Sports: Cricket; Testing Conditions

Sports

India Today
January 4, 1998

CRICKET
Testing Conditions

Windy Wellington is better suited for the Indians to display their wares.

By Sanjay Manjarekar in Dunedin

Testing Conditions Oh! How I wish I could write a column on feature films instead of on cricket! My visits to movie theatres here have been frequent and more eventful than my visits to the cricket ground in Dunedin.

I am sure it must have been a well thought out decision of the New Zealand Cricket Board to name this city as the venue for the first Test between India and New Zealand. It is a common ploy employed by most hosts to give the visitors a difficult start to the tour. Dunedin is a tough place to play cricket. I was a member of a few Indian teams that played here in the past. We didn't carry too many pleasant cricketing memories of this city in South Island. The current Indian team should also remember this venue for a long time. Five days of Test cricket was washed out without a ball being bowled! That was the result of the first Test in this notorious city which incidentally is enjoying its "summer".

In all six Test matches have been abandoned in the game's history. Dunedin figures twice in that list. The New Zealand Cricket Board will be forgiven if in future Dunedin does not feature in the tour itinerary. Also it might want to look into the appointment of Steve Dunne, the local man, to officiate in a Test match at Dunedin. Yes, Mr Dunne was the umpire when a Test match was abandoned here a few years ago.

Though there was no Test match action this time, there was still some action off the field. The coaches of the two teams decided to have a "match" of their own. The match referee, after the first day's washout, recommended an extra day's play after the scheduled fifth day to make up for lost time or an extra hour each day under lights if required. Steve Rixon, the New Zealand coach, promptly agreed while Anshuman Gaekwad, his Indian counterpart, refused. Rixon lashed out at the Indians in the media for their stand. He believed the Indians were taking a negative view of the whole thing. "The Indian camp cannot hope to win a match sitting in the dressing room," he said. Gaekwad laughed it off by maintaining that his team had already played loads of cricket and another day of cricket would eat into their rest day.

My own feeling is that the Indian team is here basically to play cricket. As far as the rest is concerned the first day's washout actually turned out to be a rest day. Secondly this was one tour that was offering the Indians Test cricket, something they ought to play more. Barry Jarman, the match referee, could not do much and the rain gods saved the issue from becoming a major controversy. The International Cricket Conference (ICC) will have to look into this matter. Ravi Shastri made a valid contribution when he opined the ICC referee should decide matters like these without involving the teams. This would avoid unwarranted comments and remarks and provide as much cricket as possible. It might be a good idea to extend the referee's duties and powers a little more. I wouldn't be surprised if that happens soon. The Dunedin Test wasn't a total washout, was it?

Another suggestion came up on the third day of the Test. The CEO of the New Zealand Cricket Board invited the two teams to play a one-day unofficial match on the fourth day. A day-night match with red balls. A good idea. Thankfully, the teams didn't feel otherwise. So on December 21 the cricket lovers of South Island came in hundreds to watch the match. I say hundreds because rugby is the No. 1 sport in New Zealand, especially Dunedin.

The Indians used the one-day match as a preparatory game for the second Test. Right approach. But a difficult one. It is a Herculean task to condition yourself for a Test match by playing a one-day match and trying to win it. Unfortunately the Indians lost the match and did not gain much from it. The bowling looked ordinary and the fielding much below par. Robin Singh Jr was picked to assess his ability at the higher level. After the match, Debashish Mohanty will be quite happy about his chances of playing the second Test. On the batting side, Rahul Dravid looked in good touch and ready for the big one. The man to benefit the most was the talented V.V.S. Laxman who is trying hard to establish himself as an opener, although I am not convinced he has the requisites. Nevertheless, he played most impressively and in the process piled more pressure on Navjot Sidhu for the opener's slot. Incidentally, Sidhu seems intent on joining my club. He was run out for the 18th time in his one-day career.

The Indians now head to Wellington to play the second Test. A city renowned as one of the three windiest in the world. But better than Dunedin. Regarding form, I can't help feeling the Kiwis still have the upper hand. However, the Indians will feel better that their official challenge starts in Wellington. By the way the Wellington ground is the only genuine cricket ground in New Zealand. Could that guarantee some cricket? I hope so.

P.S. Saving Private Ryan is a great movie.

(Former Test cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar will be writing a regular column on India's tour of New Zealand.)

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