India is just a batting side: Steve Waugh
There are times when even the best come out with the most outrageous of comments - things that should never have been associated with them in the first place. Quite recently, former Australian captain Steve Waugh commented that the International Cricket Council’s ranking system is flawed and India doesn’t deserve to be the number 1 side.
Steve Waugh said, "http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mahendra-Singh-Dhoni-c73820 is a far better captain in all formats of the game than Ricky Ponting could ever be. Such is his control and prowess over the team that experts second the opinion that Dhoni has what it takes to lead the number one side in ICC team rankings.
Consequently, one fails to understand why Steve Waugh never complained of the ICC rankings when his side was on top. Like all other strong teams in the world, India has gone through its fair share of injuries. They didn’t have the services of Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh in the Colombo Test that ended this week. Yet they managed to win the battle and deny the hosts a chance to clinch the series.
Just like the Sri Lankan side of the 1990’s, India is predominantly a batting side but they have good bowlers as well. Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha showed the world that in the absence of Harbhajan Singh, they can take the pressure and dismiss any side twice in a Test match. The pace department didn’t look threatening yet the bowlers chipped in with useful wickets every now and then. Just like the Sri Lankan team that won the 1996 World Cup, Indian batsmen have been entrusted to score as many runs as they want, putting less pressure on the bowlers.
Steve Waugh was right in his comments when he said that India is always a difficult team to beat at home. He however forgot that the last time India went to Australia; they were hard to beat as well. It was only due to a display of negative captaincy from Ricky Ponting and biased umpiring by Steve Bucknor that resulted in India losing the series – a series they could have won.
The former Australian skipper didn’t dwell much on the result of the upcoming India-http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 series but commented that it would be tough and can go either way. He was however right in saying that just like the West Indian side of the 1980s along with the Australian side of the 1990’s struggled, India will have to toil hard once the senior players retire in the coming years.
Three of the Fabulous Four - Sachin Tendulkar, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Murali-Vijay-c78035 are good prospects for the future as well and they can easily lead India in the 2015 World Cup when it is played in Australia.
Although his comments came when he was on a visit to India, Steve Waugh is more needed in Australia right now. Quite recently, Australia lost a test match against Pakistan for the first time in 15 years. Had Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755. India on the other hand, is likely to end the year at the top, once again!
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