India’s bowling woes

Harsha Bhogle reviews the first ODI between India and South Africa in Jaipur that concluded in a last-ball thriller.

I was afraid dew might play a part in Jaipur and that would have meant a total of 300 wouldn’t have been good enough. As it turned out, it was, though India were given a scare by their own bowlers. The cupboard is so dreadfully bare with new ball bowlers! Nehra will have one good game, one good spell, one good ball but consistency is not his strength. You cannot throw a ball to your lead bowler with a prayer on your lip! And Sreesanth is taking forever to remind us of his class. Maybe he just needs to bowl for a whole season and learn to stay fit.

Interesting that Jadeja emerged as India’s best bowler. He has a point to prove and I am sure he realises that he is just the player India needs in these conditions. It was a bit of a luxury to go in with both Yusuf Pathan and Jadeja but given how the lead bowlers are going, Dhoni might well feel that is the way to go. I suspect he is missing Yuvraj though and news that he is on his way to Australia to see a doctor suggests there might be some bad news for Kings XI in the IPL.

I am very concerned that the groundsman in Gwalior is proud of the fact that he thinks no score is defendable on his track. I hope someone reminds him that that is precisely the definition of a bad wicket. A cricket match is a contest and there has to be a total that is difficult to defend, one that gives the side batting first a good chance and a third that they should be comfortable defending. That total may vary from pitch to pitch but that total must exist and it cannot exist in the region beyond 350.

I’m yearning to see a one-day game with a 75-80 yard boundary and a pitch with some life in it. Is that like saying I’m yearning to see Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro again? Will it never happen in India?