The Transition Period For India And Australia

Be Warned India!-Don’t Follow the Aussie Lead!

The World of sport is indeed the epitome of the saying the what goes up,must invariably go down.Just on the basis of competition alone an era of domination is hard to maintain and when challenged and eventually equalled or conquered.How this is managed or conversely mismanaged will be the difference between a slight descent with a challenge for the top again in a short period or a steep descent into an era of mediocrity.

We have seen this in cricket with the Aussies in the 80′s being dreadful for most of the decade and more heartbreakingly the great West Indian’s being transformed from world beaters for near on 30 years to virtual non entities these days.All through the incompetent management of an impending transition period.So as we type two Teams are faced with these questions in India and Australia.The only difference between the two is that India sits a top the Cricket mountain where Australia has shown worrying signs of decay.

The state of these two sides begs the question of when is it best to start a period of transition?A team at the top of the tree in India is hardly pressed to make changes are they?

Though in essence the best time to make changes is when you are in a period of strength for a young player will be introduced supported by seasoned performers.Rather than thrown to the wolves.Part of Australia’s sustained period of excellence was by making subtle changes when they were at the top.Like Gilchrist being inserted for Healy or Martyn for Jones or others like Hayden and Langer becoming the opening partnership by Slater being given a tap on the shoulder.

Inspired moves that extended their level of dominance in all forms of the game.It raises the question can India learn from this example and follow suit by making a few tough and what would be unpopular decisions now.So as to benefit them in the long run.A few decisions id refer to is to give Rahul Dravid a tap on the shoulder after the England Tour and say time to retire.

For though many will still point to Dravid’s effectiveness in the game having 3 players in your top 4 that are over 35 and Sehwag at 32 is not a good sign for the future.So the only reason to keep Dravid would be if you didn’t have any ready made replacements…..

This is not the case with names such as Cheteshwar Pujara,Virat Kohli,Subramaniam Badrinath amongst others are champing at the bit to get a chance.A chance that would have the support of a very fine Team and being supported by immortals like Sachin and Laxman. Then in the interim have Dravid bat at 5 and either a youngster be inserted as the long term number 3 or conversely a natural number 3 in Gautam Gambir assume that role with Murali Vijay or A Mukund joining Sehwag at the top.

Either way India’s batting would be strengthened through exposing youngsters to the big time to see if they are ready and indeed able. Then outside the batting India should now start to plan for the future now in regards to its bowling.For on many occasions they have shown a very unhealthy reliance on Zaheer Khan and on a lesser level on Harbhahjan Singh in regards to the spin department.So with a tour to the Caribbean to face a very weak West Indian side.It will present a chance for India to rest some proven performers like Zaheer and Harbhahjan to seek out some short term and long term replacements in India’s weakest departments.

The choosing of the squad will be intriguiing.For as we saw with the opportunity afforded Australia in a similar tour of a near minnow in Bangladesh they chose to wallpaper over gaping cracks in their line up and choose a veteran filled Team to beat up on the Tigers.Though India’s need isn’t as dire as Australia’s a squad that had a few promising batsmen, pacemen and spinners would augur well for India’s future.

The alternative is to either be ambivalent or in denial over the needs of the Team…..This was Australia’s way combining the Ostrich with his head in the sand management with the Emperor with no robes method.When they were at India’s place in the game with a Team at the top,but with questions to addresses.That were never addressed by the Aussies.

Leaving Australia in an almighty mess now and also showing India what might be their future if they aren’t proactive in their management.This might sound melodramatic,but when you look at the Teams its not .For Australia was brought to its knees by retirements in their batting like Hayden,Langer,Gilchrist all at the same time-the same could happen to India with Sehwag,Tendulkar and Laxman…….Then both Teams bowling king pins in Australia’s Warne retiring before his time could be matched by the injury prone Zaheer Khan following suit.

So as Australia had a chance after the 08 Ashes to make some proactive changes.Such as the Captaincy,spinners position,ageing batting line up and the lack of skill in the bowlers in regards to swing were never addressed.India now has a chance to address the small issues within their Team before they become more pressing, so as to maintain their strength,rather than follow Australia’s lead and face an era of struggle.

For now through their mismanagement Australia are in a no win situation of the choice between hanging onto veterans like Hussey,Ponting and Katich who are well past their best for there are no adequate replacements.Or to clean the decks and insert youth who are in no way adequate and run the risk of a sustained period of mediocrity like in the 80′s for them……..

Bit like the choice between the Devil and the deep blue sea-isn’t it……………!Hopefully India goes to school on the incompetence of this period in Australian cricket and manages their transition phase more expertly…………