India v Kenya
Friday, October 12, 2001

Kenya's batting display at Bloemfontein hammered home the point that their side is too reliant on Steve Tikolo. Every time Tikolo fails with the bat, Kenya struggle to get past the 100 mark. This team just does not have the depth required to compete at this level.

Ajit Agarkar bowled brilliantly. But in the same breath, I have to express my disappointment yet again at the manner in which Javagal Srinath bowled. It was Agarkar who looked like a seasoned campaigner, while his senior new-ball partner erred in length and choice of delivery and looked like a newcomer. Srinath lacked the hunger to get wickets. You can't imagine a bowler of similar experience, such as Wasim Akram, passing up such a good opportunity to fill his boots.

Sourav Ganguly also disappointed with his failure to go for the kill. He should have sustained the pressure Agarkar was exerting instead of taking him off after six overs in which he took 3 for 13. Sourav must think of the present, rather than of what might happen later.

You often hear of players who want to roll up their favourite pitches and take them home with them. Anil Kumble surely would like to pack up umpire Dave Orchard and take him to every ground he plays at. I'm sure he will be bowling from Orchard's end in future matches! After all the disappointments he has encountered around the world, Kumble finally found an umpire who was willing to give batsmen out lbw on the front foot. That is not an indictment of Orchard's umpiring. Once he was convinced that the ball would go on to hit the wicket it didn't matter to him then whether the batsman was on the front foot or the back foot.

But as far as the match goes, it looks like a no-contest.

Sanjay Manjrekar, mainstay of the Indian batting in the late '80s and early '90s, was talking to H Natarajan. He will be commenting for Wisden.com on each session of the triangular one-day series in South Africa.

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