The Wagging tail


Like many of you, I too believe the Final of ICC Champions Trophy was fixed. Not because Kohli and Co are dishonest but because the fact that the game has grown much beyond 22 yards and as widely suspected, it is played more outside the Cricket stadiums and in all likelihood, Guns and roses are involved big time too. But I am not commenting here on the match fixing part – an area that is greyer than rather Technicolor.

Let’s talk about the Team India - The test team. Quite realistically , this particular format is not fixed and let's assume that everything there is fair and square.
And if that is the case,  Team India is in good shape for at least next decade or so.

When was the list time the Tail of batting line up of any country had all-rounders having test averages like that of  Jadeja - 29.89 , Ashwin – 32.82 , Pandya 59.33, Shami ­13.8 and with Yadav coming at 11 this makes a very healthy reading.

I haven’t included Saha in the List because are used to of having a guy called MS Dhoni who  has made any wicketkeeper batsman comparison immaterial for decades to come. But having said that,  Mr Saha is more than useful at the position.

Going by last two series we have had instances like below that substantiate my argument

·         India V England: In the first Test at Rajkot, India was tottering at 361 for 6 on the fourth morning, after England amassed 537. Ashwin orchestrated the rescue adding 127 runs with the rest of the bowlers for company.  India still conceded a 49-run lead, but if not for that wagging tail India surely would have lost the Test with plenty of time to spare

·         India V England: In the second Test at Vizag, India were left vulnerable on the second morning, with Kohli’s dismissal at 351 exposing the tail. Once again, on a difficult surface , the tail cobbled together 104, with debutant Jayant Yadav impressing on debut

·         Earlier against Australia, Jadeja and Wriddhiman Saha got runs in last three tests and the others chipping in; India just turned the tables on Australia

·         While India was in Trouble, Pujara (202) and Saha (117) steered India to 603 for nine against Australia and gave the team a substantial 152-run lead in the third Test, which eventually ended in a draw

·         In the third Test against Sri Lanka, Pandya came into bat at number eight and scored a 86-ball century for India. A La Klussener effort India witnessed many a times playing in South Africa

And hence with substantial confidence, going by the records we can say that gone are the days when 160/5 used to unfold like 220 all out. These are the days of 450-9 Dec.

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