In acknowledging your shortcomings lies your catharsis, and also victory. That is how I will describe the recently concluded India-SA Test Series. India achieved or managed or inflicted, whichever suits your perception, a drawn Test Series for the first time on the South African soil.
It was a series, high on octane value and also turgid on triteness index. The first Test in Centurion, where India were brushed aside by an innings was the wont indictment of India’s much-maligned off-shore records. The Durban victory in the second Test then showcased the recently acquired steely resolve of fightback in the current team, which has propelled and maintained them at the numero uno spot. The third Test in Cape Town was what demonstrated the aforementioned brilliance and banality at the same time. The 3rd day epitomized the spirit and skill of Test cricket, when Dale Steyn charged with a mix of verve and venom was dishing out some of the most lethal deliveries ever seen, and Sachin Tendulkar, with a mix of fortitude and firmness, was countering them with aplomb. It was once-in-a-year show, and frankly speaking, will bedeck my memory for some time to come. But what followed in the next two days was a massive antithesis. I should have expected it, considering India’s still-poor record in crossing over the line. Having SA effectively down for 128 for 6 on the 4th day, what India needed was just one spell of inspired bowling from one of the fast bowlers to wrap up the innings. What followed was a trivial stuff, Ishant Sharma spraying the balls on the leg side letting Boucher to get into the groove. However well Kallis played, I believe it was Indian bowlers who pulled the South Africans out of the quagmire. Good that India managed a draw on the last day to bring some parity on the proceedings, highlighting some flaw in the much-hyped South African bowling too.
The bottomline remains that India is the number one team; no one should begrudge that, as they have achieved it through winning matches and not through sorcery. They are not a finished product though, amply highlighted by their inability to finish off the series. Their weakest link continues to be their bowling. But somehow, which is beyond me too, this bowling has contrived the energy and skill to win solitary or important matches to win or draw the series. This also shows how much scope there is for improvement, and if that potential comes to roost, even the earlierAustralian/West Indian type hegemony is not out of reach.
Some say it was the best chance for India to win in SA, as the stupendous set of senior batsmen may not be at their disposal the next time around. Agreed. But it is also a far before the time conjecture. As Rahul Dravid has commented, “If we can keep a core group of 4-5 fast bowlers going well in the next few years, we can definitely continue what we have started.” I concur, and hence implore the concerned authorities to heed to the cry for better bowling stock. I have harped on this in earlier blogs too. But does it make a difference? No.
The recently organized madness of mercenary auction of IPL-4 would have driven home the point for you.
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