Indian cricketers on a roll

The Indian cricketers, if their performance against the Australians is an indication to go by, then they are on the right wicket to rule the cricket world very soon.

While the cricketers will be kings, indications are also there that they will rule world cricket administration also very soon. First to their cricket.

After the ignominy of having to make a first round exit in the World Cup in the Caribbean in 2007, the cricketers have rallied with a vengeance and are now set to dictate to the world.

The consensus for the fall in standard of their cricket was attributed to the arrival of former Australian captain Greg Chappell, brother of Ian and Trevor as coach.

From the moment the cricketers came under the wing of Greg, cracks began to appear and it fell apart in the Caribbean. The Indians were pre-tournament favourites to win the World Cup and their tumbling out shook theirs and the cricket world.

Chappel who was a stylish and feared batsman during his time, played the first false stroke when he ousted Sourav Ganguly from the captaincy and then the team.

He could not correct that false stroke and from then onwards everything went wrong for him and the game and when the team arrived in the Caribbean it was not a happy and contended looking team under Rahul Dravid.

That Dravid was one of their batting greats had to lead a broken down team was most unfortunate. Nothing went right for him and in addition he had to face a hostile Indian media.

With the Indians and then the Pakistanis too skidding out of the World Cup the organisers the International Cricket Council, the sponsors and the TV people probably lost quite a lot of money.

Trauma over

But with the recent bashing of the Aussies who are champions of both versions of the game - Test and 50-over - it is apparent that the Chappel trauma is over and they are on the way for honours in all versions of the game - Test, 50 over and Twenty20.

Obviously the cricketing renaissance has been the arrival of former South African stylish and consistent left hander Gary Kirsten as coach.

Kirsten in his short stint with the cricketers has shown them the way and they are chartering a course that seems likely to end as champions of the world.

The Indians suffered a hiccup when they lost the Test series to Sri Lanka.

But that was in the process of team building and now Kirsten seems to have got their act together and they should roll on from now.

It was unfortunate that Anil Kumble could not lead them to success.

He tried but did not have that thing called luck, which is very essential for success, not only as a captain, but for the team as well.

Richie Benaud the former Australian captain and one of their best in the captaincy business and now a respected TV and media commentator when asked about captaincy said that it was 90 per cent luck and 10 per cent skill. How true.

And Benaud has been proved right if what the Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been doing and leading his team to success.

He seems to be having that thing called luck to the maximum. His success in the world cup Twenty20, the one-day series against Sri Lanka and the two Tests against Australia which he captained, has ended in success.

Dhoni seems to be the answer to their prayers. He always leads from the front, be it when batting, keeping wickets and instructing and encouraging his troops on.

This series saw the retirement of Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly. But the Indian cricket cupboard is full of promising talent and the absence of Kumble and Ganguly would not be missed.

Ganguly was one who did a lot for their cricket. He was always very competitive, not giving it away when batting and also leading with great thinking as his record proves. He hit back with a vengeance at Greg Chappell and his critics by coming back with a bang and making his bat do the talking. He made a debut century and it was a pity that he could not go out in a blaze of glory by notching up a three figure score in his final Test appearance.

But that is how the game goes and Ganguly could leave the field that he strode like a colossus, knowing full well and being satisfied that while it lasted he gave of his best and nothing but the best.

BCCI on the right wicket

While the cricketers are gearing up to be the best in the world, the BCCI is also set to dictate where the administration is concerned. Very soon the top post of the International Cricket Council will be India's.

The BCCI which is the money growing tree gave a glimpse of what to expect when they secure power the way they had Cricket Australia and the ICC bending not only backwards, but also genuflecting and bending the rules to stall them from quitting the tour that was an acrimonious one early this year. That was the worst performance by CA and ICC.The coming months will see a lot of more happening.

Zimbab(no)we

Talking about Zimbabwe cricket and the high cost for media accreditation, I forgot to mention the name of Suren Wijesinghe who was an accountant at Wade Adams in Harare and his daughter Surni who were also very helpful to me and the teams entertaining and doing everything possible to see that the visits were comfortable and enjoyable.

The Wijesinghes are now domiciled in Melbourne, Australia.

Honourine and Mohan Asbury in Harare were always keen supporters of the SL cricketers.