Why isn't VVS Laxman in the one-day side?

Why isn't VVS Laxman in the one-day side?
IAN CHAPPELL

Showing no favouritism to teams from the sub-continent, Australia whitewashed India, exactly the same as they had done to Pakistan earlier in the summer. Australia was clearly the better side and the longer the series went the wider the gap became as India were worn down mentally.

The only positive note for India at the SCG was the magnificent form of VVS Laxman, who flayed the much-vaunted Australian attack. It took a solid blow on the helmet to make Laxman wake up and play his shots and what a batting demonstration he turned on. The elegant right-hander was knocked down but not out by Glenn McGrath and he rose from the floor to hit boundaries in all directions. He showed his team-mates the advantage of hitting the ball in front of the wicket at every opportunity.

On that subject the Indian ground fielding must be a worry to the hierarchy. There were at least two opportunities to effect a run out in the first hour, but on neither occasion did the fielder come close to throwing accurately. The comparisonbetween the shoddy work in the field by the Indians and the slick Australian work was that of a Monet and a child's stick man drawing. One team wanted the ball and expected to take wickets, while the other side looked like they would prefer to be anywhere but on a cricket field.

As always happens when one team is dominating, the Australians batted mostly in sunshine, but by the time the Indian openers appeared it was again overcast. Once again there were far too many tentative forward pushes at the new ball and McGrath took advantage of this bad habit by hammering away around off-stump. MSK Prasad was out of his depth at the top of the order, but Rahul Dravid has been disappointing in this series. He has to learn to be more positive against the better bowlers, as a No 3 must be able to dominate the bowling more than he does.

One could only feel for Sachin Tendulkar, once again marching into the fray with the Australian opening bowlers fresh. He had obviously made a decision to challenge McGrath and thefirst ball he smacked a slightly short delivery through mid-wicket. The captain's approach was probably as much for the attention of those in the visitors' dressing room as the man in creams 22 yards away. He surely wanted to try and convince his team-mates that the Australian bowling isn't unplayable, but in that mood even the best of batsmen is likely to err in judgement and Tendulkar holed out in the covers. It was sad that on a day when Australia's best young batsman Ricky Ponting had been superb that there wasn't a matching contribution from the Indian maestro. Ponting has really come of age as a player in the last six months and he's ready now for more responsibility in the Australian batting line-up.

McGrath has never shirked his responsibility as the leader of the attack and he has responded well to the challenge from young Brett Lee. McGrath may not have Lee's pace, but he can still teach the young man a thing about taking wickets and he grabbed 10 for the match.

Every way you turned there was anAustralian hero to be found while it was hard to unearth Indian players putting their hand up when volunteers were required. Despite the flourish from Laxman, it was a dismal series for India and it was a downcast Tendulkar at the presentation ceremony. He needs to quickly reverse the momentum in the one-day series or this tour could turn into his worst nightmare.