As Dilip Vengsarkar made way for Srikanth, there was a fair bit of appreciation from the press, and from himself too, of his tenure. But is it all true?Today Ponting made fun of the predicament India are in at Mohali where they cant play three fast bowlers on a pacer-friendly wicket because the man ideal for dropping is none other than the team's captain himself. Pity Vengsarkar didn't foresee this when he appointed as Captain a man who was in the evening of his career.
It should have been obvious to Vengsarkar that sooner or later India would want to play three fast bowlers and in such a situation was Kumble a clear first-choice spinner, given he quit one-day cricket after being dropped for Harbhajan? The problem doesn't stop here. After Kumble, Vengsarkar's panel left the current set of selectors with little choice but to appoint Dhoni as captain. (He will have the onerous responsibility of keeping wicket, batting and leading the side in all forms of the game.)
In my view many of the good decisions from the selectors were taken only when their hand were forced. For example, the Twenty20 team when the seniors withdrew by themselves. While Vengsarkar and a section of the press may well feel he deserves unstinting praise for a job well done, it's the current selection committee that is being forced to pay for some of his mistakes.
You have the luxury of hindsight when commenting on appointment of Kumble as captain something which Vegsarkar didn't have when he took this decision. And the poor form and all the stuff that is happening with Kumble could have happened to any other guy also and the same predicament wouldd have been there. Cricket selectors are not bejan Daruwallas!!
Posted by: srinu at October 16, 2008 5:07 PM
Dear Mahesh,
You cant imagine the pressure of Selection Committe as they have to face media a lot after and before the selection.How can Kumble be blamed for just one match wicketless?We have seen in the period of Chapell-Dravid combination where they tried with 3 pacers and one spinner in Indian soil and yet not able to win matches for India.Also as you know about the turning wickets of India,on the day Kumble and Bhajji are at best,India can beat any team in the world.Have you remembered the Natwest Series final which india has won?In that match the spinners only controlled the run flow of England.Hence I would say Kumble is the best choice as Test Captain for the current squad and Vengi has done his best for India as a selection Chairman.
Posted by: Anonymous at October 20, 2008 7:35 AM
Ruchit and Srinu,
I have clearly pointed out facts as to why predicting this wasn't that tough.
As to the bowling combination argument, the success of Zaheer/Ishant combine and Mishra's debut are testimony to the fact that kumble has to fight for a place in the eleven.
World over, batsmen are the preferred choice for the captain, and even in the instances when bowlers become captain they are very good all-rounders who are top performers in the team, not someone in the evening of his career and has to fight for a place in the team!
I stand-by my assessment that this was a serious mistake of the vengy panel.
Posted by: Gokul at October 20, 2008 4:30 PM
Unless Kumble performs really well (6+ wickets) in each of the remaining 2 tests, it may be best for him to retire or else face the ignominy of being dropped, as captain and as player.
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