By Beamer, 9 May 2003
May 9 2003

Team India has made its mark in ODI cricket, climbing steadily to number 2 behind Australia on the basis of their showing in the World Cup, Champions Trophy, and other tournaments last year. But moving to the weighty topic of Test cricket, what can we expect of India this year? There are not many questions on the composition of the India ODI team. This team has settled down and barring any fitness issues, most of the members have secured their spots. But the same is certainly not true of the Test lineup.

In fact, there is competition for Test places now; the only players assured of a place are Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and Sourav Ganguly (for obvious reasons). Even Virender Sehwag, if he continues to perish early due to injudicious shots, can’t expect to be retained as opener.

Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif need to be included in the India ‘A’ tour to England later this year, along with Gautam Gambhir, to help their progression into Test cricket. Yuvraj has never broken into the Test lineup in spite of many impressive performances in international cricket, and it's high time he is considered for induction into it. Kaif has played 4 Tests so far for a none-too-impressive average of 20 and has also looked a likely candidate for consideration, although his ODI game has been slipping of late.

For the upcoming home series against New Zealand, despite the temptation of heaping massive humiliation on the Kiwis in the form of square turners as revenge for the shockingly underprepared pitches when India visited them late last year, it is imperative that India play NZ on bouncy tracks. This will give the players a chance to develop their game in preparation for Australia and also show which of them are capable of handling such conditions while under the pressure of keeping their places. Although only two Tests will be played against New Zealand, and the venues for those have yet to be announced, one hopes that the bouncy, pace-friendly pitches of Mohali and Bombay will be used with the curators unafraid to leave a bit of grass on to challenge our batsmen against Shane Bond, and our own vastly improved pace battery against a team familiar with such conditions.

Selection for the much-awaited Test series against Australia away should be based purely on form and consistency, and this should be firmly emphasised to the players. The players cannot and should not be allowed to survive on past performances. Sanjay Bangar and VVS Laxman deserve to keep their places in the team for the beginning of the NZ series -- but they may give up their positions based on performance. In my opinion, Laxman is under pressure more than anyone, as the impressive Gautam Gambhir could come in as opener, and Virender Sehwag/Yuvraj Singh could take up his place anytime. After the Ranji Trophy Championships, even Sadagopan Ramesh and Wasim Jaffer have reasserted their claims as openers.

Because of the lack of a genuine all-rounder, Bangar should be persisted with as long as he does a reasonable job as opener, if he can give us another bowling option of sorts. Rahul Dravid keeps getting mentioned as a potential opener, but I just can’t see him succeeding against the brand new ball. I feel there is a continued need for him lower down in the order to hold the team together, particularly when Sourav Ganguly’s insecurity causes early problems.

For home games, Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble will hold their spots. Should Kumble decide to retire, the competition for his place will be intense with leg spinners Amit Mishra and Sairaj Bahutule along with neglected left arm off break bowler Murali Kartik and right arm offie Sarandeep Singh all looking very good. Three pacemen are needed at all times, and a fourth for Australia. If Javagal Srinath retires from Tests as expected, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra are certainties. The third pacemen slot is likely to see Ajit Agarkar back in the frame for Tests after looking very good in the Ranji Trophy, and he will be pushed by the pacemen competing for the fourth spot: Avishkar Salvi and Laxmipathy Balaji, both of whom look like great future prospects. Parthiv Patel is unlikely to be challenged as Test wicketkeeper by Ajay Ratra, although he does need to further hone his batting skills.

With Ganguly peaking as captain, a likely win for India in a home Test series against New Zealand, as well as in a triangular ODI series at home involving Australia and New Zealand just before the Tests, and India's pace battery easily the best it has ever been, confidence should be high to deliver a worthy Test performance in Australia. What better place to secure an away Test series victory after a lengthy drought?