I really don't know how to explain this performance. Is there an explanation? How is it possible? Is it the worst ever? I was here in 2011 and in Australia in January 2012. On both these occasions, I had thought that I had perhaps seen the worst. 4-0 in England and 4-0 in Australia- can it get worse? Yes, apparently it can. Especially after winning a spectacular victory at Lord's, this capitulation is inexplicable. The kind of abject surrender under three days that we have seen in Manchester and at the Oval has scarred us deeply. There's little doubt that it seriously can't get worse than this.
But the real question lies elsewhere. Does it really matter and does it really hurt? Do we really want to be a top class Test cricket team overseas or are we content with winning back home and winning a few inconsequential T-20s overseas? Even in one day international cricket India's away record in recent times is anything to write home about. Back in 2011 India had not won a single game in England. Thereafter the team failed to make the finals of the tri series in Australia and was knocked out of the Asia Cup in the pool stages. In the last 12 months, India has lost to South Africa in South Africa and was hammered by New Zealand in New Zealand.
At the post match press conference, M S Dhoni was asked if he will consider stepping down as India's Test captain. The captain, as was expected, was evasive. This is a world where each of us, whoever we are, has to deliver in our designated fields. For example, as a cricket writer I am meant to meet deadlines and analyse the game to the best of my ability. The very same applies for someone who works in an office, is a banker, corporate, journalist and the like. For Dhoni and Duncan Fletcher, however, results don't really matter. Fletcher has already been given four plus years as India's head coach. And the result cupboard is entirely bare as far as overseas performances are concerned. And Dhoni talks about processes. He makes it a point in every press conference to suggest the process is more important than the result. One wonders what process is Dhoni talking about? Which process, if any, is working?
India has not managed to score above 200 in 5 consecutive innings. The team was reduced to 66-6 in four consecutive innings. And when we haven't scored 150 plus, we have conceded 350 plus in each innings. Our slip catching is almost a joke, with catches being dropped with amazing regularity. Yet, the skipper says progress is being made. One is left to wonder what process Dhoni is referring to.
India is due to play Australia in Australia in December. And Michael Clarke isn't one to forget the 4-0 defeat in India in February-March 2013. Australia is a far better bowling attack than England with Mitchell Johnson bowling the best he has ever bowled. With James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris and Mitchell Starc for back up, they will keep coming at the Indians relentlessly in all the four Test matches. And India, perhaps the only team to do so, will go into the Brisbane Test with just 2 two day games under their belt! Isn't this part of the process? To be better prepared for a difficult tour of Australia? India does have a say in the itinerary and if captain Dhoni and Coach Fletcher insisted, there is little doubt India could have played three 3 day games before the first Test match.
England, for the record, went to Australia 1 month before the Ashes series last November. And these English cricketers, unlike the Indians, are born and brought up in conditions that favour swing bowling. So if they can do it why can't we?
That's what brings me to what I started with. Does Test cricket really matter? Frankly, the ordinary cricket fan doesn't give a damn about the millions the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will earn over the next 8 years. It can earn billions but as long as we get hammered overseas the fan will start to lose faith in the sport he considers his singular passion. But does the fan matter to the BCCI? A few wins in inconsequential T-20s and all will be forgotten. One hopes that this time round it won't be the case. With Australia in the horizon the scar wouldn't heal so easily.
