da doce： The flat track at the Antigua Recreation Ground meant that the fourthTest was always going to yield a high-scoring draw
Erapalli Prasanna15-May-2002The flat track at the Antigua Recreation Ground meant that the fourthTest was always going to yield a high-scoring draw. The home team hadwon the previous Test in Barbados and leveled the series 1-1. Clearlythe momentum was with the West Indies, and one expected them to buildon it. It was then shocking to see a dry and docile track bereft ofgrass laid out for the Test match; a very negative move by the WestIndies authorities who denied their team a chance of gaining the leadin the series.
© CricInfoIt is apparent that both teams misread the track and relied on pace inthis Test match. So much so that India decided to leave out HarbhajanSingh to bring in Anil Kumble. I have always maintained that theIndian team should play to its strength spin. Anil Kumble andHarbhajan Singh are world-class spinners and even if their recordwhile playing abroad is not very good, they would have proved a deadlyduo on this track.The toss didn’t make any great difference; I reckon that India wouldhave opted to bat first anyhow. So it was up to the Indians to cash inon Hooper’s generosity.The Indian innings though did not get off to the best of starts. ShivSunder Das is having a wretched time against the short-risingdeliveries. I feel sorry for the lad; he has to work on improving histechnique. His partner Wasim Jaffer looks to be a sound openingbatsman. He has the right technique and most importantly he alwayslooks to get behind the line of the ball.I was also delighted to see Ajay Ratra show a lot of application onhis way to his maiden Test hundred. It was an innings that put an endto the loose talk by some of the pundits. The game of cricket is easywhen played from a distance. The fact that some of these pundits werenicknamed `strokeless wonders’ in their playing days is something thatwe would do well to remember.Ganguly’s decision to prolong the innings after Ratra got to hishundred baffled me a lot. By doing so, the Indian skipper denied hisbowlers the chance of bowling a few extra overs that evening, whichmight have seen them grabbing a few more wickets. Remember, the WestIndies were under tremendous pressure that evening after Brian Larafell for a low score to Anil Kumble. Talking about Kumble, it washeartening to see him come out and bowl with a broken jaw. He bowledreally well, maintaining a good line and length, which is the key forsuccess on such docile tracks.With Kumble being injured, Tendulkar, who had to suffer themortification of being out for a gloden duck, was the one genuine spinoption India had. I was then surprised to see Tendulkar show a greaterinkling to bowl off-spin than leg-spin. I felt his leg-breaks woulddefinitely have proved more effective.I am sure that India really missed the services of Harbhajan Singh.The off-spinner would have been able to exploit the rough outside theoff-stump of the left-handed batsmen. Remember, the West Indies teamwas packed with five left-handed batsmen.The cricket from both the teams was defensive from the outset and itcontinued to be so, all through the five days. Never did I find anysense of urgency or purpose from either side. Such game-plans are notin the best interest of the game and are better forgotten.
© CricInfoAs for India, the sight of Srinath struggling to generate pace must bea worrying. The senior fast bowler looked jaded and it is about timethe think-tank had a close look at their game-plan. I would still backIndia to win if they were to play two spinners rather than placeabsolute faith in pace.The West Indies bowlers will be going after the Indian batsmen atSabina Park. Our think-tank has to realise that it is no good tosettle for a draw. The boys should go out with a positive frame ofmind to win the Test match. This is indeed their last chance to returnhome wreathed in glory.