Talk about the exit of the "Big 5" (I will add Kumble to the list) of Indian Test cricket has been the talking point for the last year. This now seems to be in the home stretch, where some definitive action can be expected. It only bodes well that there has been a change in guard not just in the BCCI Managing committee, but also with the selectors.
For starters, it is wonderful to see that the various powers of the BCCI are now professional appointments and no longer Honarary posts. This, hopefully, will bring some accountability into the running of cricket in India.
India is now faced with 2 home series, the first against Australia starting Oct 9th and followed by a series against England in December. This seems like a perfect set of series to effect a change of guard in the team as well. The Big 5 have done enough in their careers to warrant a pompous farewell and where better to have that than at home. It is time to Phase their exit from cricket and ensure that a smooth transition happens. Heres how I would do it, if I were in Krish Srikkanths shoes.
The Australia series will be the swan song for Saurav Ganguly. For a man who kick-started Indias resurgence with a wonderful 141 in Adelaide aginst the very same Australians, it would be apt that he signs off after a series against the World Champs. This wil motivate him to play a good series and go out on a high and in teh minds of the public as a champion cricketer, one which he surely is, despite the controversies.
Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid will play their last series against England. For two men who made their debuts against England in England, it will be fitting that them to sign off in style against the resurgent English team.
Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar seem to have a bit more in their tank and will help the transition be gradual and not sudden. With overseas series in Pakistan and New Zealand to follow, their experience will augur well for the youngsters in the side.
Talking about replacements, it is always difficult to fill the huge gaps that these contemporary greats will leave behind. Good news though is that the bench strength looks promising and ready to take on the reigns. Subramanium Badrinath, is the front runner in my opinion and with Akash Chopra, Rohit Sharma, Mohd Kaif, Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli in the wings, there is definitely good choice for the selectors. MS Dhoni has done enough to prove his effective captaincy and with 2 more series at home under the guidance of Anil Kumble will see him ready to take on the toughest job in Indian cricket. The huge boots of Anil Kumble as a bowler will be difficult to fill, but with Piyush Chawla, Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha knocking on the doors, Indian spin seems in safe hands.
Sachin Tendulkar should play his last One Day series against England at home and then focus only on Tests, thereby enabling him to elongate his Test career. The ODi team is now gelling well into a good side.
Time will tell if any of this happens. In the end I mean well for all of these seniors and I think that they deserve a grand farewell and I hope the players do not leave it until too late and get dropped from the side.
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5 comments:
Hi,
Just a thought...Don’t you think such an orchestrated farewell would add pressure on them and the team. I know they have done a lot for Indian cricket but none of this farewell crap should be on the cricket field….We have a wonderful chance of beating the OZ, (at a time when they are in state of flux) and we should be playing our best squad. I am not sure what the best squad is so I will give Kris the benefit of doubt. But after a couple of tests if isn’t working out then that should be the end of the Fab 4 + Kumble. I think you have to be ruthless to be world champions and there is no better time than now
We can give the likes of Sachin/Laxman/Dravid/Ganguly and Kumble the farewell they deserve but that should not happen on the field! Give them Hon Life Long memberships/Open academies in their name or send them a million bucks! I don’t care!!!
Cheers
S
PS: A quick thought on Steve Waugh’s farewell! I am sure the OZ would have won the series against us if Tugga hadn’t announced that he would retire in Sydney. I still remember the crazy run out of Damien Martyn which Tugga caused!
Sharath : When I say that a farewell must be orchestrated, I say that it has to be done while teh players still qualify on merit - which I think all of the 5 definitely do. On the one hand, they may be under pressure, on the other they could as well be motivated to go out on a high.
We definitely have to be ruthless, but having a plan and knowing in advance about when spaces will be available in the team is definitely an advantage.
As for Steve Waugh, I guess it was his innings (combined with Kattos) that saved them the SCG Test. For all you know, in his absence Punter might not have done well enough to even draw the series.
As for farewell - I think its always the big stage that champions farewell from - entertainers from the stage, players from the arena, actors from the screen etc.
heard abt it frm godo!!! congrats dude!
Good suggestions.I will send krish srikanth to your house,you can give it in person may be.
Hi: I just saw in another blog that you are a fellow-Thanjavur Maharashtrian. Would you please care to join us on facebook at the group "Thanjavur Marathi - Tanjore, India" - we can make a really BIG family together.... Thanks,
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