The Best of Times, the worst of Times

Not long ago, this columnist bemoaned the fact that under Dhoni, the Indian team plumbed the depths never encountered before by losing back to back 4-0 defeats overseas.And in little over a year since Australia beat India 4-0 in Australia, India has beaten them 4-0.And Dhoni has taken India to heights it had never been before. In between was a little matter of a home defeat to England.That was by no means a one sided defeat and when two teams play defeat is always a possibility.After all, England are battling at 90/4 with a day to play and 391 runs still required to win the test at Hamilton.Such are the uncertainties of the game.At another end of the spectrum, West Indies have just won six test matches in a row, four of them at home and two in Bangladesh.The three teams they defeated include Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.While not much can be read into the wins against these teams,it surely gives the west indies to be a fighting opponents on their spinning tracks.There are so many spinners bowling in regional 4 Day contests that the west Indies are now a true inheritor of the great tradition of Valentine and Ramadhin. The great fast bowlers look to have come out of some other universe.

Looking Ahead

India is well placed in the series against Australia, 2-0 up at the half way stage and having taken an unassailable lead. this is a movement upwards especially after the defeat against England which after the first playing day's performance, looks even more catastrophic.That a debutante left arm orthodox took four wickets on a surface on which Panesar looked ordinary means that Ojha missed an opportunity of a life time. Jadeja not playing earlier perhaps proved costly.Yet, it was not such a bad series. India rediscovered Pujara, discovered Jadeja , Dhoni and Kohli regained self confidence and belief. these assets will be needed in this series but will really be needed in South africa and NewZealand later this year and early next year.