Hurrah!! Team India has won its first test match in Pakistan.. EVER! Quite a surprise that we have never done this before in our 50 odd years of playing against each other. While credit is due to Ganguly and his boys for showing exemplary flair and confidence in dominating our neighbors, one must not forget that the current attitude in world cricket is as much responsible for the jinx being broken as is our excellence.
Today, instantaneous comparisons are being made of Saurav’s team with the world champions of ’83 and the unanimous verdict is that this team is far better. The reason is again argued as that being the inability of Kapil’s boys to win on our neighbor’s soil. One just need look at the various results in test cricket, to question this hypothesis. Back in the 1970’s test cricket was still the popular version of the game. Dominance was measured more through the results of test cricket rather than ODI records.
Cricket was still played text book style and there was a lot more emphasis on grit and resilience rather than swashbuckling innings and wild heaves. Many test matches ended in draws but there was never the complaint that cricket was boring. Test saving bowling and batting performances were talked about for a long time and it was not uncommon to see whole test series go by without any result.
Today, with the resounding popularity of one day fare the game of cricket has changed. There are a lot more runs being scored and new strokes, never seen before are being produced. Entertainment of the masala kind is at its premium and people do not have the patience to sit through a whole days play to watch a draw however interesting it might be. All this has led to an overwhelming increase in the amount of results and today, it has become quite rare to see a drawn match.
The previous 20 test matches between the two neighbors played in Pak had produced just 5 results and all of them in favor of the hosts. However, with the state of modern day test cricket it is hardly surprising that this time we had a result in 4 days. To see India come out on top so quickly in the test series was not very surprising looking at the way they played in aussie’land. That series should have been won and Ganguly will rue certain decisions I’m sure. But to conclude this team IS the best Indian team ever could be erroneous at this stage. Accolades are due and they should be given. However the selectors and the board should continue with the good work they have started and produce a team that will truly reign supreme in the world of test cricket.