Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Double Standards

Just a few days earlier Vengsarkar had this to say about Ganguly's comments.

"I won't answer him now as this is not the right time because India are in the middle of a Test series and it might affect the focus of the team"

However, it does not stop him from criticizing Kumble, the captain, right in the middle of the same series. [PS: I think there should be ban in Indian media against the words lashes and lambasts - people are constantly lashing at one another - so much so that the word has lost its zing :)] Rightly or wrongly, Kumble has been selected as the captain of this series. If his shoulder injury is impacting his performance, the team management, physio, coach and senior players (we have plenty of them) should assess it and take a call purely on fitness at this point. Accusing him of not disclosing the injury or something to the effect is uncalled for. Would Vengsarkar ever say the same about Sachin? And what are the board guidelines to assess fitness of players?

On another note, has Sachin bowled much recently (SL series included) - even as a relief of a couple of overs to break a partnership? Why not?

6 comments:

straight point said...

i am not sure if this is the case of double standard RS...

the charges laid down by sg needs detailed response with facts which can turn into a never ending debate hence not the right time to get into it...

while kumble's case is immediate and more direct and its impacting on the result directly on the outcome of a match...

kumble by saying that his shoulder is giving him problem accepted in a way that india were playing with three bowlers in a test match in effect against as tough opponent as oz...

through out second innings india had to contain with three bowlers on a wearing pitch where fit kumble would have created havoc as he did against pak last time and there we lost the opportunity of winning the match...if at all we were looking to...

no wonder he went wicket less...and i shudder at the thought of him playing as lone spinner at mohali...

he took the team interest for granted according to me and this intent should be severely criticized there and then rather than waiting for series to be over and repenting the chances we would be loosing coz out of four bowlers india played one was not fit enough to look potent to take wicket...

then what for we have selected kumble...just to captain?

Anonymous said...

Sp: I agree, SG's issue cannot be debated now. However why should we rake up Kumble issue.

if we assume his injury is genuine and only got aggravated during the match - there should be no discussion whatsoever - if he is not fit for the next match don't pick him.

if it is as Vengsarkar alleges, and Kumble was unfit at the start itself, but chose to play anyway - the fitness policy of the board should be under the scanner - did they put Sachin through a rigorous fitness test. And if this is the case, there should be no discussion - simply declare him as unfit for the next 3 matches and drop him.

This talking by an ex-selector serves no purpose except to create controversy.


Whether with Kumble's form in the last couple of series, warrants a place let alone captaincy, is a different question - and should be decided before the series?

Gaurav Sethi said...

Good call RS. Catch Colonel saying anything on Sachin.

straight point said...

RS

so tomorrow another player whatever be his stature...plays carrying injury which clearly hampering him to play at its best...

we should not criticise him at all? or should we blame only bcci for it...?

then why munaf was critisized earlier for similar things...was that not double standard?

Anonymous said...

@nc - no one least of the colonel will say anything against SRT :)

Anonymous said...

sp:

he bowled 43 overs (though wicketless) in the first innings - so I am guessing he aggravated it and did not come into the match unable to bowl. He is in poor form no doubt (could be due to injury - could simply be age). I feel the criticism is unjust and unwarranted at this time (before or after the series it is fine - he has had this poor run then as well).


If Vengsarkar thought he was unfit at the end of the last series - shouldn't he have made the statement then and not now?


"Vengsarkar said and added that the skipper should have earlier come clean to the selectors on his fitness."

I doubt any of the "senior" players whose place is in jeopardy going to the selectors and saying I am not 100% fit. And that is why I think BCCI should take the fitness judgement out of the players hands.

And there are plenty of double standards in Indian cricket :)