Some Indian players don't take Tests as seriously as they should

By Michael Holding England is rightfully leading the current series 2-0 and are on top of their game as both teams have a week-long break in this four-match Test series. I find it difficult to see how India will make a comeback in this series from here on; they look totally deflated and defeated. Zaheer Khan’s absence was a big miss. The bowling without him looks very awkward and ineffective. Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar have done well at various moments. But there is no consistency. To win a Test match you need to pick 20 wickets and that requires consistency over five days not just one or two and that too at a cheap rate. What we have seen here is the fact that the Indian bowlers have been able to do it once, but unable to do it twice. I have been asked if India’s performances reflect poor planning. Well, I am not too sure if it is poor planning or poor interest in the ultimate form of the game. If you ask me, I don’t get the impression that either the BCCI or some of the players take Test cricket as seriously as they should. I will quote an example here. India’s opener Virender Sehwag was injured in the World Cup. He could very well have missed the IPL and recovered in time for the England tour. Instead he chose to play the IPL with his injury and then went for his treatment, instead of coming over in time for the series here. This will happen as long as owners of IPL teams are also executive members of BCCI or are employed by them. As long as it is not clear as to what they really want, we will have this situation. [caption id=“attachment_52761” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Although Indian skipper MS Dhoni’s form has been a concern in this series,  it’s not the ultimate reason for the team’s poor performance. Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images”]  [/caption] Do they really believe Test cricket is the ultimate form of the game or is it IPL? Does playing for your country still carry more importance than anything else? I don’t see any quick fix solution to India’s problems in this series. First thing they need to do is to try and get everyone fit, that may give them some confidence back. Then they can attempt to win back a Test or two to level the series. Everyone needs to come up with the same effort and with the same gusto. Make no mistake India have some good cricketers. They have some fantastic batsmen. They have some bowlers who if given help and focus, can be productive in their own right. Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar have on a couple of occasions been effective. But they need to do this over five days, because that’s Test cricket. That is where India are lacking at the moment. There has been some suggestion that Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s lack of form has been one of the factors for India’s performance. Well it does help to have your leader on top of his game. That way he can exert his influence and personality on the rest of the side. This will also help him lead from the front. When I was playing, the belief in our side was to target the opposition captain. The belief was simple: cut off the head and the body will whither. But I don’t think Dhoni not performing is the ultimate reason for India’s poor performance. It is all the other factors I have mentioned above. For England on the other hand it is time to consolidate on the gains. As far as I am concerned it is now between England and South Africa to jostle for the title of being the best Test team in the world. I don’t like to nominate teams as the best ever unless they win both home and away. If England can go to South Africa and beat them, just like they won in Australia then they can be considered as the best Test team in the world. They don’t have to worry about India next time the two sides play because all these great batsmen won’t be around then. The target for England should now be beating South Africa in South Africa. QUBA MEDIA WORKS