End of the road for Tendulkar, Sehwag and Harbhajan?
 The
Australian cricketers who rode roughshod on the Indians when they last
toured Australia, beating them four-nil were given a dose of their own
medicine and in addition a 'kick up where ever' being thrashed four-nil
in India. The whitewash would certainly have stunned and shamed
Australian cricket. Not since the days when Kerry Packer damaged all
Test playing nations by weakening them and signing their best players to
play in what was then called the Packer circus, has Australia got so
badly beaten. Before this Test series began there was much hype with the
media of both Australia and India building up the series as being
important for both teams. Australia was looking to give continuity to
their game which was looking on the up and up and India to avenge their
defeat by England. As for Australia they were expected to do well and
build confidence for the up- coming back to back Ashes series against
England. Ask any Australian or England cricketer and they will vow that
the Ashes is the El Dorado of their game.
Confident of doing well
The Aussies under new captain Michael Clarke was confident of doing
well against India and building the necessary confidence to battle
England. In the previous Ashes clashes down under, Australia's
cricketing ship was sunk under Ricky Ponting's captaincy, with England
thrashing them in some Tests by innings. But with the thrashing by
India, Australian cricket must now be down in the basement.Sadly they
were no match to Mahendra Singh Dhoni's red Indians like in the comics
of old we read, shooting down the Australians. England who did amazingly
well to beat India in India must be licking their lips waiting to devour
the Aussies when the Ashes series begin in July in England. Australia
will have to raise their game Phoenix like from the ashes, if they hope
to win the Ashes.
The beleaguered Australians had their woes further compounded with
the insensible acting by their South African born coach Mickey Arthur
whose action disrupted the side on the eve of the Third Test in Mohali.
Disruptive tactics by coach Arthur
The disruptive tactics by coach Arthur is not news now and needs no
reiterating. According to reports Cricket Australia are fuming and the
future for Arthur does not look promising, with former Aussie left
hander Darren Lehmann coming in to the picture as the next Australian
coach. As for the Indians they must be celebrating their success in
style. Not only has this series whitewashing of the Australians given a
new lease of life to their game, especially after losing to England, it
also went to help Captain Dhoni heave a sigh of relief and save his
captaincy belt. After his loss to England, critics were questioning his
captaincy.
But in this series he personally led from the front and given 100 per
cent and more by his team mates who rallied round him won the series.
Former Indian captain and champion batsman Sunil Gavaskar who is now
one of the leading cricket commentators gave Dhoni a vote of confidence
and is on record having said that Dhoni must remain India's captain till
the next World Cup in 2015. Gavaskar knows what he is talking about.
Is it time for Tendulkar to go?
In the euphoria of this resounding victory prompts the million dollar
question, that no Indian official or critic would want ask or even think
of - is it time for SACHIN RAMESH TENDULKAR to sign off and quit the
cricket field that he walked like a colossus? If Tendulkar is true to
himself and now that the series is over and if he sits back and ponders
on his performances, although his mind will be willing, his body will be
saying a deafening NO. There is a saying writ in gold that all good
things must come to an end. And this saying must be ringing clear and
loud on the great batsman, the manner in which he has failed in the
series. True and amazing the deafening applause he receives by his
adoring fans, not only when he walks out to bat and even on his return
when dismissed cheaply. He will do well to retire when the cheer is at a
crescendo and not wait until the cheers turn into a crescendo booing him
and asking him to quit.
Record breaking efforts
All his recording breaking efforts will be writ in gold and could be
nothing if he continues, now that the cry for him to move on is being
whispered. He must not wait till the whisper becomes deafening.
He must go when they are asking WHY'? and WHY NOT? And also likely to
end their glittering innings are Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag.
Both played in the series, failed to recapture the brilliance that they
were renowned for and were dropped mid way. That was an indication that
their services are not needed and cannot be persisted with as promising
youngsters knocking on the door must be given the breaks.Shikar Dhawan
who came in for Sehwag justified his selection with a blistering century
on debut. Then left-arm spinner Pragayan Ojha came in for Harbhajan and
combined with off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and left arm spinner
Ravinda Jadeja to cause mayhem in the Aussie batting. Sehwag and
Harbhajan served Indian cricket with great distinction and played to the
best of their ability. As an opening batsman Sehwag was destructive when
in the mood and Harbhajan had batsmen in a flat spin.
Cricketing comet Kusal Janith arrives
A cricketing comet to hit the cricketing firmament in recent times,
after a long time, no doubt is 22-year old left hand batsman and
wicketkeeper Kusal Janith Perera. That Perera has what it takes to
rewrite the record books there is no doubt.
Twinkle toed, seeing the ball much earlier than most other batsmen
do, good temperament, technique and the savage strokes are all in his
cupboard. On the tour of Australia for the one-day series he put his
rare wares as batsman, wicketkeeper and fielder when not being gloved
and impressed, especially the Aussie cricketers and some of their former
greats.
Classic triple century
He continued in orbit, with a classic triple century - 336 off 275
balls for Colts against Saracens in a domestic competition. Incidentally
Colts and Saracens are two former clubs that I played for. A triple
century is a triple century against whatever attack it is carved out.
Perera did not crawl to that triple hundred, but massacred it using his
willow like club to club the Saracens bowlers into submission. It was a
truly grand champagne innings I am told. It is said that spectators
present lapped up the batting exhibition at the Colts Ground. Others who
heard about this innings, had lamented for not being there to watch this
box office draw of an innings. But now it is up to this youngster to
have his feet firmly planted on terra firma and reach for the skies. His
handlers must guide and direct him on the right pitch. The cricket
future is his. His handlers must not change his style. He must be spoken
to and told and shown how to adapt to situations.
Perera is no Sanath Jayasuriya
Critics will be quick to compare him with former Sri Lankan master
blaster and black superman Sanath Teran Jayasuriya. Perera will be
Perera and Jayasuriya will be Jayasuriya and never the twain shall meet.
Critics were quick to compare Upul Tharanga to Jayasuriya. But where's
Tharanga now?
Comparisons should never be attempted or made. Remember what happened
to Ian Craig, Norman O'Neil and Doug Walters of Australia? They were
tagged as the next Bradman and what happened to them is history now.
So let Kushal Janith Perera be how he was christened and play the way
his creator wanted him to play. Dont' attempt to change his style,
approach, temperament, technique and dash. He is the newest minted
celebrity.
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