Allan Donald feels for team India.

[gator]

Allan Donald # Wholesome changes have never been the answer # India must look to maximise its potential India is in deep trouble. It did too many things wrong in the Newlands. If an opposition cannot be put away from a position in which India was in, then the hopes recede faster than the sum in your wallet in a club. This spells big time trouble. Sure, the lost chances in the field would be mulled over for long. There were as many as three lives afforded to key South African batsmen. Picking up the pieces This is not just your ability with bat and ball failing you in testing conditions: it is a major negation of even ordinary skills which most of us cricketers possess at all times. There are too many pieces on the floor for India to pick up and rearrange in the thick of battle. The wind is too strong and the foothold too skewed, I am afraid. You can meet as many times as you want in the hotel; have as many meetings as you could possibly squeeze in; hold as many video analysis as you humanly could; hold up coach or captain for your ills but the basic surge has got to come from the men in the squad. The buck stops with them. Wholesome changes in the team has never been the answer. I know fans and media back home are unforgiving especially leading up to the World Cup but pulling these men out of the fray at this juncture is not going to help. Every time I speak in support of the visitors, the voice sounds shriller and lost in the din of criticism but I still feel this Indian team can turn things around. They can work on South African batting and build on the advantage, which they have over the top order. In both games, India has been good with the new ball and has made early inroads. It is a good starting point, the window of light, which should offer them energy and hope. They must push on from this basic premise, gather forces at this cape of reasonable stability. Otherwise, such defeats would have a knock-on effect on the Tests as well. They could also look to scratch at the disquiet in the home camp over team selection prior to the Newlands game and see if the hurt runs deeper than a mere matter of Andre Nel's exclusion. The home top order, Smith including, was once again exposed and looked vulnerable. They sure have work to do. The return of Anil Kumble to one-day bowling crease was in line with expectations: he was miserly and in complete control during his 10 overs. That he came at No. 11 and looked laboured in the outfield is a concern, which must take the backseat for now. India must look to maximise its potential rather than look at the perfect picture. The players will have to draw on every ounce of their positive strengths if they are to be counted on this tour. ? PTI http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/28/stories/2006112802062100.htm

[gator]

Re: Allan Donald feels for team India. instead of wasting time in trying to win the remaining odis, i would suggest hiring him to coach our bowlers for the tests, while we play 11 batters for the 2 odis...

[Guest BossBhai]

Re: Allan Donald feels for team India. -- Removed on request of the user --

[The Outsider]

Re: Allan Donald feels for team India.

while we play 11 batters for the 2 odis

The problem is that our best batsmen are also our bowlers.

[PaiN_KiLLeR]

Re: Allan Donald feels for team India. I bet he can still bowl faster than most of our bowlers. BTW he has made some very good points in his article