India-SA Test series 2010 the fight for No.1 Spot:Pitch It Right.

Hurriedly planned events always have a surprise element about them. Many times the surprises are pleasant. But sometimes they are rude shocks. The Test series between India-South Africa is fast turning into one such shock giving sleepless nights to many cricketers and fans alike.

Billed as the fight for the No.1 spot in Test Cricket, the series was not on the calendar till India reached the peak in November ‘09 after drubbing Sri Lanka. Jury is still out if the rankings are a fair reflection of reality. No doubt Team India in last two years have performed admirably. Young and Old war horses gelled beautifully as a unit to win matches both at home and abroad under the very capable (& lucky) Captain Dhoni. Naturally a country hopelessly short on sporting success went gaga. The media built up a crescendo on this achievement. Till someone realized that the team will hardly be playing test matches in next 10 months. Ironically a nation that has played a major major role in promoting ODI’s first and T 20’s recently at the cost of the longer version of cricket developed a sudden fondness for test matches. Again proving success will find many fathers. Commentators, journalists, past Cricketers and even the current captain expressed concern over the neglect of the “Purest Form of Cricket”.

True to its nature BCCI whose functioning is like a Political Party, not for the first time made a populist decision to have this series. The SA Board agreed and the match was on. The decision then was widely welcomed. It was taken for granted that this series will lengthen our stay as No.1. And while other teams will do the catching up we can coolly play IPL, T20 world cup and ODI’s. The series with “Ordinary” Bangladesh was not supposed to throw any surprises and eventually it did not. Or did?

Dravid, Laxman picked up injuries and were ruled out from first test. With Yuvi also staying unfit, the Indian Middle order looked wafer thin in a very long time. And when Dale Steyn decided to walk the talk after solid batting show by the Proteas, the weak middle order performed even more weakly than was anticipated.

On the eve of second Test at Eden Gardens, the mood is somber in India. Only a win will ensure our reign at the helm. Not surprisingly the talk has shifted to the “Pitch”. Many are pitching for a spinner friendly track to give the home advantage. Dhoni did not mince words when he said “Personally I believe a lot of emphasis is being given on creating sporting wickets. It is not written in a book that a sporting wicket must have grass or there should be bounce for the fast bowlers. I think a sporting wicket one where there is something for the bowlers and something for the batsman too at the same time. When there is a turning track it is challenging. Every country specializes in something like when you go to South Africa you can see bounce and seam movement, you go to England there is plenty of swing and same with New Zealand Every country is special for its own thing and we are special because the ball turns and there is bounce for the spinners,”

Ouch.

Frankly he has a point. What is wrong with a Spinning track. The western media and their brethren in India has propagated a feeling that only a pitch favouring fast bowlers is an Ideal Test pitch. Spin is as much an art as is swing. No body complains when the pitch offers no turn in New Zealand or England. Why have double standards. Whats wrong in taking Home advantage when it is a part of cricket strategy world over. Imagine when all pitches behave similarly around the world. Where would be the fun? How will a batsmen rise from being good to great unless he is tested in all possible manners?

Dhoni asking for a pitch to favour the India team is all right. Though why should he have a say is debatable. It should be left to the curators. A spin friendly pitch does not really mean the Kanpur pitch of 2008 series against SA. Or the one that greeted Aussies in Nagpur a few years back. Test matches are not supposed to finish in 3 days time. Nor should we go back to those days when Ajay Jadeja opened bowling along with Srinath.

Though one begs to ask why the team is afraid of green. Nagpur pitch was to our liking. What happened there? Some of the memorable victories has been set up by a Fast bowler. Remember Ajit Agarkar, who refused to improve one bit in over a decade in International Cricket. Setting up a win in Australia . Or a Sreesanth running through South Africans through some genuine fast bowling mixed up with theatrics. The current crop of spinners generate only as much confidence as Zaheer and co. The team does not look capable of taking 20 wickets against a quality batting side. Looking “ Ordinary” are we? Kumble is being sorely missed now as will be Dravid and Laxman in batting when they call it quits.

The match starts tomorrow. India’s impeccable record at home is under threat. Th team under Dhoni has yet to lose a Test Series. Not for nothing was India defined as the Final Frontier by the Aussies. Like Alexander many a victorious sides have arrived on a roll only to be denied and frustrated by the home team. South Africa has in fact won Test series here but that was the series where match fixing raised its ugly head and consumed the likes of Cronje, Azharuddin, Jadeja. The South Africans would like to set the record straight. They would be keen to bag series win. No. 1 is just a bonus for their win or draw at Eden. They would do themselves a favour of not taking the Indian side lightly though. In last decade Indian team has shown a lot of character in bouncing back with a vengeance. Australians know it too well. After the Sydney test in 2008, Oz would have crushed any other team a la Pakistan.

Dhoni said in press conference “It is challenges that make our life interesting.”. Yes it does Mr. Captain. Now how about taking it head on and coming up trumps at Eden. Ranking or no ranking for us this Team is the No. 1 . Now play like champions. Make yourselves and your countrymen proud.