da bet nacional： Given the background of India’s awesome record at home – theyhave lost only one series in the last 15 years
Partab Ramchand18-Jul-2005Given the background of India’s awesome record at home – theyhave lost only one series in the last 15 years – it would betempting to shrug off the challenge posed by the West Indies teamwhich commences battle in a three-Test series from Wednesday. Butthe Indians would do well to guard against complacency. In thepast, an overconfident approach has proved costly and one hasonly to look back at the previous tour by the Caribbean sideeight years ago to understand how rash it would be to under-rateany team.The West Indies had virtually lost their No 1 ranking and theslide was apparent. By the early 90s, the vast majority of thestars of the all-conquering team of the 80s had retired. Tocompound matters, they were, for various reasons, without severalleading players including reigning captain Richie Richardson,fast bowlers Curtly Ambrose and Winston Benjamin and veteranopener Desmond Haynes.
© CricInfoThe side, led by Courtney Walsh, had only one really big name inBrian Lara, who in the first half of 1994 had set the two famousworld-record scores of 375 and 501 not out. The captain, ofcourse, was one of the top fast bowlers in the world while CarlHooper, Phil Simmons and Keith Arthurton were cricketers withsome experience. But little was known about the other players inthe side and the chances of the tourists doing well were notrated highly. On the other hand much was made of the fact that athome India had registered nine successive victories in the period1988-1994. The stage thus seemed set for India to register acomfortable win in the three-Test series.Things seemed to move according to prediction when India won thefirst Test by 96 runs to make it ten in a row at home. But thewinning streak was halted in the next Test in which West Indiesearned a honourable draw. And in the final Test, West Indiesscored a surprise 243-run victory to level the series against allexpectations. An obdurate left-hander named Jimmy Adams amassed520 runs at a Bradmanesque average of 173.33.More recently too, the mood was fairly complacent on the eve ofthe Test series against a seemingly weak England side about ayear ago. Ultimately, India had to huff and puff their way tovictory in one Test while the two other games were drawn with thevisitors emerging with much credit.It can be debated whether the current West Indian team or the1978-79 side led by Alvin Kallicharran is the weakest to tourIndia. The batting looks capable of holding its own and evidenceof this was clearly seen in the tour opener at Bangalore. Therehas to be question marks over the bowling though and it isdoubtful whether it has the ammunition to bowl out the fearsomeIndian batting line-up twice.The absence of Lara is a major blow and the West Indian recordaway from home is admittedly abysmal. That said, it must also bestated that they put up a heart-warming show in winning theseries against India in the Caribbean earlier this year. It mustnot be forgotten that India were the favourites to take theseries but Hooper’s young and inexperienced side rose to theoccasion and with a commendable performance, recovered to win theseries.Granted it was achieved at home where West Indies have almostalways been unbeatable, but there was something positive abouttheir showing and while it is too early to speak in terms of aresurgence, they are not a side to be dismissed lightly. Indeed,it is difficult not to agree with Walsh’s prediction that onecould see a star or two being born during the tour. As theyshowed in Bangalore, the tourists mean business and are a prettyeager lot. And as the saying goes, enthusiasm is the mother ofsuccess.Of course, it will take a bit effort to emerge successful in boththe Tests and one-day internationals against an Indian side thatat the moment is bristling with confidence. They are on a highafter a string of notable performances, they are playing at homewhere they enjoy an enviable record and the team for the firsttwo Tests has an unbeatable look about it. But that’s just thekind of scenario in which sometimes the favourites can lowertheir guard and pay the price.Under Sourav Ganguly, the Indians have developed a ruthlessstreak and they should maintain this approach. On paper, there isno reason why the Indians should not end up comfortable winners.Man to man, they appear much stronger. But then the Indianslooked pretty formidable on the two occasions I have talked aboutand the result is well known. On the face of things, this wouldseem to be a gilt-edged opportunity for the hosts to make a cleansweep of the Test series, along the lines of the victoriesachieved against England in 1993 and Sri Lanka the followingseason, provided complacency does not enter the Indians’ mindset.
© CricInfoThe selection of the Indian team for the first two Tests has beenmade on expected lines, though, I am not really comfortable aboutJavagal Srinath’s decision to come out of retirement and hissubsequent recall. The selection of Amit Mishra is a step in theright direction, notwithstanding his figures of no wicket for 114at Bangalore. A young leg-spinner is a must what with Anil Kumblein rather indifferent form. But then Kumble’s record at home iswell known and against West Indies, it is likely that he andHarbhajan would be the strike force rather than Srinath andZaheer Khan.