Harbhajan, Fletcher flayed after 2nd loss
Source: Agencies |
August 3, 2011, Wednesday
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INDIA'S morale-sapping second test defeat against England has triggered a desperate wave of soul-searching back home with some former players questioning spinner Harbhajan Singh's place in the side and the appointment of coach Duncan Fletcher.
India arrived in England as the top-ranked test team and still basking in the glory of its 50-over World Cup victory on home soil in April, but the tourists have been comprehensively outplayed in the first two contests of the four-match series. India lost by 196 runs at Lord's last week and was battered by 319 runs within four days at Trent Bridge on Monday, putting England on course to claim the top ranking if it completes a series win by a two-victory margin.
To arrest the slide, India should axe the off-color Harbhajan, former captain Bishan Singh Bedi told the Times of India newspaper, which also ran a front page opinion piece headlined: 'This team does not deserve to be No. 1 test side in the world' yesterday.
"There's no point discussing his lack of flight or lack of spin or his action because we have been doing that for years," Bedi said of the off-spinner who conceded 218 runs for a single wicket at Lord's.
Harbhajan fared little better at Trent Bridge, sending down just 13.4 overs that cost him 69 runs for the wicket of Stuart Broad. "He lacks guile, and that's a great handicap for a spinner. The right areas to bowl lie not on the 22 yards but in between your ears, in the mind," said Bedi.
The former left-arm spinner said India should include either leg-spinner Amit Mishra or pace bowler Munaf Patel for the third test starting in Birmingham on August 10.
Former wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer wondered if Fletcher was the right man to coach India.
"What are these highly-paid coaches doing? The results are not showing. What is Fletcher doing? Just because (predecessor) Gary Kirsten recommends him, is that sufficient to get the job?" Engineer asked in the Hindustan Times newspaper.
Meanwhile, Virender Sehwag will join his Indian teammates today. Sehwag has been out of action since undergoing shoulder surgery in May.
India arrived in England as the top-ranked test team and still basking in the glory of its 50-over World Cup victory on home soil in April, but the tourists have been comprehensively outplayed in the first two contests of the four-match series. India lost by 196 runs at Lord's last week and was battered by 319 runs within four days at Trent Bridge on Monday, putting England on course to claim the top ranking if it completes a series win by a two-victory margin.
To arrest the slide, India should axe the off-color Harbhajan, former captain Bishan Singh Bedi told the Times of India newspaper, which also ran a front page opinion piece headlined: 'This team does not deserve to be No. 1 test side in the world' yesterday.
"There's no point discussing his lack of flight or lack of spin or his action because we have been doing that for years," Bedi said of the off-spinner who conceded 218 runs for a single wicket at Lord's.
Harbhajan fared little better at Trent Bridge, sending down just 13.4 overs that cost him 69 runs for the wicket of Stuart Broad. "He lacks guile, and that's a great handicap for a spinner. The right areas to bowl lie not on the 22 yards but in between your ears, in the mind," said Bedi.
The former left-arm spinner said India should include either leg-spinner Amit Mishra or pace bowler Munaf Patel for the third test starting in Birmingham on August 10.
Former wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer wondered if Fletcher was the right man to coach India.
"What are these highly-paid coaches doing? The results are not showing. What is Fletcher doing? Just because (predecessor) Gary Kirsten recommends him, is that sufficient to get the job?" Engineer asked in the Hindustan Times newspaper.
Meanwhile, Virender Sehwag will join his Indian teammates today. Sehwag has been out of action since undergoing shoulder surgery in May.
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