Australia are back as the number one Test and ODI side in the world. Serious cricket followers knew this was coming, but perhaps not so soon after they imploded so visibly with crushing losses against India and England.
The one thing Australia know about winning Test matches is that the most important ingredient is aggressive, wicket taking fast bowlers. They pursue this principle with a single mindedness that is lost even on sides that have won consistently with this formula in the past. So Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, and Peter Siddle are the backbone of their side, with Clark, Warner, and Watson playing supporting roles. The key is the bowlers.
Unfortunately India have never figured this out. Our focus is always on batsmen. Our heroes are always the Merchants, Gavaskars, Dravids, and Tendulkars. Never Nissar, Kapil, Srinath, or Ishant. We idolize our batsmen, and once in a while throw a bone to the wicket taking fast bowler. That is why India will never be a consistent world beater in Tests and ODIs. Period.
Unless one of our administrators figures out this simple truth and focuses single mindedly on producing and nurturing aggressive, wicket taking fast bowlers. With the Tendulkars and Gavaskars playing supporting roles to help the side win.
I can't see it happening any time soon because it will take courage and conviction to take the necessary steps. We can't even raise a voice against a corrupt and arrogant BCCI chief like Srinivasan. We deserve to be mediocre.
The one thing Australia know about winning Test matches is that the most important ingredient is aggressive, wicket taking fast bowlers. They pursue this principle with a single mindedness that is lost even on sides that have won consistently with this formula in the past. So Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, and Peter Siddle are the backbone of their side, with Clark, Warner, and Watson playing supporting roles. The key is the bowlers.
Unfortunately India have never figured this out. Our focus is always on batsmen. Our heroes are always the Merchants, Gavaskars, Dravids, and Tendulkars. Never Nissar, Kapil, Srinath, or Ishant. We idolize our batsmen, and once in a while throw a bone to the wicket taking fast bowler. That is why India will never be a consistent world beater in Tests and ODIs. Period.
Unless one of our administrators figures out this simple truth and focuses single mindedly on producing and nurturing aggressive, wicket taking fast bowlers. With the Tendulkars and Gavaskars playing supporting roles to help the side win.
I can't see it happening any time soon because it will take courage and conviction to take the necessary steps. We can't even raise a voice against a corrupt and arrogant BCCI chief like Srinivasan. We deserve to be mediocre.
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