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| Dravid |
Calcutta: A day of surprises. Saturday, indeed, was just that.
In the afternoon, Krishnamachari Srikkanth and his colleagues (Yashpal Sharma, Narendra Hirwani, Surendra Bhave, Raja Venkat) decided to recall Rahul Dravid, after 23 months, in limited overs cricket.
Around midnight, in Northampton, Dravid announced that he’d like to focus on Test cricket and, so, would retire from ODIs and T20 Internationals after the tour of England.
The announcement had the stamp of Dravid’s grace.
Dravid, who’d been shabbily treated by the selectors where limited overs cricket is concerned, acknowledged that he’d been “surprised” by his call-up.
After all, Mr Dependable had become Mr Dispensable, thanks to the use-and-throw policy adopted towards him
Two years after bringing back and then dumping Dravid without even a thank you, Srikkanth and Co. embarked on the same path yet again.
In the latest example of a crass horses for courses approach, they named Dravid in the 16-man squad for the lone T20 International and the five ODIs against England.
Obviously, Dravid didn’t want a repeat of 2009. He didn’t say so, but the disrespect shown to him must have hurt.
Dravid’s last appearance in an ODI was 23 months ago, during the 2009 Champions Trophy in South Africa. He was needed then as the wickets there have bounce; he’s needed now as England’s pace attack has battered India.
The message is simple: If the ball is going to swing and/or head for the ribcage, then it’s time to fall back on “the most loyal servant of Indian cricket,” as Sunil Gavaskar recently saluted Dravid.
Sachin Tendulkar is the senior-most pro, but Dravid, who gave up the India captaincy in September 2007 after being in the hottest seat for close to two years, is the oldest member of the squad (three months senior to The Master). He turned 38 on January 11.
Significantly, till he was recalled in the weeks prior to the last Champions Trophy, Dravid had been out for 23 months. In the cold for 23 months, recalled, banished again for 23 months...
Today, Dravid has control over his cricket-specific destiny.
Dravid didn’t feature in a single ODI in 2008, played only six of them in 2009 and, in 2010, was back to watching the ODIs on the TV.
Not a reflection on Dravid, the second highest run-getter in Tests, mind you, but the state of Indian cricket.
To bring back a 38-year-old in limited overs cricket is in itself statement making. By doing so, the selectors conveyed to the world that India’s cupboard stood bare with a capital B, that the world champions’ bench strength was negligible.
Generally, the best teams are those with quality players on the bench too.
The signal sent to the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, whose name was discussed somewhat at the meeting, Manoj Tiwary and Saurabh Tiwary, was that they better start looking at another profession. Or, if they wished to stick with cricket, then they had to start working towards a Bradmanesque average.
“In the past, Srikkanth and his colleagues haven’t been fair towards Dravid, but they had no choice once it was confirmed that Yuvraj Singh wouldn’t be available...
“Dravid’s been our best batsman (a hundred in each of the first two Tests) in the ongoing series and, given the state of our batting, he couldn’t be ignored. You could call it a practical move,” a top source told The Telegraph.
According to the top source, the debate-inviting idea came from the selectors, who were in a Chennai-Northampton telecon with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher.
Dhoni is understood to have said “theek hai,” while Fletcher responded with “why not?” He added that Dravid’s presence would lead to “stability.”
Meanwhile, like Yuvraj, Harbhajan Singh hasn’t been picked. Both got injured in the Trent Bridge Test. Whatever the speculation, the well-placed source made the point that the off-spinner wasn’t fit “at the time of selection.”
Two months ago, Harbhajan had been the stand-in vice-captain during the T20 International and the five ODIs in the West Indies. Much has happened since, not least the unsettling row over a Dhoni ad for a Vijay Mallya company which mocked Harbhajan.
The ad has been pulled out, but Mallya has been having a go on Twitter.
Ashish Nehra, who’d recently been sent to London by the Board to consult a specialist, was expected to make the 16, but didn’t. Apparently because he’s been off cricket since end-March.
In principle, one can’t have an issue there, but there must be consistency. No point having a policy if it’s going to be overlooked to suit somebody.
Footnote: Saturday’s telecon was an opportunity to discuss the debacle in the first two Tests. Strangely, nobody brought up the issue of Lord’s and Trent Bridge.