Cricket, no doubt is a classical game. The nuances of Cricket are not very hard but then, it is a game that generates so much passion in everyone’s heart, especially in India. Being such a lovely game, it has a major split. There are test matches, the longer and classical version, and one-dayers, the shorter and more entertaining version of the game. In my opinion, One-day cricket is more unpredictable and hard to understand. Not that the rules are different, but one cannot go on to the field without a clear-cut strategy and get away with it. Being such a tuff little game, there are very few people who really can fall into the One-day specialist categories. Well, I would like to add the names of Michael Bevan, Shahid Afridi, Upul Chandana and so on for these people can be used extensively in the one-dayers. A careful observation here would reveal that all these people are more or less, all-rounders.
But in my opinion, if there was (is?) a One-day specialist in the Indian Team, then it got to be Venkatesh Prasad. Yup, he is not an all rounder by a long way but his bowling was simply perfect for the one-day format. Well, he might be one of those forgotten bowlers in the Indian team but he certainly is a great one day bowler and it gives me great joy to review this honest seamer from Karnataka.
After Kapil and Prabhakar were out of the scene, there was a desparate need for a pace pair. Although Srinath was firing on all cylinders, he definitely needed a bowler to support him. As we all know, fast bowlers hunt in pairs, right!! That is when Prasad shot into limelight. Not being a bowler who could generate a lot of pace, he relied basically on his high arm action and the lateral seam movement he could generate with this action. This really made him strike a nice rythm and upset the batsmen as they would be foxed by Srinath’s pace and his movement. This made him a very effective partner to Srinath.
Basically Prasad was selected for the one-dayers but then, he was grafted into the test team on the basis of his performances. And boy, didn’t he perform awesomely well. He paired up with Srinath and formed a great combination. Both were recognised world over for being a wonderful pace pair.
Re-counting Prasad’s performances in Test Matches, I can think of two memorable instances. One is against SA when he got his best figures of 6/104. I can remember him bowling wonderfully well after the partnership between Kirsten and Hudson. The second instance is when he ran through the Pakistani middle order in the Test match in Chennai. Yes, the same test match which India lost even after Sachin hit that back-paining knock. He had a spell figures of 4.3 overs, 3 maidens, 1 run and 5 wickets. So Prasad can be deadly on his day.
Coming to one-day cricket, I wouldn’t say that Prasad can run through a side but he can certainly put the brakes with his intelligent bowling. Keeping a tight line and length, he certainly can contain the batsmen in the first 15 overs. Come slog overs and Prasad is a DON. He has that unique back-of -the- arm slower delivery which he has mastered. This makes the batsmen a bunny indeed. He uses it so effectively that he becomes the best Slog over bowler. Speak of he lacking aggressive instinct? I dare you. Remember the instance in the 96 World Cup quaters against Pakistan when he clean bowled Amir Sohail the very next ball after Sohail had made signs at this fellow. You should have seen the look on his face and you would have realized how much aggressive he can get. Such is the nature of Prasad. He is a silent killer.
Hmm....Talking of Prasad, I was very glad to see his name in the probables list. Prasad is certainly an experienced campaigner and he knows the conditions in SA better. More so, being the World Cup, people would be up there to see some runs flowing. Nobody would like to see wickets tumble. That being the case, I really think they would provide flat tracks. And that is when Prasad will be of great use as he is slower through the air and has the uncanny ability to contain the run flow. He would be of great use in SA and being at the twilight of his career, he certainly would be hoping to deliver it big. And I think India needs him desparately. Fielding wise, Yes, I agree that Prasad is rather slapstickish but then his bowling would be of great use and that would in turn nullify the lapses. Hence, I feel Prasad should make it to the final 16.
What is really intriguing is the fact that he is not being put to test in NewZealand so that they can assess his form and decide on him. What can we do after all? I just wish I were the selector’s brain. To me, he is a bowler of immense One-day capabilities and this should be exploited. After all we are so much used to the Horses for Courses policy. Why not add Prasad to that list? All in the name of getting the right winning combination without disturbing the current team any further.
Concluding the review, I would like to say that Prasad is a real prospect and his services would be of great help for one last time this World Cup. Its go ahead from my side for the silent killer from Bangalore.
Wishing all the best for Venki, I would hope that he is selected.