India fail the Final Test… why?

For the second time in succession, the selectors of the Indian cricket team have failed, but in the last venture the blame for this failure has to be shared more by the Board of Control for Cricket in India than the selectors or the players.

The final of the Test Championship has been absolutely heart-breaking for Indian cricket fans and supporters of the Indian cricket team. Before the final test, India was in the final by virtue of its heading the points tally with 72 points and this despite the rule for the point system being changed half way through the competition. New Zealand, on the other hand, was a close second with 70 points. It was a hard-earned entry for India into the final but what happened in the final Test of the Championship was not what was expected by any stretch of imagination.

Heading the points tally, India went into the final Test as the favourite to win the Championship mace. On paper, India definitely looked the better side. India had better batsmen and a more balanced bowling attack with three pace men and two world class spinners. Then how and why did things go wrong?

The last Australia tour does not seem to have left any learning for our selectors; the dependence once again seemed to be on past experience than on current form. Take the case of Jasprit Bumrah. Not only has his bowling lost most of his bowling sting but he remains a total liability as a batsman and on many an occasion even as a fielder. Once it was decided to go into the Test with just five recognised batsmen, it would have been only prudent to include Mohd. Siraj in the playing eleven instead of Bumrah. The former may not be a great batman but if averages are to be considered, he scores seven more runs than his counterpart in every innings and is definitely a better fielder.

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