Despite defeats, experiments must continue

If at all any proof was required that a team's form and record in Tests and the one-day game can be very different, the current contest between India and West Indies has amply provided it. A team that lost the Test series tamely, playing much mediocre cricket along the way, is 2-0 up after two matches, providing much sparkling cricket en route.

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A side that has an excellent record in Test cricket need not be anywhere at the top in the shorter version and vice versa. This has been proved often and the trend in the India-West Indies series is only the latest example of this truism. Full marks, however, to the tourists.

Not many would have given them much chance as the series unfolded in Jamshedpur. After all, India's impressive record at home is not just confined to Test cricket but also the one-day arena. Over the last 2-1/2 years, India has defeated South Africa, shared a series with England and lost to Australia only by a narrow 3-2 margin. It did seem that the current West Indian side did not have the wherewithal to defeat the Indians, even if the home team was without Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan.

But the West Indian performance has been as heart-warming as it has been match-winning. They have risen to the occasion and overcome the odds with some effervescent stroke play. One has particularly liked the manner in which they have approached the task of chasing daunting targets with innovative batsmanship that has been in the best Caribbean tradition. Indeed, the series has already underscored the fact that both sides are strong in batting and weak in bowling, particularly on the kind of shirtfront pitches generally prevalent in this country. In not being able to defend totals of 283 and 279, the Indian bowling has been exposed but the West Indians have done little better in conceding that many runs.

Perhaps, the Indians have been a bit guilty of complacency. Some of the shots played by the home batsmen have been downright irresponsible. Of course, playing any series without Tendulkar and Zaheer is bound to be a handicap. And then the two losses suffered so far could also be a direct fall out of the experiments being carried out to try and find a settled combination for the World Cup.

Should the experimentation then be given up? I don't think so. If by losing a battle we can win the war, so be it. The search for an all-rounder must continue and in addition to Virender Sehwag, Sanjay Bangar could also be given opportunities in this regard. Also, it is time that Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif were promoted up the order. While there is no doubt that there was some merit in trying out Ajit Agarkar as a pinch-hitter at No 3, it must be admitted that such moves should be tried out only as a surprise tactic.

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And maybe the time has come to give Rahul Dravid a much-needed rest. Pulling his weight repeatedly while batting is affecting his work behind the stumps and if it has been decided that he will be the wicket-keeper for the World Cup, perhaps the time has come to field Parthiv Patel who was called up as a possible replacement for Dravid, said to be nursing an injury on the eve of the Nagpur game. The Indian vice-captain did not seem to be 100 percent fit on Saturday and that could also be a justifiable reason to give him a well-earned rest.

And what about Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh? The manner in which the two have been bowling of late perhaps they could be given a rest and fielded in alternate games. As I mentioned in my earlier column, the pace-oriented conditions in South Africa could well mean that only one spin bowler could be fielded in the playing eleven and maybe the Indian team management could start getting used to the idea.

Ultimately, however, it must be said that the Indians are not playing up to potential. On paper, there is no reason why the home team should not have won both the matches. After all, they were close games. The little but all-important things - a couple of misfields, a dropped catch, a bad over or two, faltering towards the crucial end of the innings as it happened while batting at Nagpur - are factors that have been responsible for the narrow defeats. The encouraging aspect is that there are five more matches to go and there is every reason to believe that the Indians will fight back and take the one-day series as well even with the continuation of the experimentation process.