God on the offside, again

TNN / Avijit Ghosh: NEW DELHI, August 15:

In the world of batting, a hundred is a milestone; fifties merely a footnote. And since his return to Test cricket in South Africa late last year, Sourav Ganguly’s cupboard is almost bare.

Barring a 100 against lowly Bangladesh, the left-hander from Kolkata hasn’t even scored an 80 against worthier opponents. But statistics can be an imperfect way of judging a performance.

They can be twisted out of context and often lack perspective. Which is why the 35-year-old former India captain’s significant contributions with the bat against South Africa and England have merely received passing praise and not the fulsome plaudits they deserve.

Too right.
Since August 2005,
the Ganguly haters have picked up only on his negative statistics to criticise him,
while they have selectively quoted only the positive statistics of Dravid to praise him.
Arguments are raised, and moronically supported only with averages and strike rates.

It is blatantly obvious to anyone who follows the team’s performance
and corelate with the response from the ex coach, captain, management and pundits.
Often other smaller achievements are praised disproportionate to thier significance,
while major contributions from Ganguly goes unmentioned.
Now that, can only be deliberate.

The scoreboard can never explain the true value and impact of two Ganguly half-centuries — a steely unbeaten 51 made under unbearable pressure against a rampant South African pace attack on the bouncy Johannesburg pitch and the counter-attacking 57 against England at the Oval last Sunday.

The first knock spurred India’s mental turnaround from what was a disastrous tour till then. The second one nipped a disaster in the making. When Ganguly walked out to bat against England, India were tottering at 11 for 3.

Captain Rahul Dravid, in the colourful expression of Simon Hughes of Daily Telegraph was “treating every ball as if it was the type of missile aimed at Indian players’ houses after disastrous performances”.

India direly needed someone with spunk to hit back. By the time Ganguly left, India were close to achieving a 400-run lead. The danger was past. Experts believe that Ganguly’s improved batting is an outcome of his determination to succeed and a willingness to learn even in his late career.

The author goes on to list the pundits
who are conveniently all praise for Ganguly now,
but only a few months ago were clamouring for his retirement.

If the hand chosen maidens
of More-Chappell-Dravid had not wilted on the Proteas’ pitches,
even now, Ganguly was certain to have been ignored and wasted.

Ashok Malhotra, feels that Ganguly’s exile from the national team has worked wonders for him. “You can see freshness to his batting. In contrast, Sachin and Rahul appear stale,” he says.

Only a good coach could have re-introduced freshness without resorting to “exhiles”,
whilst only the worst captain would keep it out so as to “not infuriate the coach“.

60 years of Independance, huh? We still are victims of “divide and rule” policy.

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