Dhoni’s reasons for defeat notwithstanding, India were under prepared for the Lord’s match with Zaheer and Tendulkar having not played a Test in last six months, a non-effective off-spinner and the team relying on just one practice match before the series.
Post Test, Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave a long list of reasons that led to the embarrassing 196-run defeat against England on Monday but the India skipper was clearly missing the woods for the trees. The team, with or without Zaheer Khan, was not prepared enough for the Lord’s Test.
Dhoni pointed out Zaheer’s sudden injury, lack of swing, variable bounce, Sachin Tendulkar’s illness, Gautam Gambhir’s injury, change in the batting order… as some of the reasons for the defeat. “Everything (that) could have gone wrong, went wrong. It was tough for batsmen to bat at different slots, it was tough for bowlers with only three left,” said the skipper.
Points noted but Dhoni must realise that it takes time to know variable bounce and disappearance of swing. A bit of acclimatisation would have given the team a fair bit of idea over the transformed English conditions.
“The preparation was not adequate. It was clear from the way the India performed,” said David Gower, expressing surprise that the team embarked upon the mission of defending the No 1 ranking with just one practice game. “India don’t seem to value their No 1 position,” said Nasser Hussain.
Even Zaheer issue was grossly mishandled by the team management and also the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The spearhead, who at 32, is not on the right side of the age for a pacer, had to go through rigours of competitive cricket non-stop.
A bit of planning on his work load and preparation may have helped the team. The BCCI, perhaps, would have done well by keeping him away from the Indian Premier League workload by compensating the player and his franchise. He is now out of the second Test and his further participation in the series is also doubtful.
Apart from fitness, there were issue on the preparedness as well. Zaheer has not bowled in the longer format of the game for over six months (he last bowled in a Test against South Africa in January) and Hussain was quick to point this out.
“India expected their top strike bowler in Zaheer and their premier batsman rock up without playing a Test since January and just have a bit of a hit and giggle against Somerset before the big one. They did not help themselves,” he wrote in a column.
Zaheer aside, the other bowlers too did not do well in the Test. Ishant Sharma was off colour in the first innings and Dhoni may have committed a strategic blunder by not bowling him immediately after lunch on Day Four. England had a chance to recover as the skipper took his foot off the accelerator.
The biggest let-down was Harbhajan Singh. The senior-most bowler in the side, on the verge of his 100th Test, has more often than not, failed to answer the team’s call. Just one wicket in 56 overs is not the worthy figures for a bowler who boasts of 400 Test scalps. He failed to get a breakthrough when England’s No 8 and 9 were batting.
During a home series against West Indies in the 80s, a frustrated Kapil Dev had once famously demanded a wicket from Maninder Singh and the spinner responded to the captain’s call. Dhoni is not known to be a demanding skipper but he can do well to send out a message to Harbhajan that he has other options.
When will the key spinner take wicket if not on the fourth day of a Test?
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