da doce： In the recent past, two former greats have criticisedthe current cricketing set-ups of their respective countries
da spicy bet： Anand Vasu02-Apr-2002In the recent past, two former greats have criticisedthe current cricketing set-ups of their respective countries.Coincidentally enough, those very two teams are set to clash inthe not-too-distant future.Alvin Kallicharran, in an interview to a cricket website, calledRoger Harper, the coach of the West Indian team, a “mediocrecricketer” and added rhetorically, “What has he achieved?” Therewas not so much as a whisper of protest against the remarks ofthe elegant left-handed batsman of yesteryear. Kapil Dev thenfollowed suit with more scathing criticism, suggesting that starslike Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly appeared to lackcommitment. This time, though, the reaction around the countrywas instantaneous – an almost unequivocal condemnation of KapilDev’s statements. The reason for the disparity in reactions issimple: Kallicharran was right and, with all due respect, Kapilwas not.If someone had suggested even one year ago that Ganguly would besetting an example for Kapil Dev in acting with grace anddignity, he would have been summarily dismissed as a lunatic. Butby choosing to not react to Kapil Dev’s allegations, Ganguly hasshown that there is perhaps a leader in him yet. Much hated bythe foreign media for what is seen as an arrogant attitude, andeven dubbed “Lord Snooty” by one particularly caustic journalist,Ganguly has now shown that he has it in him to act sensibly, evenin the heat of the moment.Tendulkar, of course, is a different case altogether. To questionthe man’s commitment is to test the elasticity of the imaginationto ridiculous limits, and even a man of Kapil Dev’s staturecannot really take anything away from Tendulkar. The respect hehas earned since that first bloody battle against arch-rivalsPakistan as a callow 16-year old cannot be diminished by a fewoff-the-cuff remarks. After all, as the saying goes, if you takea glass of water out of the ocean, it does not make the ocean anysmaller. With his deafening silence, the little Mumbaikar hasgiven Kapil Dev’s words all the attention they deserve – none.India have just departed for the Caribbean one man short, withGanguly joining the team two days late on account of a domesticdelay. Whispers have begun to do the rounds again. “Is therereally a problem, or is he meeting up with another starletgirlfriend of his?” churn the rumour mills. “Why are theredifferent rules for Ganguly and for the rest?” question thedetractors. Really, just when are the media and public going totire of asking the same old questions?Just before Steve Waugh’s Australians landed in India to breachtheir “final frontier,” a veteran Indian journalist pulled measide and raised a rather interesting point. Have you noticed howwell Steve Waugh runs Australian cricket, he asked, referring tothe Aussie press as almost an arm of the cricket team when heremarked, “How carefully they plan and attack one cricketer withstories and theories in the build-up to a tour.” Ganguly shoulddo the same, he suggested – call a meeting of the press, reachout to them and work as a team.One hopes that things have not come to such a pass yet, wherereporters pit themselves against each other as keenly as theteams that slug it out in the middle. But whether you agree withhis views or not, you have to admit that the media has never beenas powerful as it is today, especially with respect to Indiancricket. The proliferation of televisions and the fact that onlyone commentator is not a former Test cricketer make it impossiblefor the players to ignore what is being said about them.And so the familiar tunes are being strummed out as India get setto take on the Windies. Before a ball has been bowled, people arekeen to see to it that Ganguly does not get his due. The team,accordingly, also comes under more pressure to perform. WillIndia be triumphant away from home? To stick one’s neck out whenit comes to Indian cricket is about as safe as betting that anunseeded Croat will win Wimbledon.But hang on a sec. Goran Ivanisevic did just that, didn’t he?Perhaps that is why one is tempted to think that West Indies 2002will be the series that forever changes the way Ganguly isperceived. Sure, nothing will take away the magic of SunilGavaskar and 1971. Things have changed a lot since, and Gangulyand his troops look all set to collect a coveted silver to place upon the relatively bare shelf that houses thegoodies from India’s efforts overseas. Rahul Dravid said,somewhat unimaginatively, “If we do play to our potential andplay as a team, we have a good chance.” Surely the Indian vicecaptain meant, “This is our best chance of a series win away, andI have a sneaking feeling that this will be it.”
