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'In Suresh Raina and Piyush Chawla, we've got two young players that people will hear a lot more of in the years to come' - Rahul Dravid
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Two decades ago, Greg Chappell, who had retired at the end of the 1983-84
season, was appointed Australian selector, one of a panel entrusted with
reviving a side that had plumbed the depths against the West Indies at
home and been decimated by the rebel tour that went in search of South
African rand. Allan Border had inherited the poisoned chalice that was the
captaincy, but by the end of the '86-'87 season - when Australia lost the
Ashes at home and made up the numbers in two one-day competitions - time
appeared to be running out.
Chappell's time as selector was characterised by many painful choices, but
the panel that also involved Lawrie Sawle and John Benaud is best
remembered for three gambles that paid spectacular dividends. David Boon
and Geoff Marsh would be bulwarks at the top of the order for nearly a
decade, while a certain Stephen Rodger Waugh would play for his country
well into the new millennium.
Waugh, in particular, was a courageous punt. In his maiden first-class
season, he had caught Bill O'Reilly's eye, with the former legspin
legend-turned-journalist enthusing about his 71 in the Sheffield Shield
final victory over Queensland. He made little impression early on in his
Test career, failing against the Indians and taking 27 matches for his
first century. But having decided that fresh faces and a new attitude were
the answer to Australian cricket's woes, the faith reposed would be more
than vindicated.
Those who have heard Chappell speak of invigorating the Indian Test side
in recent weeks might be forgiven a sense of déjà vu. There is little
doubt that he views the likes of Suresh Raina and Piyush Chawla as having
the potential to do something similar for India. Sourav Ganguly is already
gone, and it remains to be see whether Sachin Tendulkar will carry on
indefinitely after the 2007 World Cup. The exodus of big-name players,
including Chappell, nearly crippled Australian cricket in the early '80s,
and he has often spoken of the need to avoid something of that nature
happening to this Indian team.
Raina may not play tomorrow, but an impressive first-class record and his
composure against top-notch opposition mean that he won't stay on the
outer very long. Chawla, 17 years and 67 days old tomorrow, will be
India's second-youngest debutant after Tendulkar if he's given that
cherished first cap. For someone who was playing Under-19 cricket, a few
notches below first-class standard, a little more than a week ago, it's a
dizzying step up.
Rahul Dravid, who has also bought into the youth-as-energiser mantra,
could barely hide his excitement while talking about both. "In Suresh
Raina and Piyush Chawla, we've got two young players that people will hear
a lot more of in the years to come," he said at the pre-match press
conference. "I'm very excited about some of the young kids coming through.
During the course of this series, we hope to give them opportunities and
develop them as cricketers."
Chawla, who has 42 first-class wickets from nine games, is clearly
pencilled in as the long-term replacement for Kumble, but there is just as
much anticipation over the new faces in the pace bowling line-up. The
likes of Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar and Ashish Nehra have blown hot and
cold for far too long, and it's clear that S Sreesanth and Rudra Pratap
Singh will be given a few opportunities to prove their ability. Should
they slip up, Vikram Raj Vir Singh and Munaf Patel, who wrecked England
with 10 for 91 in a tour game, remain on standby.
Not all changes are necessarily for the better though. During that
nightmare run in '86-'87, Chappell, Border's mentor at Queensland, was one
of those believed to be behind the move to promote Dirk Wellham to the
vice-captaincy, with a view to him taking over at some stage. But Wellham,
whose prevarication over the rebel tour had angered both players and
officials, wasn't a popular choice, and the move was shot down at a board
meeting in Perth. A year later, the team led by Border and coached by
Bobby Simpson won the World Cup in the subcontinent. Subsequently, they
would trounce England away to regain the Ashes, and Border would lead the
side until 1993-94, retiring safe in the knowledge that he had taken a
proud cricket nation from the nadir to very near the pinnacle.
Some would argue that with India still No.3 on the ICC Test table - they
will move up to bridesmaid position if they beat England - there's no need
for drastic reshaping of the side. But as India's one-day revival has
shown, there's a lot to be said for fresh legs, minds that aren't jaded
and a burning desire to achieve. While the Test machine's not broken or in
need of complete overhaul, it could still do with a tune-up here and
there. The next few days will offer a glimpse of the future, and according
to Dravid and Chappell, it promises to be a golden one.
Dileep Premachandran is features editor of Cricinfo