How Not To Win - The Indian Way
Third and the last Test match between England and India in the three test cricket series, 2007 played in England. After India had taken full control things started happening in the fourth day of the match.
England got all out early in the morning for a total of 345 runs in the first innings. India had made a mammoth 664 earlier and thus, enjoyed a huge lead of 319 runs. The conditions were overcast. Perfect for seam bowling and India had three seamers. England were under tremendous pressure. They were facing follow-on and nearly two full days of cricket. Odds were heavily against them with defeat lurking all around the ground. The highest total ever chased successfully was just 263.
And, in came the Indian openers to bat. Follow-on was not enforced. England must have heaved a sigh of absolute relief. Pressure was off them. India greeted it, "Hey pressure, come on get us!" "Pressure" obliged them with sincere honesty.
Let"s forget the debate that raged afterwards. It was not a debating point; it was a cricketing decision that reflected the team mindset. A will not to win. A will to snatch defeat or a draw from the jaws of victory. A will that has been noticed in the Indian mindset for years now.
Honestly, what were the stakes and the risks? Only stake was that of a resounding Indian victory. The supposed risks were non existent. England had to win by first erasing the deficit of 319, saving enough wickets, setting India a target that can egg them on to get all out and all these in about 170 overs. At the unlikely run rate of four per over in the fourth and fifth day of a test, let"s suppose, England has made 560 runs in 140 overs and set India a target of 242 runs to win in 30 overs. The Indian captain would perhaps agree that his team needs at least 30 overs to get bowled out. But even then, the target would"ve been unrealistic as India would never have tried for a win. Make it 520 and a target of 202 in 40 overs. The English captain would"ve thought the Indian team was capable to get to that and so would never have set that target.
It was a very wrong and a negative decision that cost India a great win. And, such decisions are only normal in Indian cricket that has always been guided by personal whims and fancies of the pampered cricketing superstars, by a Board that looks only at the commercial prospects of the game and indulges in petty politics, favoritism and high power lobbying, by the old goats who refuse to dissociate from the game and continue to give archaic advice and an exhaustive course on negative tactics and, by the cricket crazy millions of India who hardly understand the nuances of the game and only want their favorite stars to hit sixes, fours and win games as frequently as possible.
Rightly then, the Indian cricket Board (BCCI) had announced a cash reward of ten million bucks (in Indian rupees) for the team. Oh yes, they won the series one nil. So who bothers about a test that could"ve been won or the team would"ve have tried to win it. A win is a win. One nil or two nil hardly matters. What matters are high advertising rates, high rankings, more sponsorship deals and more and more money.
A toast for the Indian series win against England after 21 years.
Author: Chinmay Chakravarty
Chinmay Chakravarty is a professional specialized in the creative field with over two decades of experience in journalistic writing, media co-ordination, film script writing, film dubbing, film & video making, management of international film festivals and editing of books & journals. Started career with a stint as a freelance journalist and then joined Indian Information Service. Now serving as a News Editor in Doordarshan, the national media channel of Govt. of India.
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