India’s Aging and Struggling Top Order Faces Calls for Change
January 29, 2012
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Pressure is mounting on India’s aging test batsmen to make way for fresh talent after the team sunk to the “lowest of lows” in Australia where it suffered a humiliating 4-0 series whitewash.
The eighth consecutive overseas test defeat on Saturday — following an identical scoreline in England — left a battered India desperately searching for a way to stop the rot.
Fingers were being pointed at underperforming batting stars Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Venkatsai Laxman — all pillars of the Indian lineup for more than a decade.
Tendulkar, the world’s leading test and one-day batsman who turns 39 in April, was clearly burdened by the pressure of chasing his 100th international century, a feat that continues to elude him.
His highest score in the series was 80, and even though he made 287 runs at an average of 35.87, the milestone — which no other player has achieved — seemed to shackle his usually free-flowing batting style.
Dravid, 39, the second-highest scorer in test cricket after Tendulkar, managed just 194 runs in eight innings at a poor average of 24.25 with one half-century.
And Laxman, 37, who has thrived against Australia in the past, looked woefully out of touch as he jabbed and plodded to 155 runs at 19.37.
Tendulkar will get another chance to make amends in the upcoming one-day tri-series against Australia and Sri Lanka, but Dravid and Laxman are not part of the limited-overs team.
With India not scheduled to play another test series until September, the senior players have ample time to ponder their future amid calls for an overhaul of the side.
“Indian cricket has sunk to the lowest of lows,” wrote Cricinfo editor Sambit Bal, who said the revered trio could no longer be banked on to deliver.
“In another time these very men ... would have been relied on to forge a revival. But their time has gone now.”
Even International Cricket Council president Sharad Pawar felt younger players needed to be thrown in the ring.
“The time has come for some changes in the Indian team,” Pawar said.
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