India’s nightmare series continues

Thedream was shattered in Melbourne. The slim hopes extinguished at Sydney. The nightmare continues.

Just like every parent hopes that his wards will do better than them and fulfil their ambitions, former cricketers like me were so optimistic that this team will do what ours could not and that is win a series in Australia for the first time.

We had been part of teams that came close but were unable to go that extra step. We drew series but never won them. This time the Australians were really vulnerable, they were rattled, they were nervous, they were apprehensive. They had been dismissed for 46 in South Africa, they had been beaten by New Zealand at home just a few days before the India series started and they were being called names by their media — which is usually their twelfth man.

It all augured well for India. They went in almost two weeks before the first Test, in fact some of their senior players went even earlier, though how that was going to help is debatable since they were not enough people to have good practice. This despite knowing that there is no practice like match practice. All that the players had asked for was given to them.

This is a new generation. They believe in not too much practice but switching off from the game so that they can be mentally and physically fresh for the next one. So we are told.

After Perth, the patient Indian cricket supporter is entitled to ask the question “Did you forget to flip the switch back on?”

The Australians were similarly battered by their media and the fans after the loss to their Trans-tasman neighbours.

They put t heir heads down and got together for a batting camp where they looked to practise against the swinging ball which was t he cause of t heir downfall against New Zealand and South Africa.

They sacrificed the extra days around Christmas to work at their perceived weakness. They took a day off for Christmas but were back again by lunch time and switched on. We have seen it. Hope the Indian team has too.

— Professional Management Group