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By Syed Ahsan Ali (Dec 31, 2006)

India nurtured two darlings in recent past, both for their flair and scintillating exhibitions in beloved game Irfan Pathan and Virender Sehwag. Most of the readers cannot deny the fact that both are good on eyes and have something extra to offer to the side, to the spectators and to the game itself. Bringing passion to the side is the key factor between winning and losing the games and both of these players have it in them in abundance. India could have never beaten Pakistan in Pakistan if these two players had not contributed the way they did. I am not saying that picking up players should be done on their past performances. It should be done on form and fitness, not on credentials in the past.

If you watch satellite channels and read newspapers then you find that these two players are in the worst forms of their lives and should be sent back to the domestic circuit to work on their basics. Irfan is already in India to bring his rhythm and form back. Ok. Well done. Sehwag is next in the line waiting for cue to go back and come back with extra ounces of confidence and better shot selection. I was dumbfounded to see the sudden decline of two big names of international cricket and architects of many famous Indian wins in recent past. With all these questions in mind, I searched few recent statistics of both players and amazed to see that things are not as bad as they are being presented to us, at least not in one version of the game.

 

First look at the all rounder Irfan. His numbers in One day cricket in last 10 matches are certainly below par. Average of 19.50 with the bat and average of 45.20 with the ball cannot earn you a place in the side. Then why he played all last three One Day internationals of India? Shouldn’t have the team management send him back home after One-Dayers? Why in the middle of Tests when his Test performances are not bad at all? In last 10 Test matches his average with the bat is 34.00 which is in fact better than Andrew Flintoff’s average in last 10 matches and with the ball he averages 43.04 with 25 wickets and one five-wicket haul as well. What is wrong with these figures rather they are good enough to select him for Test matches on bouncy and responsive wickets of South Africa so that he can get some confidence back and carry it to the shorter version of the game? Rather they send him back to shatter remaining few gasps of courage.

Now have a look at most feared Test opener, Mr Virender Sehwag who scored his runs in last 10 Test matches with an average of 31.11 which is better than Graeme Smith’s average of 24.47 in last 10 Test matches. And criticism on Sehwag amazes me even further when I look at his average in last 5 matches which is staggering considering his so-called out of form status in both forms of the game. His average in last 5 Test matches is 43.77 which is better than Justin Langer’s average of 42.83 last 5 Tests. Do you hear any criticism on Langer's show in Ashes. Sorry, I haven’t heard anything of that sort. Sehwag's one day form is certainly not up to the mark, then again why you picked him to play all last three one dayers and now cursing him in Test cricket. As far his shot selection is concerned, it is not new at all. He is at this place in international cricket because of this style, so don’t deprive him of that. Talk to him or rather to both of them than sending one back home and spades of criticism on other. They don’t deserve that.

Lastly, don’t select One Day teams on Test performances and don’t select Test teams on One Day performances. Keep two forms of things separate. It will not ruin things, but can mend things.
 

More of Syed Ahsan Ali : Shane Warne : The complete bowler of our time :: The Ashes is done and dusted! :: Five most feared batsmen of One Day game :: Brilliant.Charismatic.Lara

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