Can't bowl, can't bat, can't field, is it?

By John Cheeran
I have a tattered copy of theory of relativity by Albert Einstein. And in this hour of distress, I’m ready to lend to it to the harried Indian cricket team captain Rahul Dravid. For all his brave script on the eve of the match and the series, South Africa inflicted a humiliating 157 run loss on India at Kingsmead, Durban.
A well deserved kick on the arse for the Indian cricketers.
In India, Indian pacers rarely come good. Away from home they shine with the ball for a few moments as Munaf Patel, Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar did early in the South African innings. If anyone thought, that Indian bowlers managed to restrict South Africans to a surmountable peak, he was mistaken.
When Indian bowlers take a step forward in the right direction, batsman take two giant steps backwards. And the theory of relativity should have told Dravid that if Zaheer could trouble Graeme Smith and Lance Gibbs, what could Andrew Nel and Shaun Pollock do to Indians. If Indian bowlers asked a few questions to rival batsmen, in turn, South African bowlers tortured the Indians at the batting crease.
It’s all relative, mate. You cannot hide fundamental flaws in technique and temperament for too long. 91 all out in Kingsmead, Durban, is proof enough for that despite India’s financial muscle, the nation does not have the talent to meet global crisis situations.
And before you shout bring back, let me tell this. Answer for India’s batting woes is not Sourav Ganguly or Rohan Gavaskar. Dilip Vengsarkar, chairman of National selection committee will have to explain to the nation why he has left out an exciting stroke maker Robin Uthapppa and a proven batsman of class VVS Laxman out of the one-day squad to tour South Africa.
Vengsarkar’s own choice Wasim Jaffer was an embarrassment at Kingsmead. And as I have noted before the match, India required a sound start to combat South Africans. With Jaffer’s three-ball innings such hopes vanished.
I, however, can mail only my sympathies to Dravid. I read that Indian skipper appeared downcast in the aftermath of this bruising defeat. There is always another chance, though I’m afraid that Durban has set the tone and tenor of this long and arduous tour. And Indians are hardly virgins when they come to defeats.
It is easy to be bitter in defeat but Dravid has taken a hard look on the state of Indian team. Cut, bruised and bleeding in the land of Ntinis, Nels and Kallis.
Dravid has offered some usual analysis. Let me quote him. "Probably, our shot selection against some of the fast bowlers is something we need to look at and reassess when we go into the next match.
“We will be definitely looking to perform much better with the bat. We have to improve from here and put in some better performances if we want to competitive in the series."
"It's going to be a challenge," Dravid says. "That's where your ability and character are tested. And if you can come out of a tour like this with some good scores and runs, it will give you a lot of confidence.
"We will have to play better. After going through how we got out, we will have to learn. I must say that the South Africans bowled well, and we did not have a good day."
Can’t bowl, can’t bat and can’t field, is it?