Planning's not enough
New Zealand's effort today was the antithesis of what India was once known for: they were short on talent, but their application, discipline and tactics were top-notch
The Wisden Verdict by Amit Varma
08-Oct-2003
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Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in the course of the partnership which put India in control © AFP |
New Zealand's effort today was the antithesis of what India was once known for: they were short on talent (barring Daniel Vettori), but their application, discipline and tactics were top-notch. New Zealand's medium-pacers bowled to their brief on a benign pitch that kept low as the day wore on and offered them no assistance. Vettori kept coming at the Indian batsmen, varying his flight superbly, in a doughty spell that lasted the entire second session. But though New Zealand got the openers out and earned Sachin Tendulkar's wicket, they simply weren't good enough to stop Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, who were a class apart from the hapless attack.
Stephen Fleming's much-advertised planning was on evidence from the start, as New Zealand's bowlers bowled to a plan to both Virender Sehwag and Akash Chopra. At one point early on Fleming had three gullies, a third man and a deep point for Sehwag, clearly having identified one of his weaknesses as a predilection for the uppish slash. One such sailed over Craig McMillan on the third-man boundary, but Sehwag otherwise displayed a fine mix of aggession and caution. He batted at almost a run-a-ball, punishing all the loose deliveries that came his way without attempting anything untoward.
Sehwag was unlucky to be given out lbw to a ball that appeared to be missing leg stump, but his positive intent justifies the decision to have him open the innings. He bats well off the back foot, is ruthless against the slightest indiscretion, and can take the momentum India's way in the course of a session. India should persist with him for the tour of Australia.
And what of Chopra? Fleming seemed to have fallen for the stereotype about Indian openers, that they are good off the front foot but are vulnerable to the short ball. The reverse might be true for Chopra, just as it is for Wasim Jaffer, but we didn't have a chance to confirm that today. Daryl Tuffey and Jacob Oram did not try to draw Chopra on the front foot often enough (see Wisden Stats for details) though they certainly did pepper him with the short stuff, with short leg and leg gully waiting eagerly. Chopra dealt with it with ease, ducking, weaving and, a couple of times, defending off the back foot. Most importantly, he was decisive against the short ball, and that augurs well for the season ahead.
Astonishing statistic of the day: the first non-leg-bye extra of the day - a no-ball - came in the 88th over; New Zealand's discipline would have done any army proud. But it had little impact on Dravid, who batted with immaculate assurance throughout. A batsman like Dravid, once he gets into his groove, is unlikely to get out against such an attack in such conditions. Only a freak incident or a bad decision could have accounted for his dismissal, and, batting with perfect balance and textbook precision, Dravid gave no scope for that to happen. He is easily India's best No. 3 batsman of all time, and since last year, he has entered what could be the best phase of his career. Playing Australia in Australia is his last frontier, but you can bet that wasn't what he was thinking of during this innings - as always, it would be the next ball.
Tendulkar was quite another story. Just what is it with him and left-arm spinners? Vettori bowled superbly to him, and Tendulkar was edgy at the start of his innings, and a touch over-aggressive. Vettori varied his flight well, taunting the batsman to drive him against the spin, as Chopra had perished in trying to do. Frustrating Tendulkar into indiscretion is the most popular ploy of opposing captains against him, and New Zealand displayed perfect execution. Having made eight off 37 balls, Tendulkar flayed at a slow offbreak from Scott Styris that moved away off the pitch, and was caught at slip. New Zealand's battle to get at the (supposed) demons in Tendulkar's mind will make for fascinating viewing in this series.
Laxman, who was one of the monsters of domestic cricket in the days when he played it regularly, was in his element on a pitch and against an attack which would have reminded him of his Ranji Trophy days. There were quite a few imperious pulls, wristy flicks and elegant drives from a man who has averaged 47.77 in the 23 Tests he has played after his Kolkata masterpiece. Every once in a while there are murmurs in the Indian media about his place in the side; they are misplaced. Laxman is usually reliable and occasionally spectacular in the middle order, and will be a key player in the series against Australia. The competition for middle-order places, with the likes of Yuvraj Singh staking a strong claim, is refreshing - but if it ain't broken, don't break it.
Amit Varma is managing editor of Wisden Cricinfo in India.