The haunting memory of Sabina Park and the fact about Munaf Patel !

The famous Antiguan Anderson Montgomery Everton Roberts has uttered something which is fact but has disturbed manhy !!! - Roberts certainly was a great fast bowler troubling every batsmen in his hey days and possesses enough experience to talk on this.......  

Before Kapil burst on the national scene and that sensational bouncer to Sadiq which made the openers Sadiq and Majid hurriedly calling helmets, not many fast bowlers had troubled the batsmen with pace. There have been some quickies like Yograj Singh, TA Sekhar, Chetan, Raju Kulkarni, Rajindher Singh Ghai, Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra, Zaheerkhan, Sreesanth, Rudrapratap Singh,  Vikram Rajvir Singh, Varun Aaron,  Umesh Yadav – some had promised much but never made the grade as a genuine quickie.  WI had produced very many speedsters – Aussies had their own Thompson, Lillie, Pascoe, Mcdermoot, Bret Lee, Kiwis had some like Bond, Pak keep producing some genuine quickies like Akhthar, Mohd Aamir, Wasim Akram, Waqar and more. sadly not man from India……… when it comes to tear away speed..

Some ex Indian cricketers sprang in defence of Munaf stating that he had only adapted to the needs but Munaf Musa Patel’s case seems one of bountiful opportunities afforded to ensure that he succeeds.  There have been many who have fallen into oblivion with limited opportunities provided.  The greatest of the Indian Cricketers Kapil Dev was never protected in this manner and his economy rate of 3.71 after bowling 11202 deliveries is stupendous.

Munaf Musa Patel was pitched forked into National arena hailed as a great prospect.  He got his chances much before others primarily on promise than on any performance.  He was part of the Indian 2007 WC squad which failed miserably and then took a break due to injury.  He went to Sri lanka in 2009, bowled 5 wicketless overs only to return citing a groin injury.

In his 65 matches thus far, he has an economy rate of 4.86 which includes matches against minnows and in 26 of them he has conceded more than 40 runs. 

Mat	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	Econ
65	498	38	2425	28.86	4.86
26	237	12	1371	33.43	5.78

The bowlers of yesteryears  Kapil, Madanlal, Manoj Prabhakar, Javagal Srinath, Binny, Venkatesh Prasad and Robin singh all have a better economy rate after having played much more matches than him.

Player	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	Ave	Econ
N Kapil Dev	221	11202	6945	253	27.45	3.71
S Madan Lal	64	3164	2137	73	29.27	4.05
M Prabhakar	127	6360	4534	157	28.87	4.27
M Amarnath	64	2730	1971	46	42.84	4.33
J Srinath	227	11935	8847	315	28.08	4.44
RMH Binny	67	2957	2260	77	29.35	4.58
BKV Prasad	160	8129	6332	196	32.3	4.67
RR Singh	117	3734	2985	69	43.26	4.79
MM Patel	63	2988	2425	84	28.86	4.86
Z Khan	182	9335	7675	260	29.51	4.93

He bowls in the corridor like Mcgrath is the defence and this is how he has performed in the last 10 of the one dayers that he played

Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	Econ	Ground
10	0	70	2	7.00	England
4.5	0	25	1	5.17	Ireland
10	0	65	2	6.50	South Africa
5	0	20	0	4.00	West Indies
7	0	44	0	6.28	Australia
10	1	40	2	4.00	Pakistan
9	0	41	0	4.55	Sri lanka
9	1	47	2	5.22	West Indies
10	2	35	3	3.50	West Indies
10	1	60	3	6.00	West Indies

The fact may be uncomfortable – but it is a fact.  Munaf is no longer the pacer and his economy or wicket taking abilities ! are not good enough to provide the berth that he has been commanding – there are many talented youngsters who need to be groomed for the future, rather than protecting some with wools.  – if you add his fielding skills [or the lack of it], the cup of woes will be complete.

With all the system and support – when will India ever have a genuine quickie who runs in long and smooth and hurls a bouncer whizzing past at 160 kmph !!  -  is Varun Aaron the answer ??

Now the venue shifts to Sabina Park,  Kingston, Jamaica where India play West Indies in the last of the One dayers – though the series is decided – there is something at stake for both the teams.  May be another extended opportunity for Badrinath or Yusuf Pathan.

There are many islands of the Caribbean and Jamaica is an island Nation of the Greater Antilles – 234 km in length.  Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island.  For ages, the pitch was one amongst the hardest and fastest and one most dreaded by many batsmen.  The surface over the years has slowed but might still hold some threat for the Indians haunting back memories of April 1976.   The ground has the spectacular backdrop of Blue mountains, the longest range of Jamaica and has a stand named after George Headley.

In 1976, India toured West Indies under Bishan Singh Bedi.    WI won the first test at Bridgetown, by an innings and 97 runs.  The second one at Port of Spain was drawn and the third one on Apr 1976 was historic.  Indians chased 405 in the fourth innings and won by 6 wickets with Sunil Gavaskar and Vishwanath making centuries, ably supported by Mohinder Amarnath, Brijesh Patel and Madanlal.

That was the background of the Fourth Test at Kingston – Test no. 776 on 21 – 25th April 1976.  The score card would read  India 306/6 decl !! ; WI 391 all out.  India 97 all out and West Indies making the 13 runs required without losing a wicket.  Statistics will never reveal the real story.

WW Daniel made his debut in a bloody test, where Indians were intimidated with crowds calling for blood.  Wisden reported that the bounce was uneven and match folded much earlier.  No doubt the WI had class quickies but the strategy was questionable and many batsmen suffered nasty injuries trying to take evasive action.  The short pitched bowling was over done and Holding from round the wickets caused most damage to the bodies of Indians.  The result could not have been dreamt of from the first day.  At stumps on bad light curtailed day one Indians were 178/1; Gavaskar bowled Holding for 66; Anshuman Gaekwad 58* and Mohinder 25* firm at the crease.  Gaekwad’s innings was one of raw courage taking several blows on the body and arms – the gears were not so protective those days.  With the score at 237 Gaekwad was forced to retire bleeding in his ears.  At 273 Brijesh Patel retired hit on the mouth.  At 306 Venkatraghavan got out.  Bedi wished to protect himself and Chandrasekhar from injuries and hence declared at 306/6.  that was the test when one player after other had to be escorted to hospital with bleeding injuries.  Fredericks scored 82 and at one stage WI floundered at 217/6 but recovered to make 391.  Chandra took 5 for 135; Bedi & Venkat two apiece.

In the Second essay, Gavaskar failed to Holding and half of the team was not fit to play.   Mohinder made a gutsy 60.  Only Gavaskar, Vengsarkar, Mohinder, Madanlal, Kirmani and Venkat padded up.  Gaekwad was not in a position to play – so also were Gundappa Vishwanath and Brijesh Patel.  Bedi & Chandra did not bat for the second time and with 5 batsmen absent hurt – it was recorded that Indians were all out for 97.

A sad test it was – and though neither the present West Indies nor the Sabina Park stands anywhere near to that 1976 – still they could be potent and Indians have repeated done badly in the first of their Overseas tests in a Series.

Regards – S. Sampathkumar.