VVS owned up responsibility of Sachin's second failure

VVS owned up responsibility of Sachin's second failure
Bishen Singh Bedi

Indians are clearly in the disaster zone. And much of it is of their own creation. Steve Waugh is not the kind of general who knows any mercy on the battle field. I would have thought Steve might decide to bat again and grind the Indians further into dust. But the Australian captain is very much his own boss and decided to give his bowlers some extra workload. The only reasoning which comes to my mind is an early finish to the second Test would provide a little extra rest to the visitors before the Chennai Test. Well speculations are and will remain cricket's peculiar prerogative.

For the sake of records, Laxman got only the third fifty by an Indian in the series. A fairly bold and convincing one at that. The odd cynic is sure to murmur "nothing to lose..." approach by the young Hyderabadi came good. My personal conviction is that Laxman seems so much at peace with himself. He is a lot more relaxed than even Tendulkar, who is forever bogged down by pressure -- personal as well as national. At times, I am really worried about Sachin's health. But then at international level, if you are branded the best you are expected to cope with the tensions galore.

In the second dig, Shiv Sundar Das showed much better application. Not so his partner Ramesh. I am becoming a bit wary of the TN opener's attitude. Even if he gets a hundred, I would be inclined to attribute that to chance rather than design. I am afraid, Ramesh will not be in my team for the third Test. Das was unlucky to be out hit-wicket.

The saving grace was providential promotion of Laxman to No. 3. And to the best of his ability, the lanky Laxman kept simple things very simple, and made batting look like an Eastern art. It seems the Aussie think-machinery has not really worked out Laxman's pattern of play. Particularly Warne's strategy to bowl around the stumps to `VVS' with five fielders on the on side was a bit baffling. The world's greatest leggie was not really in good rhythm.

That is one way of looking at it. And the other is pretty uncomplicated. No bowler in the world likes to be hit. Laxman applied himself to the basic requirements very effeciently. More than that, Laxman owned up the responsibility of Tendulkar's second failure in the game.

Indian captain arrived on the scene at a very critical moment and survived a lot of anxiety. It would be fair to assume that Ian Chappell's provocative criticism had good positive effect on Saurav Ganguly. All for good of Indian cricket one would like to think.

Laxman and Ganguly showed classical fightback untill Glenn McGrath literally got under the skin of the Indian captain. Once again, the Aussies managed a breakthrough by sheer perseverence. Glenn McGrath's remarkable ability to keep charging in late in the day is the secret of this Australian team to stay where they are -- right at the top of the pile.

Indians have a monumental task ahead to keep the series alive. One man -- Laxman will have to play a marathon knock he is used to in domestic cricket. That will put him in the higher bracket -- something `VVS' has been aiming for long time now. Day Three was exciting Test cricket -- if Indians can stretch themselves into the fifth day, which is possible. Then Steve Waugh may yet debate his decision to enforce the follow-on.