Opinion | Sambit Bal >> Flat pitches, flatter series Dead pitches, toothless attacks, diffident tactics - is it any wonder this India-Pakistan series ranked alongside the last one for dullness December 13, 2007 The big sleep: Sourav Ganguly shows just what he thinks of the series © Getty Images Don't go by the dramatic last hour, when a crumbling pitch almost contrived to produce a result: on the dullness scale, this series stood sheepishly alongside the one these rivals played out in Pakistan in 2006. Like then, the better team took the series, but save for a few individual performances, the cricket remained uninspiring almost throughout; often it was insipid. A large amount of the blame must be assigned to the pitches, or more appropriately, those responsible for creating them. For nearly two unseemly weeks senior BCCI officials obsessed over the harm being caused to Indian cricket by the chief selector writing a column in defiance of the board's code of conduct, but not a word was heard about the dead pitch that condemned the second Test to tedium. Of course, the BCCI's constitution doesn't lay down guidelines for safeguarding trivial matters like the health of Test cricket and spectator interest. One of the most heartening aspects about cricket in recent times is that Test cricket has become far more result-oriented, yet the last six encounters between India and Pakistan have yielded four draws, all of them on pitches designed to break the heart and will of bowlers. It would have been a travesty had India sneaked a win at Bangalore, because it would not have been earned by great bowling, but rather due to a pitch that became a minefield towards the end after staying unfair to bowlers for the most part. Anil Kumble looked deadly bowling seam-up, and Yuvraj Singh just by bowling at the stumps. India didn't deserve to win because they had shown no intent - in fact, after lunch Kumble seemed more focused on giving Dinesh Karthik an opportunity to bat than on forcing a win - and a result would have somewhat redeemed a pitch that was just not good enough. This said, the story of the series was also that neither team possessed a bowling attack capable of transcending the pitches. India winning 1-0 was the right result: they were the superior team; but a 2-0 scoreline would have flattered them. Pakistan will rue that one suicidal session on the fourth day in Delhi that cost them the series, but the truth is that like India in the 2006 series, they were playing catch-up all through the series. They managed to bowl India out only twice in the three Tests, and only once for under 600. At no point did they get themselves to a position from where victory could be contemplated. But most of all, they were flat, lacking in fire, intensity and purpose. The most conspicuous personification of their diffidence was their inexperienced captain. Shoaib Malik had looked calm and controlled while leading Pakistan to the final of the World Twenty20 in South Africa, but in the longer versions of the game, in home series against South Africa and here in the one-dayers and in the first Test, he looked forlorn and bereft of inspiration. Inzamam-ul-Haq, his predecessor, often gave the impression of disengagement, but he had presence and commanded respect of his team-mates for his batting abilities.   It also didn't help Pakistan that in the last two Tests they had a reluctant captain in Younis Khan. A naturally combative player, Younis perhaps has his reasons for not leading Pakistan, and there are indications he didn't get a say in the selection of the playing XI for the last Test - a selection that seemed to be based on extreme diffidence   Granted Malik is inexperienced, but historically Pakistani cricketers have responded to strong leaders, and even if he acquires cricket savvy through exposure, he will always be disadvantaged because of his shortcomings as a batsman. Without the security of the captaincy, he would struggle to hold his place in the Test side. He may have been appointed captain for a year, but the selectors must now reconsider. They must also seriously consider if Shoaib Akhtar is worth the trouble. The explanation "but he is a match-winner" is wearing thin because he has not won that many matches. The external problems - drugs, suspect action (watch him fire the ball in from wide of the crease and it's difficult not to squirm), misconduct and truancy - would perhaps be worth risking if the captain was confident Shoaib would turn up fit. As it stands, he now stands in the rare category of cricketers who have missed more matches than they have played, and rarely has he lasted a full series. Here, the sting went out of the Pakistani bowling attack the moment he ran out of wind. It also didn't help Pakistan that in the last two Tests they had a reluctant captain in Younis Khan. A naturally combative player, Younis perhaps has his reasons for not leading Pakistan, and there are indications he didn't get a say in the selection of the playing XI for the last Test - a selection that seemed to be based on extreme diffidence. For a Test they had to win, Pakistan chose only four bowlers: a spearhead with a history of breaking down; to partner him, a man whose bowling average would do batsmen proud; a legspinner who averages 39 against India; and a debutant medium-pacer better suited to one-day cricket. Yuvraj Singh and Sourav Ganguly batted splendidly in a pressure situation on the first day of the last Test, but once they had played themselves in, the Pakistanis were reduced to merely fetching the ball from the boundary. You batting beauty: Misbah-ul-Haq's form was among the few silver linings for Pakistan © Getty Images The only positive Pakistan can carry from the series is the emergence of Misbah-ul-Haq as a serious Test batsman. For a man who made his comeback to international cricket via Twenty20, his progress has been remarkable. It was he, and Kamran Akmal, who prevented a washout. He was cool all through, and adapted his technique marvellously to counter the threat of Kumble's spearing topspinners. For someone who came from nowhere, he is now a serious candidate to lead Pakistan. For India, the series marked a new high for Sourav Ganguly - he made more than 1000 runs in a calendar year for the first time in his career, and seemed to get better with every innings - and the emphatic return to Test cricket by Yuvraj. They now have a problem of batting riches when they sit down pick the final XI for the Boxing Day Test against Australia, but that will be offset by the uncertainty over their pace bowlers, who are carrying various injuries. Of the spinners, Kumble was resourceful and threatening as usual, but Harbhajan Singh, returning to the Test side after 18 months, was disappointing. Still, they will savour their first home win against Pakistan in nearly three decades. Australia are the next opponents for both teams. Pakistan have three months before they face them at home. But India have less than two weeks before they take them on in Melbourne. To that end, this series has been poor preparation. The opponents have been feeble, and the pitches even less challenging. Sambit Bal is the editor of Cricinfo © Cricinfo

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Posted by MaksoodChaiwalla on December 14 2007, 17:31 PM GMT

Continued. Kumble bowled really well throughout the series but as a leader didn't take enough risks. A bit more courage would have contributed in gaining total domination over Pakistan. Pakistan on the other hand had problems with injuries even before the series started. Loosing Umar Gul was a big blow. Then having Shoiab Akthar half fit was always going to be a problems. On top of this they had Malik who sat out 2 games, Mohammed Yusuf had a quite series, Kaneria was out of sorts. With all these problems Pakistan did really well not to have lost by a bigger margin. Misbah Ul Haq's performance has been remarkable. He's got great temprement and looked very cool, calm and collected while coming into bat with the team in crisis, Akmal too showed his class in front of the wicket though how he fares behind them is what the selectors are looking at for the moment. Having said that Pakistan still can't afford to loose him just yet. For India all's well when they bat well. Who's next, Aussies?

Posted by MaksoodChaiwalla on December 14 2007, 16:46 PM GMT

This certainly hasn't been a great series for Pakistan. At the same time India didn't show enough courage in winning by a bigger margin. 1-0 could so easily have been atleast 2-0. Few positives have come for both the sides though. Jaffer's knocks both in the first two tests were very vital for the team and more importantly for himself and his place in the side at the top of the order. His double hundred (one of the best innings played by an Indian opener in a long time) in the second test must have boosted his confidence immencely and it showed when he came out to bat in the second innings of the same test. Ganguly has stamped his authority as the best player in the current ranks and all the talks about him hanging his gloves must have evaporated. Yuvraj played a gem of an innings which must have given the Indian selectors a headache rather than relief. But I still would like to see Yuvraj in the side just for the electrifying presence he gets to the side. To be Continued....

Posted by malikrox on December 14 2007, 16:11 PM GMT

These graveyard pitches are killing test cricket! There was really nothing for the fast bowlers! Test pitches should be sporty!

Posted by jayadeep_nair on December 14 2007, 13:39 PM GMT

well, the result 1-0 looks to be fair enough in India's favour.You cant ask for more from this team , if the wickets are so ill prepared.Its hard to produce a result and mind you, the game of cricket suffers the telling blow in these under prepared wickets. Kumble played it safe the last day of the third test to make it even look worse playing for a draw and not forcing for a result.About saying "should have won it 3-0", sounds a bit odd since quality aspect of both the wickets and the game plan you enforce should also be taken into account for that matter.!

Posted by Majr on December 14 2007, 12:46 PM GMT

India were the superior side on all counts and deserved to win. The question to consider is how useful this series was in the preparation for the forthcoming tour to Australia. Apart from enabling the team and the bench players to function as a group, cricket quality wise it was not very relevant. However since the wickets in Australia would definitely encourage our bowlers, I am very hopeful of our team giving a good account of themselves. Our batting will of course have to repeat their heroics of the tour in 2004. I only hope that the standard of umpiring is better than it was in the India Pak series when I think it was truly appalling despite umpires like Taufel and Koertzen officiating.The sad part is that umpiring goof ups and their impact on the series is seldom written about. The importance of this can be seen in the fact that but for the Koertzen mistake, the series between Australia and Sri Lanka may have been a draw. Just because Australia won no one seems to notice.

Posted by mykingdomforanos on December 14 2007, 06:26 AM GMT

I dont understand y the BCCI is hell bent on making Indian pitches bouncy, sporty or whatever.... Every other country except India is happy playing on the natural type of pitches.... we dont see England, NZ, Australia trying to ape Indian pitches whenever they fail in India.... This is a ridiculous exercise and the more we do this sort of shit the more successful will we be in making dull drab pitches... BCCI should realize this and start making the good old raging turners....

Posted by oz_boma on December 14 2007, 05:50 AM GMT

The dead wickets being produced in India/Pakistan are not helping the teams when they tour elsewhere. Whilst people like Ganguly score double hundreds in India, he will not score 1 10th of that when he goes to Australia. He will have to face Lee, Tait and Johnson on fast bouncy tracks.... Boma.

Posted by SAMIN on December 14 2007, 04:53 AM GMT

Like neutral Umpires its now time that ICC should control the pitches. ICC should appoint a panel of experts who should supervise pitches wherever the Cricket is played under ICC. This will give fair chance to all the teams and it will improve the quality of the game and future Cricketers. Right now if Asian teams go to Australia/England/S.A. they have to face green and bouncy wickets and if those teams comes to Asia they have play on a dull, underprepared and flat pitches which becomes hell for the pace bowlers. ICC should control the quality of pitches and all the test playing teams has to match certain ICC standard to prepare the pitches. This will improve the quality of the game and produce better Cricketers for the future.

Posted by SAMIN on December 14 2007, 04:43 AM GMT

I think 1-0 is the fair result for India. The types of wickets they provided was not sporting one 1-0 is OK. The wickets cannot be described as fair wickets. They were slow, flat and looks terrible during the last two days. If Pakistan had fit players like M.Asif and Umer Gul and Shoaib and if the wickets were fair and sporting one like Mohali which helps both batsmen and pace bowlers the result could have been otherwise and you were not asking this question about 1-0 result. We will see how good team India is on the Australian tour where wickets are not like India. If India can perform at the same level they did against Pakistan (with the help of favourable pitches, winning toss and home ground) then you can easily say India is #2 in the test cricket. Just one series cannot tell the true story.

Posted by maharishi on December 14 2007, 03:03 AM GMT

certainly not a fair reflection but lots to gain out of this sereies india could have been get easily 2-0 series victory.anil kumble played safe by not declering at the right time. i m surprised that we havent seen any planing againts misbah ul haq to get him out . our bowlers didnt tried any new things againts him, its cleary lack of planing.its good series for all players specially ganguly, sharma,kumble , yuvi.they must carry a higher confiedence in series againts australia.

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