-fit 14-member squad would have enhanced India's chances to square the series.
Skipper Anil Kumble is struggling with a groin injury since the first Test in Chennai and it was no secret that he was not at his full strength in Ahmedabad. Yes, Kumble is must for India's chances but an unfit skipper will be a burden to the side. The story behind Ishant Sharma is bemusing. Time and again he was called for fitness tests in past two weeks. He failed the tests but was still retained in the squad and will go through another asessment on the match eve.
Our team boasts of a quality support staff. The team physio must have tabled fitness reports on individual players and that was enough for the selectors to take into account while naming the squad.
After the Australia series, some players were called for fitness tests in Bangalore for the current series but many did not turn up. It was very clear that they are trying to hide injuries and with the Indian Premier League round the corner, nobody wants to sit out.
Had there been enough time between matches in the South Africa series, the decision to retain the unfit players and give them time to improve would have had some logic. But there are hardly two days between the Tests and the selectors should have been alert and given the right message to the players.
India faced a selection dilemma before the Ahmedabad match and there is more trouble this time.
R P Singh was totally out of sorts in both the matches and the result was for everyone to see. We are looking to give South Africa a turner in Kanpur but will there be any bowlers to exploit it. South Africa might have the last laugh.
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