Very Very Stupid

The Indian media are well known for being reactionary in their views. This is evident at two particular times - first, when the BCCI come out and give their opinion on a situation in world cricket, such as the DRS. Even if the rest of the cricketing world disagree with them, Indian newspapers and commentators will back their board to the hilt. Quite what their motive for this concordance is, we can only speculate. Secondly, we have a situation like the one I read on Cricinfo the other day - that VVS Laxman should be dropped for the Perth Test in favour of Rohit Sharma.

Now I can fully understand the clamour for change. India were simply woeful in Sydney, save for a good opening burst by Zaheer Khan in the 1st innings and some graft with the bat once the game was already lost second time around. They capitulated in the first innings and they will need to find something from somewhere for the next Test starting on Friday, on a pitch that is expected to be quick and bouncy, quite unlike the subcontinent. There is no doubt that India will benefit from phasing out their senior batsmen (Laxman, Tendulkar and Dravid) gradually and I realise that this was seen as an opportunity to blood a new player instead of Laxman, whilst his peers are still in form. However, in this instance a more short-term view is required. Laxman has been there and done it as far as touring Australia is concerned. He has made tricky runs in important situations and has done it in style. He grafted his way to 66 in Sydney and did look in good nick, which may well carry forward to the WACA.

By contrast, Sharma is yet to make his Test debut. He has however played 72 ODIs, so most people in world cricket are aware of him. My feeling is that he scores easy runs against mediocre opposition. Averaging 34, he only has two hundreds, which were made back-to-back in Zimbabwe. 6 of his 11 50s have come on the subcontinent, with a further 3 in the West Indies. Whilst he offers something to the team in limited overs with his fast strike rate, useful off-spinners and sharp fielding, I can't help but think he is hardly the solution in what has become a dogfight Down Under. But then again, there is no other suitable batsman in the squad. You could include him at the expense of Virat Kohli. However, Kohli has a far superior ODI record and still hasn't really proved he is able to translate that onto the Test arena. My gut feeling tells me he eventually will establish himself, but that Sharma should remain a limited overs specialist. Laxman's time will come soon, but this would be too soon - give him until the end of the series, so that we have at least two more matches to watch one of the most stylish batsmen of his generation at work.

RM