Just when avid test cricket watchers in India were thinking of
shifting loyalties to wrestling (thanks to Indian Olympians) after the exit of
Dravid and Laxman a ray of hope befell them at the city of Nawabs.
Cheteshwar Pujara did not disappoint his selectors and scored a
diligent century. To be fair to the young man, the strip of 22 yards was not an
emblematic sub-continental track. There certainly was carry which an English or
South African bowling attack would have put to devastating use against the side-on
Indian players.
It might have been part of a farewell gift for a very special man
from Hyderabad who relishes true bounce. Well, the man himself chose to forego
it for reasons best known to him
The curator must have won a few hearts for preparing a lively
track. Of what use it was to the Indian speedsters is a question that is better
unasked.
Pujara seemed to belong to, a long thought as extinct, tribe of
technicians the earlier practitioners of which have been deified by now. The
hope of the tribe growing having vanished into the spheres of time
By no strange co-incidence, he has been touted to replace the
legendary Dravid and the solution to India’s No. 3 woes. A perfect recipe for
disaster.
The No.3 spot has been the most revered position for India ever
since Sunny Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan took guard together for the last time.
Such has been India’s tryst with openers. Any person descending therein is
expected to be a redeemer of sorts
Hence the euphoria over a little glitz and heralding of a new hero.
Well, many such have walked into oblivion in history. Suresh Raina was seen by
some to take over the mantle from Sachin not so long ago. The same was then
said of Rohit Sharma, both of whom do not deserve a place in backyard cricket
at the moment
Pujara’s back foot play was definitely a few drops to the parched
connoisseur’s eyes. More so accentuated by the presence of Dhoni on the other
end.
But the rookie has lots of kingdom to be covered before he takes
on his trial by fire in South Africa next year.
The foremost of them, the dab shot to the third man should be
dumped for eternity. Unpardonable for a No.3 to play that. This can make a
difference between 0/1 and 0/2 in South African conditions with Dale Steyn and
Mornie Morkel inviting themselves to the party. The 0 being a given anyway if a
certain prince of Najafgarh continues opening till then.
On occasions the front foot defense too was side-on, much like
Dada who is not the best example when we talk about sound technique. The bat,
pad and body in the same order is more likely to save the day.
The all so important back and across trigger movement that Dravid
exhibited with so much elan during his purple times was not very pristine all
the time either
It was a start, nonetheless, in the right direction and the kid
would do well to idolize the right seniors and prefer effort over effervescence
if he has to stay in contention in the times to come
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