THE EDITOR, Sir:
ALL THAT advantage gained by the Indian batsmen after posting a huge total of 521 for 6, when the team was trailing behind by 130 runs on day three was spoiled by India's inept fast bowling troika on the last day at St. John's Antigua Recreation Ground.
Although many cricket fans would rue the fact that the Indian bowlers could not scalp the last three wickets in 21 overs, and that last pair could withstand for 19 deliveries, one feels that the mistakes were committed in the first session itself when the home team began its second innings on the last day.
The manner in which Patel, Sreesanth and V.R.V. Singh bowled to Gayle and Ganga in the first 25 overs, one had a feeling that they were more keen for the containment of the Windies batsmen and waiting for them to commit the mistakes, rather than compelling them to play the deliveries or shots and make the mistakes in the process.
FORWARD SHORT-LEG FIELDER
Many a times a forward short-leg fielder was not placed when Gayle was in full flow. Munaf Patel was slightly better than the other two but he was not as penetrative as he appeared against England few months ago back home.
How many loose deliveries, bouncers, near wide deliveries, which were all unproductive ones, were bowled by these bowlers?
Plenty. Perhaps they were more keen on generating faster deliveries rather than giving an emphasis on the good length ones which compel the batsman to play the same and make the mistakes in the process.
Even after consuming man in-form Sarwan for one and the WI captain for a 'duck', the Indian bowlers failed to capitalise on the situation. How can a left-arm spinner of Dave Mohammed's stature score a scintillating knock of 53?
Probably the Indian team management has paid the price for going for three quickies and it has turned out to be a costly exercise.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
It was like a 95 overs one-day game, which Indian team management did not properly plan as there was virtually no chance of the Windies achieving the target of 398 runs. Perhaps Sehwag ought to have been persisted with until the end, instead of Sreesanth who has yet to learn many fundamentals of the game.
Due credit has to be given to the Caribbean tailenders; the way they negotiated the Indian bowing attack, especially by Fidel Edwards who survived 38 balls for his solitary run.
Dravid and his boys have disappointed millions of Indian cricket fans all over the world due to inept handling of the bowlers and nothing else.
I am, etc.,
GANESH SOVANI
Advocate,
Bombay High Court
India
