Indore all set for Zimbabwean assault
The beginning of a series always leaves tremendous room for optimism
Anand Vasu
22-Jul-2009
The beginning of a series always leaves tremendous room for optimism.
The eve of the Zimbabwe-National Cricket Academy clash at the Nehru
Stadium in Indore is a case in point. The Academy team is one full of
youth is one striving hard to make a markand all that jazz. The
well worn cliches have been flying off scribes' keyboards faster than
readers can digest. After all, this match is really about the
Zimbabweans.
The visitors' tour has gotten off on the wrong foot already. They have
arrived for their first game minus skipper Heath Streak. They also
landed at Indore minus their kitbags and luggage. Luckily, both issues
have been swiftly sorted out. The in-form Guy Whittall will lead the
side and the luggage did arrive, albeit a trifle late.
Having been knocked out of the KSCA Diamond Jubilee Tournament in
their very first match, the NCA side was raring to go in the next
chance they got. That was the Buchi Babu Memorial Tournament in
Chennai. In fine style, they overwhelmed team after team and lifted
the cup. Tomorrow, when they walk out to face Zimbabwe, history of
sorts will be made. An Indian Academy side will take on an
international team.
And this side will be led by someone who already has two World Cup
victories under his belt - Reetinder Singh Sodhi. In his ranks, are
the polished Mohammed Kaif, the spunky Sridharan Sriram and the silken
touch of Delhi's Gautam Gambir. If these cricketers can't do the job,
they have the ever dependable Ahmedabad southpaw - Neeraj Patel to
fall back on. In the bowling department they are equally well endowed.
Rakesh Patel and Mrityunjay Tripathi will, in all likelihood share the
new ball. When they are done testing the Zimbabwean batsmen, the left
arm spin of Sriram and indeed Rakesh Dhruv will kick in. Sodhi will
run in and pound the batsmen, and to top it all, they could have the
services of recently included Tamil Nadu left arm spinner Vidyuth
Sivaramakrishnan or Bengal offspinner Saurashish Lahiri. Punjab
offspinner Sarandeep Singh has been making waves in domestic cricket
and he too is likely to play a part.
The lung opener is equally important for the Zimbabweans. It gives
them an opportunity to try out the youngsters they have brought on
tour - Travis Friend being a revelation and the freshly out of college
Brian Murphy not far behind. Guy Whittall will have a go at the top
job in Zimbabwean cricket and the experience should hold him in good
stead.
At 9.30am tomorrow however, it will not be about a new dawn in Indian
cricket. It will not be about Zimbabwe trying to establish themselves
as serious contenders in world cricket. It will be about leather
thudding on willow. After all, this is the city that produced the
likes of Colonel CK Nayudu and Mushtaq Ali.