Decision to rest Srinath and Prasad a welcome move
The strongest available team should represent the country in an international match but at times other considerations would seem more important
Partab Ramchand
09-Nov-1999
The strongest available team should represent the country in an
international match but at times other considerations would seem more
important. Like looking into the future, perhaps. Under the
circumstances, the decision of the selectors to rest Javagal Srinath
and Venkatesh Prasad from the remaining three one day games against
New Zealand is to be welcomed.
India has a long and arduous tour of Australia coming up. Given the
strength of the Australian batting and the record of our own bowling
abroad, it is obvious that Srinath and Prasad will have a lot of work
to do. The two have done a capital job ever since they were in harness
together for the first time on the tour of England in 1996. Kumble and
Srinath have been the main strike bowlers of the decade but Prasad has
not been far behind. He has been a willing work horse and as he showed
in the first Test against Pakistan at Chennai in January this year, he
is capable of striking a purple patch. His bag of 6 for 33 included a
spell of five wickets for zero runs.
In Australia, Kumble's fangs are likely to be cut and with the rest of
the bowling hardly inspiring any confidence, Srinath and Prasad may
not only have to be main wicket takers but may also have to do a lot
of stock bowling. Under the circumstances, a well earned rest will do
the two 30-year-olds much more good instead of bowling in three one
day internationals against New Zealand.
The move is to be doubly welcomed for it also gives a timely break to
Agarkar and Kumaran. Both are in the Australian bound squad and it is
a good idea to let them a bowl against New Zealand before they embark
on a tougher assignment. Both have things to prove. Agarkar has had a
fairly long lay off. He did not have a very fruitful World Cup
campaign, then he was nursing an injury and has just submitted his
fitness report to the Cricket Control Board. He will be happy to have
a work out before he goes to Australia.
For Kumaran too the opportunity to play in three one day
internationals against New Zealand comes at the right time. He was the
surprise choice in the 16 member team for Australia and his detractors
said that one good performance in the Irani Trophy was not enough for
him to get an India cap. It is now up to Kumaran to show that he is in
the team on merit and that the ten wicket haul against Karnataka at
Bangalore was not a flash in the pan.