Sehwag and Lee hint at bright future

Two seats down from me in the press box, Damien Fleming kept shaking his head in amazement. "What were they thinking?" he asked. "How could they leave him out of the first two Tests?" The man he referred to had got to three figures in exhilatrating fashion, not having played any part at Melbourne and Sydney. Four years ago, Virender Sehwag clattered an astonishing 195 in five hours at the MCG, in the middle of a purple patch when he was perhaps the most feared opening batsman in the game.

But a lean trot that began against England just under two years ago culminated in the axe after South Africa last winter. In the convoluted world of Indian cricket, where Test apples and one-day oranges are compared, Sehwag paid the price for his mediocre one-day record. Had Australian cricket thought on similar lines, Michael Slater might not have been around to kickstart Ashes-winning campaigns in 1998-99 and 2001.

Sehwag had struggled against Brett Lee on the fourth evening, but his strokeplay on Monday was a throwback to the years when the best in the business ran in with some trepidation. Given the circumstances and India's predilection for last-day collapses, this was an astonishingly mature hand, with not one stroke to the rope in the second session. The dashing drives and cuts had been saved for the morning, when he made light of the loss of Rahul Dravid to injury with some scintillating strokes. The second 50 took just 55 balls, and was as entertaining as anything he conjured up in Chennai [155 against Australia, 2004] or at the MCG.

The last nine centuries he has made have all been in excess of 150, and in that regard, there are few better big-innings players in the game. At least now, the selectors and many of us who thought his days in the sun had come and gone must realise that the big stage and the domestic arena are as far removed as the ocean and a fishbowl. There will also be some like Sehwag who just cannot summon up the inspiration to pillage second-rung attacks. But put them up against the best in the business, and you know what they're really made of. Two Michaels, Clarke and Vaughan, who averaged in the 30s in domestic cricket, might be able to relate to Sehwag's predicament in the Ranji Trophy this season, and allowances need to be made for such matchwinners.

Sehwag apart, this was a day to forget for Indian cricket's finest. After more than 600 runs on the last tour, Rahul Dravid departed the Australian stage with a broken finger and 237 runs at 33.85. Sourav Ganguly made two runs less, while VVS Laxman, after magnificent knocks in Sydney and Perth, couldn't replicate his Adelaide efforts of 2003. The biggest disappointment though was Sachin Tendulkar, whose tremendous first-innings efforts were far removed from some abysmal outings at the second time of action. After illuminating the opening day with glorious batsmanship, no one will be more disappointed than Tendulkar at the manner in which his Australian adventure ended.   

There was to be no nail-biting finale for Adam Gilchrist, as there had been for Stephen Waugh in January 2004, but this will still be remembered as a tremendous series. There's little doubt that this is cricket's greatest rivalry at the moment - England have been competitive in one Ashes series in two decades, while the Worrell Trophy lost its lustre years ago - and the next instalment in India in October should be well worth waiting for. Both teams might have legends to replace, but as Lee and Sehwag showed today, the future is certainly not bleak.

Save for moments of madness in Sydney, from batsmen and umpires alike, a draw might have been the fairest result. But instead of looking back in anger, India must look ahead and build on the gains from this series. The pace department is in rude health, but there are legitimate concerns about the opening batsmen and the paucity of quality spinners once Anil Kumble bids adieu. Conspiracy theories are a dime a dozen, but the reality is that Australia have been top dogs for 13 years now. If India are to supplant them in the near future, the focus has to be on constant improvement rather than Sydney and what might have been.

Comments

[Alok M]

As always, beautifully crafted. To be fair Sehwag has seldom played a chance less innings, with the chance coming within the first 20 runs, as was the case in second innings. His low output was directly the result of him getting out to these chances and I don't see this changing even if he is now considered more favourably. Therefore the opener dilemma persists - Karthik is not the answer, it is ridiculous to have two wicket keepers in test cricket team. Nobody is commenting on Wasim Jaffer, why is he failing? Sending Pathan in as an opener was utterly ridiculous. My feeling is that the opener pair is the biggest problem of the team, this has to get settled, because even if the "old" guards leave there are plenty to fill up the middle of the innings slot. Pathan is the only bonafide allrounder and he should be persisted with on a long term basis. The other profoundly vexing issue is Yuvraj Singh - the decision must be made whether to have him in the test team or not, vacillation will be disastrous.

[bunty]

well written again; the transition wont be easy for india; clearly dada, laxman and rahul are at a stage when like gilly they should go gracefully; kumble +sachin have another season and sehwag is back as opener and likely successor to kumble; but who else? there are a number of young wk who can bat now in indian cricket, unlike a few years ago; but none with the flair of dhoni (sadly only in the subcontinent); rahane, chopra tho a bit old, teja may be possible partners for viru; apart from kaif selectors could look at pujara, badrinath and yashpal singh for indian middle; kaif+yashpal (close in) fine fielders, badri not bad; tanmay s is the most promising but should be well groomed with another domestic season and a couple of tough Á'tours; fm bowlers- zak, sreesanth, ishant n rp are good with vrv (unlucky not to be given a run of 3-4 tests he bowled well in rsa and like ishant in oz figures dont tell the tale), munaf, irfan, sangwan n others in the wings; spin- who after kumble is a big question? powar was unlucky not to go to oz where he shouldv done well but he n murali k have probably missed the boat; can yusuf pathan improve with inputs from kumble on how to use his height better? ghulam ahmed was a fine tall offie as was venkat; if so he could fill in as an all rounder too. or can piyush chawla develop? why isnt there another name that springs to mind? would a 60s/70s style nz fm attack +greentops be the way to go for india in the next few years? also our seniors are fine players of wrist spin; but of late not so convincing vs finger spin on turners; and many of the youngsters (yuvi, raina come to mind) look suspect vs off spin. theres a lot of work if india are to manage the transition well and alot of basic skills to be revived. otherwise no2 may be the best and that too, briefly.

[Saurabh]

I think the absence of RP Singh and Kumble's shoulder problem snuffed out any chance of a brave declaration from India. Moreover, Pathan and young Sharma had bowled themselves to dust yesterday. There was no point in risking yet another injury to our new-ball bowlers

[Dileep]

I wouldn't be too harsh. There was absolutely nothing in the pitch. Both captains said as much later. And Australia could easily have finished 120 for 1 in 25 overs. That wouldn't have served any purpose. With no one supporting Sehwag, the chance went in the passage of play right after lunch.

[Tarun Y]

Hi Dileep,

At tea, India were 173 ahead with 30+ overs to go ... why didn't they go for it?
Even if that equation wasn't "safe" enough ... they could have batted 2-3 overs after tea (let the target cross 200,which they did) and then have declared?

I dont think for one minute India would have bowled Aus in less than 30 overs, but surely they should have shown intent. And who knows? Land a few 'pyschological' blows? Pathan getting Jacques, or IShant Sharma getting Ponting again?

what do you think?