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"It's a smart move by Ganguly to play in Delhi"
Steve Waugh - 5 March 2001
I was pleasantly surprised by the Cricket Club of India when they informed
me that they were granting me an honorary life membership. A function to this
effect was held on Friday evening and what made it special was the fact that
the only other Australian to have been granted this membership was Sir Don
Bradman. Sir Don got the membership at 80 and I was surprised that they gave
it to me at 35.
It is always significant when one gets recognized in a country other than the
one you represent. This honour means that I can continue my assocation with
India after my playing days, and that there is always a place for me to
return to in this cricket-loving country. The evening was also marked by
tributes to Sir Don with Mike Coward, Peter Roebuck and Raj Singh Dungarpur
speaking of the great Australian.
Apart from this function it was a day off for the Australians and I took the
opportunity to walk the streets and alleys of Mumbai. One cannot realise the
extent of interest in cricket unless one goes out into the streets. Almost
everybody knew the result of the game and were quite happy to see us.
Cricket is popular in Australia, but I don't think it is followed as closely
as it is here. We went to a couple of markets before heading for the Dhobi
Talla. This was the first time I had seen a wash area here and as usual it
was great to meet a few of the children working there. Children are the same
the world over and it was wonderful to see them smile even though they have
to work very hard.
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The team now moves to Delhi where they will be involved in a side game
before the Calcutta Test. The newspapers have reported that Sourav Ganguly
will be playing in Delhi. I think it is a smart move since he did not score
much in Mumbai. His confidence must be down and a good knock in Delhi ahead
of the Calcutta Test would do him a world of good. The next Test would be
crucial for him personally, because among other things, he will be playing
in front of his home crowd. Ganguly is a good player and I'm sure he knows
how to rectify the mistakes he made in the first Test. For our part we will
stick to our original gameplan against him.
The team management has not yet decided on the composition of the team for
the Delhi match. We will have to decide on whether the bowlers need more
practice or whether they need some rest. Personally too, I am yet to decide
whether I will take the field.There is talk about whether the presence of
Anil Kumble would have made a difference to the result. I don't think there is any point to such conjecture. The Australians are also without the services of Brett Lee and it is pointless to wonder about what might have been if he were part of the team.
I think it is unfair to judge any team on the basis of one performance and
we will not be taking the Indians lightly in the next two Tests. The fans
should support their team through these tough times and must not forget that
their players are up against a pretty good Australian team.
Some moves of Sourav Ganguly, like his bringing on Sachin Tendulkar when we
were 99 for five, have come in for flak. I think a captain should go with
his instincts on the field. If Tendulkar had taken a wicket, the same move
would have been hailed as a great piece of strategy. Similarly, if we ended
up losing the Test, I would have been crucified for my decision to bowl
first. I think captains are chosen to take decisions and it is unfair to
criticise them if their plans don't work.
© Gameplan
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