Ganguly out and All that Jazz
Indian cricket never fails to amuse me.
Saurav Ganguly, former Indian cricket captain, was dropped from the 3rd test match versus Sri lanka at Ahmedabad, causing public outrage across the nation. I wouldn't say I'm completely surprised by this step taken by the selectors. It's a well known fact that Ganguly had enjoyed the complete support and faith of former BCCI head honchos, Messrs Dalmiya and his deputy Ranbir Singh Mahendra, which without doubt allowed Ganguly to retain his place in the team despite his poor form the past few seasons. However recently held BCCI elections led to the ouster of present incumbents,including Ranbir Mahendra, and brought in a change of guards, most of whom do not have a favorable opinion of Ganguly.
Ganguly's public battle of words with current Indian coach Greg Chappell did not make things any easier.
Ganguly was promptly dropped from the ODI team which led to predictable public furore but mostly from within the state of Bengal. Ganguly went back to domestic cricket where he produced a string of useful contributions in a bid to get into the Indian Test team. He was eventually picked for the first two test matches at Chennai and Delhi. The Chennai test was a washout but Ganguly played some useful , steady innings (39,40) at key junctures at Delhi. Indians won the test match comfortably. But then without warning he was dropped for the 3rd test which really makes us question the timing of the act.
If Ganguly had failed with the bat at Delhi and was subsequently dropped, it probably wouldnt have sparked the kind of reaction it did. If anything, it only seems to bring in a political angle to the whole issue and opens the door for the possibility that Ganguly was not dropped purely for cricketing reasons.
The official stance of the selectors has been "they are looking towards the future..." which in this case would mean Yuvraj Singh who has been in top batting form this season. Selectors feel, and I agree, that Yuvraj would be a more productive selection at the number 6 position. But my question would be- What was the need to drop Ganguly? He could've at best, if not part of the playing eleven, been part of the team and incase of any injuries or such, Ganguly would be a useful batsmen to have around. As it turned out the captain Rahul Dravid, suffering from the flu, was rested and Mohammed Kaif was brought in. It now remains to be seen if the present batting line-up could prove equal to the task at Ahmedabad.
What has also been amusing is how politicians and political parties have pounced upon the issue letting everybody know exactly how they feel to the point where they are actually bringing up the Ganguly issue to be discussed further in parliament. Haha! It's mindboggling that politicians would set aside important issues like I don't know, eliminating poverty or corruption, and instead debate furiously over the "grave injustice" of dropping a cricketer. That's Indian cricket for you. And not to forget the disturbing yet equally amusing Public Protests. Some people have really skewed priorities.
Meanwhile there's Anil Kumble, a veteran leg-spinner who's playing for the last 15 years or so, who was also dropped from the ODI team and from the look of it does not fit into the ODI scheme of things. There were no debates in parliament..no protests on the streets even though he's won more matches for India than any bowler in the recent past. But for a while back in 2001-02 he looked to be muscled out of the Indian cricket team cos of a shoulder injury and the emergence of another deadly champion off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. But he has worked extremely hard and made his presence felt in the team with his consistent performances and now alongside Harbhajan forms a devasting test bowling duo.
A look at his records for the statistically inclined (Courtesy Cricinfo)
If Ganguly believes he has a few more years of international cricket left in him, he'll do well to take a leaf out of kumble's book and prove it to his detractors.
-Nav
Saurav Ganguly, former Indian cricket captain, was dropped from the 3rd test match versus Sri lanka at Ahmedabad, causing public outrage across the nation. I wouldn't say I'm completely surprised by this step taken by the selectors. It's a well known fact that Ganguly had enjoyed the complete support and faith of former BCCI head honchos, Messrs Dalmiya and his deputy Ranbir Singh Mahendra, which without doubt allowed Ganguly to retain his place in the team despite his poor form the past few seasons. However recently held BCCI elections led to the ouster of present incumbents,including Ranbir Mahendra, and brought in a change of guards, most of whom do not have a favorable opinion of Ganguly.
Ganguly's public battle of words with current Indian coach Greg Chappell did not make things any easier.
Ganguly was promptly dropped from the ODI team which led to predictable public furore but mostly from within the state of Bengal. Ganguly went back to domestic cricket where he produced a string of useful contributions in a bid to get into the Indian Test team. He was eventually picked for the first two test matches at Chennai and Delhi. The Chennai test was a washout but Ganguly played some useful , steady innings (39,40) at key junctures at Delhi. Indians won the test match comfortably. But then without warning he was dropped for the 3rd test which really makes us question the timing of the act.
If Ganguly had failed with the bat at Delhi and was subsequently dropped, it probably wouldnt have sparked the kind of reaction it did. If anything, it only seems to bring in a political angle to the whole issue and opens the door for the possibility that Ganguly was not dropped purely for cricketing reasons.
The official stance of the selectors has been "they are looking towards the future..." which in this case would mean Yuvraj Singh who has been in top batting form this season. Selectors feel, and I agree, that Yuvraj would be a more productive selection at the number 6 position. But my question would be- What was the need to drop Ganguly? He could've at best, if not part of the playing eleven, been part of the team and incase of any injuries or such, Ganguly would be a useful batsmen to have around. As it turned out the captain Rahul Dravid, suffering from the flu, was rested and Mohammed Kaif was brought in. It now remains to be seen if the present batting line-up could prove equal to the task at Ahmedabad.
What has also been amusing is how politicians and political parties have pounced upon the issue letting everybody know exactly how they feel to the point where they are actually bringing up the Ganguly issue to be discussed further in parliament. Haha! It's mindboggling that politicians would set aside important issues like I don't know, eliminating poverty or corruption, and instead debate furiously over the "grave injustice" of dropping a cricketer. That's Indian cricket for you. And not to forget the disturbing yet equally amusing Public Protests. Some people have really skewed priorities.
Meanwhile there's Anil Kumble, a veteran leg-spinner who's playing for the last 15 years or so, who was also dropped from the ODI team and from the look of it does not fit into the ODI scheme of things. There were no debates in parliament..no protests on the streets even though he's won more matches for India than any bowler in the recent past. But for a while back in 2001-02 he looked to be muscled out of the Indian cricket team cos of a shoulder injury and the emergence of another deadly champion off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. But he has worked extremely hard and made his presence felt in the team with his consistent performances and now alongside Harbhajan forms a devasting test bowling duo.
A look at his records for the statistically inclined (Courtesy Cricinfo)
If Ganguly believes he has a few more years of international cricket left in him, he'll do well to take a leaf out of kumble's book and prove it to his detractors.
-Nav
posted by Nav at 5:31 AM
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