Chandu Borde, the sprightly 73-year-old, who was surprise choice as manager, has survived the rigours of this long tour superbly.
Namaste England
The fittest, influenza-free member of the Indian cricket squad in England these days must be Chandu Borde. The sprightly 73-year-old, who was surprise choice as manager, has survived the rigours of this long tour superbly.
At Bristols Nevil Road on Friday, Borde was amongst the first on the ground for pre-match nets, and watched every ball in the game with as much diligence and enthusiasm as an 18-year-old. When we ran into each other during the innings changeover, Borde was full of exuberance and energy. “This we should win, despite Sachin getting such a poor decision,’’ he said.
Borde has a self-confessed soft
corner for the Bombay Bomber. He was manager to Pakistan in 1989 when Tendulkar made his Test debut,and I recall his concern throughout the tour about the precocious 16-year-old. “I knew then that this boy would become a legend, and he has not disappointed us,’’ says Borde of Tendulkar, now international cricket’s elder statesman.
Borde believes that Indian cricket may have turned the corner with this tour. “We had some bad times last year, but the Test victory showed our calibre, and I am sure that we will win the one-day series too.’’ He promised a round of drinks to the press corps for every Indian victory.
By the end of Friday, Indian had levelled the series with a narrow nine-run win, and the upswing in form for the remaining five matches was discernible. If this momentum continues, Borde may be lighter in the wallet by the end of the tour, but considerably heady in his satisfaction.
Wanted, long-term coach
While Borde has done a marvellous job, it is surely stop gap, and the BCCI’s mandarins are hopefully looking for appointing a coach quickly after this tour. Philosophically, I maintain that such an entity is overrated in cricket, but seeing how the game is organised nowadays, the captain needs help in many everyday matters where a coach could be of help.
On this tour, Rahul Dravid has had his plate full with administrative concerns too, and mind completely preoccupied; in fact so much so, that I believe it could have affected his batting. He has to be in charge of the nets, lead the team meetings, address the problems of the junior members, and devise his ways of interacting with the media on a constant basis. That’s tough.
Now, while assuming full charge and responsibility is a sound gambit by the senior pros like Tendulkar, Ganguly, Kumble — with Dravid obviously in the vanguard — to shrug off the doubts created during the Greg Chappell reign, that point has been proved. There is no long term benefit to be gained by burdening the captain further. Borde was a splendid choice as a short term cover, but now a long-term solution has to be found.
Mixed week for Warne
It’s been a hit and miss week for Shane Warne, the recently retired Aussie leg-spinner, now leading Hampshire in the county league (with scandal-seeking journos in full pursuit, one might add).
A side strain forced Warne to miss Hampshire last game, and his absence was evident in from the run of play. Moreover, of the two Hampshire players recommended by Warne for England colours — Chris Tremlett and Dmitir Mascarenhas — had mixed fortunes.
Tremlett was treated like a pea-shooting warrior by Tendulkar, Ganguly, Yuvraj and Dravid in game at Bristol, while Mascarenhas, who felt the full blast of Tendulkar’s innovative genius, just about managed to keep afloat with a rousing half century.
Warne, however, believes both have it in them to help England win the one day series, though the selectors would quite honestly prefer to choose him, if only he could be a Pom and not an Aussie.
“Even at 37, and retired, Warne’s bowling better than ever,’’ says Justin Langer, the former Aussie opener, who was doing radio commentary for the second game. No better accolade for any player.
Tailpiece
And finally, this gem from Paul Weaver of the Guardian on the running between the wicket during the century partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly on Friday: “In this Natwest Series, they have stumbled across each other like blind dates, awkward and self conscious, with not a flicker of recognition in their eyes…They really should introduce themselves to each other one day soon.’’
For the record, Tendulkar and Ganguly have played 296 times together in the same team.
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