Operation Discipline
Mrigank Chhibber - 18 May 2002

When the one-day squad for the five-match series in the Caribbean was announced, I was quite amazed to see that Ajit Agarjar had been picked. This is a man who has regularly given away matches with indisciplined bowling. This is a man who would probably bowl short at Richie Richardson and give half-volleys on the off-stump to Walter Hammond.

What is most distressing about him is that just when he starts to look reliable, he falls by the wayside. Agarkar at his best can provide spells that amaze, but on a regular day, he can bowl spells that evoke only one kind of amazement - about his inclusion in the side. Once again, now, Agarkar has been called up to do duty for India, and once again a whole nation awaits with bated breath for his talent to come of age.

Pas contre, the West Indies also seem to have a similar problem in the form of Ramnaresh Sarwan. If he is truly the player his fabulous stroke-play suggests, he will need to meet the person who is currently sticking pins in a rag doll every time Sarwan reaches 50. This is a player who is a future West Indies captain, but at present, he cannot even seem to control himself, so leading the islands seems quite distant at the moment.

An Achilles heel is fast forming and it requires surgery; some of the better surgeons for the job, at present, are Carl Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. It seems quite odd that these individuals, who play for both the Windies and Guyana, cannot come together to correct Sarwan's problems. Both Hooper and Chanderpaul seem quite adept at converting good starts into substantial scores; in fact, Chanderpaul himself overcame a problem similar to Sarwan's in his own international career.

Agarkar and Sarwan are just clear examples of the problem that is plaguing both squads. This is what separates India and the West Indies from the likes of Australia and South Africa. It is not common to see the likes of Jason Gillespie, Shaun Pollock and Glenn McGrath straying from immaculate line and length. They are also sensible enough to know what and how to bowl when they are getting some stick.

On the other hand, the likes of Adam Sanford and Agarkar are quite likely to try to bowl with extra pace, thus offering up treats to the batsman. Both teams contain many similar individuals who should now stand up and be counted. An evolution to a higher level is required, and their respective nations are waiting.

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