Did Englishmen ruin India's chances

Did Englishman ruin Team India’s party in England?

Bhalchandra Chorghade

While India celebrated its 65th Independence Day on August 15, just days before, the Team India got a bashing at the hands of Englishmen. The defeat in the third Test was one of the worst for India. With this beating, Dhoni’s men gave a chance to English press as well as former players to ‘express’ their views about how the Britishers are great and Indians are bad. One of the distinguished ex-English cricketers went on to the extent of saying that India doesn’t deserve to be number two in the Test cricket. And remember, he is the same person who went ga ga over the same Indians who ‘battered’ the mighty Australians when they last visited the sub-continent. Love for one’s nation is understandable, but it doesn’t mean that the particular person should go on to say anything what he likes. Freedom of speech is enjoyable when the person expressing his views does not cross the limits. But this man called Sir Geoffrey Boycott has no right to say this since he was a part of English team which was ‘not up to the mark’ according to records and when the current team under Andrew Strauss and mentored by Zimbabwean Andy Flower has been hailed as the best English team ever. So where does Sir Boycott stand?
Everyone tried to ‘explain’ and ‘analyse’ the reasons behind India’s loss. They all have their theories behind the defeat and one of the reasons might be appointment of an Englishman as the Team India’s coach. Considered as one of the best strategist in the world of cricket, Duncan Fletcher was supposed to help Indians understand the climatic and other playing conditions in the Queen’s land, particularly when half the team members have been to the country for the first time. Agreed that the team batted and bowled badly as the result says, but is it not the job of a coach, particularly when he hails from the host country, to prepare his boys for the tour? And he is not new to the team since he had also been to the West Indies where the team ‘managed’ to register series win. A thorough professional as Fletcher is, he was supposed to jump into the coach’s shoes immediately on taking the mantle. Is he and his tactics not to be blamed for the defeat? Or it was a planned move by the game’s administrators. Surprisingly, he was also nowhere to be seen during pre or post match briefings and let Dhoni do all the talking.
This raises many questions in the minds of followers. Do we really need a foreign coach? If yes, was Fletcher the right man to replace Gary Kirsten? Had BCCI deliberately appointed an Englishman as the coach ahead of team’s tour to England? The authorities need to answer these questions in the interest of Indian cricket in general and world cricket in particular. Whatever may be the reason, but it surely ruined Team India’s independence celebrations in the country which ruled them for more than 150 years.
c_bhalchandra@dnaindia.net