Cricket Shastra

Notes from the day one of the India-SA 1st Test at Chepauk, Chennai…

• India needs to re-think the four-bowler strategy, especially in the Indian sub-continent where the pitches are generally conducive to batting. But to accommodate the fifth bowler, whom do you drop? The only route I could think for this is to take Karthik in the team instead of Dhoni (God knows he needs a break, he has been the busiest cricketer in the world – give him a break for a test or two, get him back fully fit and refreshed), drop Jaffer or Sehwag (for no fault on their part), make Karthik open, and get Pathan in as a bowling all-rounder.
• I know Sreesanth is a quality bowler when he gets into rhythm, but the problem is his rhythm lasts for 3 balls, and the fourth ball would generally be seen crashing in the hoardings. He reminds me of another Indian fast bowler of the present era: Ajit Agarkar – of the six balls in his over 4 would beat the batsmen, the other two would beat the fielders.
• RP Singh was not at all incisive, and Zaheer Khan was sorely missed. Ishant Sharma has to prove himself in the Indian subcontinent before we miss him
• And why was the Indian fielding so pathetic? I did not expect Dhoni to drop a catch that he would have generally taken with his eyes shut…