Dec 24, 2002 01:19 PM
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(Updated Dec 24, 2002 01:19 PM)
Aha! Its Christmas season and the winter winds are blowing fine. Merry Christmas to each and every single soul out here. Well, talking about wind many things come to my mind. Not that they are cold but the way some people are dumped and forgotten just like the things that fly away with the wind. Hmm...maybe I am not talking sense or am I?
Let me clear it off.
Being a cricket freak, I have spent more time analysing the game and understanding its nuances than sleeping I believe. And its harvest time for me for there is just over one and a half months to go before the 2003 Cricket World Cup kicks in. Boy o Boy, I am eagerly awaiting the World Cup for I firmly believe India has a great chance out there. So my dear MSians, yours truly is going to come up with reviews concerning Cricket and nothing else for the next few days. Kindly bear with me if you hate Cricket or else, enjoy.
If awaiting the 2003 World Cup is one thing, remembering the 99 World Cup seems to make sense too. I was just wondering about the Indian bowling attack in the 99 World Cup and going through the stats, I came to know that India's best bowler in the 99 World Cup is missing in this World Cup's probable list. Oh! We haven't even heard about this guy for the past 2 years. Thats why I said some people just go with the wind. Yupsie!! I am talking about that Orissa seamer, Debasis Mohanty, who now finds no place in this Indian team. Personally, I adored his bowling style and stuff but then, the irredentists think otherwise you see.
This lad from Orissa shot into limelight in the Sahara Trophy in Toronto in 97. Seaming conditions and juicy pitch might be alien to the batsman but this guy proved that it was the perfect setting to showcase his talent. Mohanty in the absence of the then Pace-Pair Srinath-Prasad (both out due to a mysterious shoulder injury), bowled brilliantly and picked up wickets at will. He showed his worth by leaving top class Paki-batsmen clueless. That is exactly when we started hearing about this guy more often. Then he was in and out of the team until the world cup where the seaming conditions and lateral movement required a person like Mohanty to exploit. And didn't he do a marvellous job. He moved the ball both ways and clearly stood out. He made a strong statement with his bowling:'' You forget about pace and pitch the ball up, the pitch and conditions will do the rest''. And that was it. Mohanty then found no place in this Indian team and no one even tried to give this lad a look in. And so went he, with the wind.
Mohanty's bowling technique is simple. With a high arm action, he is ready to pitch the ball up. Once he does that, the favourable conditions and lateral movement will automatically make the ball seam around. This is when Mohanty becomes a lethal weapon. He is not a slog over bowler. He certainly is expensive at times. But wickets is what matters and he fetches them in the early overs for sure. With the ability to swing the ball both ways, Mohanty is certainly a person who would be of great use in a place like NewZealand or South Africa.
Now for those of you who are wondering as to why I am talking about a cricketer who is not even in the equation at all, here is the answer. Look, Mohanty is someone who doesn't rely on pace. He is a skiddy customer. He totally depends on swing and lateral movement which is certainly up for grabs in SA. More so having two left arm seamers in the side, just Srinath wouldn't be enough in SA, just in case. And for those of you who instantly say,''What about Agarkar?'', well, can there be anybody who is so much consistently inconsistent? In my opinion, Mohanty should have been selected for the NewZealand tour in the first place and well, whats the harm in trying. After all, you should be ready to loose a battle to win a war. But then, who is to say all these.
Sometimes, I really feel the selectors should be given an orientation program. But again, who is to say. In my opinion, it is almost a lost case. Mohanty will no more be in contention for the World Cup and yes, he is someone who is gone with the wind. If atleast he was taken to NewZealand, it would have made sense but alas! So there is nothing more to argue about. I am really sorry that a good bowler like Mohanty has not been given a fair chance which is indeed unfair.
Concluding, I can only add that Mohanty will certainly be useful, given the conditions and it is indeed disappointing that he is not in the equation at all. And it is obvious that nobody would care to even bother about him. So wishing this lad ''Good Luck'' for future (if he has one in the Indian team), I would only say to him,''Fate buddy, Fate''. But in my opinion, Mohanty will always remain an effective bowler indeed.