From Anil Kumble
Plenty has been said and written about the Ian Bell run out at Trent Bridge and the subsequent withdrawing of the appeal by the Indian team. All I would like to say is that it was the right decision looking at the Spirit of the game. If you go strictly by the rules, he was out, there are no two ways about that. Even though in the context of the game his recall didn’t really matter, MS Dhoni and the Indian team has to be appreciated for playing the game in the right spirit, something we have always stressed on.
Coming to the game itself, from an Indian perspective, it was very disappointing. After being in commanding positions at various stages over the first two days, India let the advantage slip. There can’t be any one reason for that. You can definitely see a little bit of fatigue within the team. Especially for the bowlers, it’s not easy to run in and day in and day out. Both Ishant and Praveen have bowled a number of overs in the last four or five Tests starting from the West Indies, but having said that, you need to really take care of your body during the time when there are no matches. That discipline is very important.
A combination of things contributed to the 319-run defeat. I feel India didn’t attack enough. We needed to make things happen, but we didn’t show intent. Especially given we were 0-1 down in the series, we should have shown more purpose. When Broad and Swann were going strong in the England first innings, I got the impression that the team was hoping one shot would go in the air and go to a fielder. Even in the second innings, when they were 50 for two, we were on top but after a while, it looked as if it was the other way round when Bell and Pietersen cut loose.
In both matches, we have effectively gone in with only three bowlers. Zaheer in the first Test and Harbhajan in the second, our two most senior bowlers, have missed out due to injuries. We need to address that. You can’t have the two seniormost bowlers on tour down with injuries during a Test match. Especially when you go in with only four bowlers like we invariably do, it’s all the more important that all four are really raring to go.
The Trent Bridge pitch was the kind where you had to hit the deck. From what I saw, our bowlers were just looking to swing the ball 70 percent of the time. I also felt Sreesanth bowled well within himself. Again, you can’t afford to hold back, particularly when you are 0-1 down. Yes, the bowlers did generally bowl well, you can’t blame them a great deal but I got the distinct impression that they were holding back, and that is simply not done.
To me, the more disappointing aspect was the batting. In those conditions, no one applied themselves except Rahul. The three seniors were critical to the team’s fortunes. The pressure and expectations got doubled. I thought Rahul, and to a certain extent Laxman in the first innings and Sachin in the second did show their class, but it was not good enough.
The desperation and hunger which has been the hallmark of this team was not there in the last two Tests. They will have to get that hunger back. If that comes in, the rest of it falls in place because the ability is there. The way we lost hurt more than the loss itself. These are the same players who have taken Indian cricket to such great heights, and they realise what the issues are.
The ten-day break, as well as the fact that Sehwag and Gambhir are coming in, will definitely help because the batting will look more settled. Whenever you juggle with the batting order, there is always that uncertainty. All that will settle down once the entire line-up is ready. Though Harbhajan has been ruled out of the next game, I am hoping Zaheer, and everyone else in the squad, will be 100 percent fit. Sehwag coming in will help for obvious reasons, so I am confident this team can bounce back. They are capable of winning the next Test, but they have to get that hunger and intent back.