By V.N. Prasad

All the 5 T20 encounters were on neat sporting tracks. Bravo ‘Curator’ for your conviction to have prepared good tracks where matches were a pleasure to watch. We do thank the Englishmen for providing entertaining and close matches. Congratulations to ‘Team India’ on the series victory.

Whirlwind batting of the top order in the 5th match; Rohit – 64 @ 188 S/R, Virat – 80 @ 154 S/R and Surya – 32 @ 188 S/R were murderous; on a flat track though. Buttler – 52 @ 153 S/R and Malan – 68 @ 148 S/R posed a serious threat at one time, but to score @ an average of 11 per over was far-fetched as they folded up at 188; a very good total. Sad that Roy, Bairstow, Stokes and skipper Morgan failed to carry the momentum.

In lighter vein, ‘Team India’ seems to gear up in the series only after the 1st loss. Generally speaking, top order batting sets up the tone for big totals and thereby competitive encounters; particularly so in shorter formats. Shoulders dropped at the dismal opening combo of Shikar and KLR in the 1st. Later KLR never recovered from ‘Clay Feet’ in the crease; much to our chagrin. One of my friends quipped “Prasad, don’t blame him. He is just out of an injury niggle”. Arrey Bhai, why do you pick him if he is not 100% fit? 

In this backdrop, viewers had a few intriguing questions. Was it necessary to rest Rohit in the first two matches? No. Was the induction of debutants Surya and Ishan delayed? Perhaps Yes. Was dropping Surya in the 3rd match justified? No. Should Ravi Shastry have thought of Kohli to open right from the 1st match; knowing that he opens for RCB, in IPL? Perhaps Yes. Going into ODIs, should it be Kohli, Rohit, Surya, Shreyas, Ishan, Rishab, Hardhik, and Washy/ Ash + three of our best seamers? Sure – Yes. Well, hope better cricketing sense prevails.

Entertainment beyond cricket is at times provided by DRS, Soft Signals, TV replays, Different Frames, Zoom etc. Difficult decisions by umpires have been a part of cricket since the game was invented. 

The diktat has always been “When in doubt, decision has to be in favour of the batsman.” 120 deliveries to face, each ball to be scored off on merits, close appeals for Lbw, catches etc. get on the nerves at times. In the 4th match, Ben Stokes attempted/ took a brilliant catch off Surya. Held, tumbled while partially clutching on to the ball, opened the wrists, thumbs and fingers; while the ball clearly rubbed the turf – zoomed, confirmed – but yet Surya was declared out.                                                                               Well, it all happened in a second. Cricketing pundits remarked “Soft Signal decides the fate when the TV replays are inconclusive”. But God knows where the ambiguity was as the ‘Zoomed and Frozen’ pictures repeatedly indicated that the ball rubbed the green conclusively. That is extra entertainment for you.

Last, but not the least, going into the ODIs; Ashwin in his present form cannot be ignored at all in all the three formats of the game. So, a serious thought is necessary to weigh him against young Washy in the ODIs. As the team has deep batting, Washy has little chance to shine with the bat. So, obviously a better bowler is a desirable inclusion. Competitive cricket and winning the games being the essential ingredients, Ash’s inclusion appears sensible.

Best to Team India going into the ODIs.