Wright looking for the right balance

By G. Viswanath

EAST LONDON, NOV. 12. `It's a question of finding the right bowling combination for the second Test. We have a fair idea what the batting is going to look like,'' said the Indian cricket team coach John Wright before undertaking a three and a half hour bus journey to Port Elizabeth after match officials called off India's four day game against South Africa `A', with the ground conditions at the Buffalo Park here far less than ideal. The match was scheduled to finish on Tuesday.

What is now significant is that the loss of the two warm up games, one before the first Test and now before the second, has exposed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) lack of professionalism with respect to the drawing up of a tour itinerary. ``We played the first Test straight after a one-day final. now it's going to be from one Test to another and to the third,'' said Wright.

After officials called the match off, the team decided to advance its departure to Port Elizabeth where the second Test is to start on November 16. The team was told that the weather had improved at Port Elizabeth where India lost to Kenya in a tri-series league match. Not to be dragged into any controversy on the facilities at the Buffalo Park, Wright jested: ``well some people have rechristened Buffalo Park as `Water Buffalo Park.''

Wright, whose contract with the BCCI is due for renewal three day's from now, gave his views on the forthcoming two Tests. ``We are capable of beating South Africa and my immediate aim is to achieve that,'' he said during a meet with the press.

Excerpts:

About the second tour match being abandoned.

A: To be honest we might have got some play yesterday, but it rained in the afternoon. Even with the super sopper we would have struggled to get the game going on the first day.

I think, with tight schedules in international cricket, we must insist on all the facilities being in place at such venues. There are not many games leading to Test matches because of the amount of international cricket that is being played. We must have every possible facility from the point of ensuring that we will not lose games unless it is actually raining.

I think Chatsworth, in particular, was a great example. The weather was fine there, but there was no super sopper and no proper drainage facilities. Here it was a little different. It hasn't stopped raining since we arrived here. At the most we might have got two hours of play on the first day and that's about it.

Connor Williams has lost a match. Do you think he would have come into the reckoning if he had scored a big hundred?

A: Well, if he had got runs, he would definitely have been in contention. We needed players to get runs in this game but it did not happen. Now we just have to make sure that our practice sessions are really intense. We hope to have an open net tomorrow. The rain has affected our bowling more than our batting.

It is going to be a difficult situation for the players. You are asking them to step up a level, when they have had virtually nothing, but net practice. It is a difficult situation, but we are going to respond to it. Obviously we will have to have a look at the wicket there at Port Elizabeth.

About Dravid opening the innings again.

A: The absence of a lead game before the first Test was the reason Dravid had to take his place in the team as an opener. We had to balance the side properly faced with a wicket which induced or encouraged more seam than spin. Our best bowlers are our spinners. So in my mind they must play. If we are going to bat right till six then it gives the opportunity to play only two seamers.

Dravid's form and figure has indicated that he is far more profitable in the middle order. So we are really looking at that situation. It is a choice between Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman to be quite honest and may be Deep Das Gupta. At the end of the day, people have to get runs in any position to earn specific spots.

They cannot say, `well I am gonna bat here and there. If you get runs you are in the right to stand those positions. One can say clearly about Dravid that he is in the right to play in the middle order. He averages over 50 in Test cricket. He is a very important part of our team. Against Australia we used him pretty well, with him coming in at number six, and with Laxman batting so well at three.

The opponent's shoulders may hang up, saying that we have Dravid coming in at number three. It may be tough on Laxman, but then he hasn't had a fifty in the last three Tests. So we have to look at the situation.

Obviously we want to play our players where they feel comfortable and believe that they can play their best. But sometimes the needs of a team are greater than that of an individual. Everything must be done in the interest of the team. This is national team and it is not about where you choose or what you choose. You are representing your country and you do your best for your country wherever and whatever they may ask of you.

Sehwag has done well at No. 6, though he has some way to go technique wise. He is learning. He is very exciting and can turn a match. So probably we will not ask him to open, though I am yet to speak to Sourav Ganguly.

What about the spinners?

A. Both must play. We did that in the last game (first Test) and it was quite clear that two of seamers were going at six an over. Would you take the same risk, especially looking at Anil Kumble and Harbhajan's record even on wickets outside and against teams that are far more comfortable against the medium pacers. We really missed Harbhajan in the last Test match. Kumble pulled us back after a poor start. Obviously you have to see the pitch before deciding the bowling combination.

Tendulkar and Ganguly...they have to fill in the third seamers spot. It is actually the ability to get through the 90 overs and do that very cleverly. It is also about tactically using the bowlers. Look at any side in world cricket. Glen McGarth, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee and Shane Warne, that's it for Australia. The South African's are different as they have a Jacques Kallis. That's where we miss an all-rounder. We can well go in with five bowlers if the grass is a bit long.

You also have to take a look at the quality of the bowling. Four quality bowlers can still do the job. You have got to look at things like stamina and performance.

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