A 1-4 thrashing at the hands of England has left the world's No.1 Test team licking its wounds. Barring skipper Virat Kohli, the rest of the Indian batting line-up was found wanting. In a chat with TOI, chief selector MSK Prasad discusses the way forward...
Your view of the series defeat in England...
It was so close, yet so far. The results don't reveal how intensely this series was fought but we all know the same results could have been in our favour too. We had our moments in the series which we should have encashed on. There are positives. I feel our fast bowling unit has done a fantastic job. Picking 60-plus wickets in five Tests was testimony to their skill-set and a result of the fitness regimens and workload management we are following. I am extremely happy the way we fielded and took catches. But batting as a unit has to come to the fore.
India also showed an inability to pick wickets towards the end…
Yes. We also need to find solutions for picking those last few wickets. It essentially cost us the series.
BCCI chief selector MSK Prasad. (PTI Photo)
The openers have disappointed. The No. 3 and No. 5 batsmen have struggled...
When we pick players for particular slots, they should be given enough opportunities before we move on and look at youngsters. Yes, our openers could have done better. Having said that, the England openers also failed miserably. The conditions were tough and the openers of both the teams failed. Over the last few years, Pujara and Rahane have done well in those No. 3 & No. 5 slots. They have enough experience behind them to be the mainstay of our middle order. They did well here too but they could have been a bit more consistent.
READ ALSO: At times, Kohli's lack of experience shows, says Gavaskar
All eyes are on the selectors now...
After giving enough opportunities, if the players don't deliver then in all fairness we need to look at youngsters who are doing well on the domestic cricket circuit and for India 'A'.
Shikhar Dhawan was dropped for the second and third Test against South Africa. Did the selectors take the call to pick him for England based on the one-off Afghanistan Test?
When we pick the team for an important tour like England, we need to take many factors into consideration, be it experience, combinations, consistency etc. That is how we pick the team.
How well were the selectors updated on Wriddhiman Saha's injury status?
We keep getting the fitness reports of all contracted players undergoing rehabilitation in NCA on a regular basis. There is absolutely no confusion whatsoever. Patrick (Farhart, the physio) keeps me and my colleagues updated on the fitness status of every contracted player. It was pure speculation that the selectors were not informed about Saha's fitness issues. Let me clarify that we are well informed about Saha's fitness status. In fact, apart from the information we get from Patrick, the performance statistics and fitness reports of all contracted and India 'A' players are tabled by our operations team in the selection committee meetings.
Are the national selectors kept in the loop about all fitness concerns when the Indian Premier League (IPL) is on?
Yes, we are very well informed with regards to the fitness status of all contracted and India 'A' cricketers right through the year, including IPL.
Injury prevention and workload management were big talking points during the IPL. But has anything tangible been worked out? There seems to be a lack of communication, overlooking of injuries, mismanagement of workloads...
I totally disagree. We have a clear plan with regard to injury prevention and workload management. The outstanding performance of our fast bowlers in South Africa and England is testimony to our workload management program. The basic fitness parameters fixed by us has raised our fitness standards. If our boys can fight till the last session of the 83rd day of the England tour with the same intensity that they fought on the first day of the tour, it speaks volumes about our fitness standards and the ability to fight.
In the last Indian bowling session in the fifth Test, our bowlers were bowling at speeds of 90 miles per hour. As part of this injury prevention process and workload management process, we have rested Virat Kohli for the Asia Cup and also intend to rest a few more players in the upcoming home series before the Australia tour.
Almost every domestic cricketer who needs to be given an opportunity has been given one. Then why is it that someone like Mayank Agarwal - despite his domestic exploits - is continuously ignored?
I totally agree that our committee has been consistent on this point and given utmost priority to the performances in domestic cricket. Mayank Agarwal has been doing outstandingly well in the past 10 months or so. You should also know that we have identified potential in Mayank and requested the head coach and assistant coach of Karnataka at the beginning of the season to give him ample opportunities this season. We have been keeping track of him for some time. He has done well and will get his due soon.
What are your thoughts on R Ashwin's performance in England. He has sometimes struggled on overseas assignments outside the subcontinent...
I still say Ashwin is one of the best spinners in the world today. He bowled brilliantly in South Africa and also started off very well in England. Unfortunately, he picked up an injury in the third Test. Though he had enough rest and was fit for the fourth Test, he couldn't deliver as expected. Over the past 4-5 years Ashwin and Jadeja have held our spin-bowling department together with pride and precision. I still feel they are the best that we have right now, with Kuldeep being third best.
Most international-level players forego the domestic circuit. They only play IPL and international cricket. Shouldn't those who fail to perform be made to play domestic cricket?
I totally agree that going back to domestic cricket and getting runs or wickets is the only the way to get back into the Indian team in the longer formats. In the past, even our legendary cricketers preferred to go back to domestic cricket to regain their form.
Six losses in eight Tests, is that a clear indication that changes need to be made?
A cricketer strives hard on and off the field to perform well. No one plays to fail. Once we identify that a particular player has the potential, we give him sufficient number of opportunities. We don't look for an opportunity to drop a player. It is up to the player to utilise the opportunities given to him.
What steps should to be taken now keeping the tour of Australia in mind?
We are a settled bowling unit. We need to consolidate our batting department. We should ensure our batsman get enough preparation time before heading into an important series. We are trying to find ways where our Test specialists will be going early and get enough match practise to get acclimatised to conditions.
The 50-over ICC World Cup is barely eight months away. Are the selectors focusing on that right now?
As we have only 24 ODIs before we play our first game in the World Cup, we have our blueprint ready. We only have a few spots left to be cemented.
The selection committee has functioned for close to 18 months with just three members on the panel. Now it's back to five…
We are happy that Gagan and Jatin have joined us. Even during their period of exile, they always used to discuss with us about various talented players. I am sure they were keeping track of domestic and international cricket even though they were not part of our committee.
Your view of the series defeat in England...
It was so close, yet so far. The results don't reveal how intensely this series was fought but we all know the same results could have been in our favour too. We had our moments in the series which we should have encashed on. There are positives. I feel our fast bowling unit has done a fantastic job. Picking 60-plus wickets in five Tests was testimony to their skill-set and a result of the fitness regimens and workload management we are following. I am extremely happy the way we fielded and took catches. But batting as a unit has to come to the fore.
India also showed an inability to pick wickets towards the end…
Yes. We also need to find solutions for picking those last few wickets. It essentially cost us the series.
The openers have disappointed. The No. 3 and No. 5 batsmen have struggled...
When we pick players for particular slots, they should be given enough opportunities before we move on and look at youngsters. Yes, our openers could have done better. Having said that, the England openers also failed miserably. The conditions were tough and the openers of both the teams failed. Over the last few years, Pujara and Rahane have done well in those No. 3 & No. 5 slots. They have enough experience behind them to be the mainstay of our middle order. They did well here too but they could have been a bit more consistent.
READ ALSO: At times, Kohli's lack of experience shows, says Gavaskar
All eyes are on the selectors now...
After giving enough opportunities, if the players don't deliver then in all fairness we need to look at youngsters who are doing well on the domestic cricket circuit and for India 'A'.
Shikhar Dhawan was dropped for the second and third Test against South Africa. Did the selectors take the call to pick him for England based on the one-off Afghanistan Test?
When we pick the team for an important tour like England, we need to take many factors into consideration, be it experience, combinations, consistency etc. That is how we pick the team.
How well were the selectors updated on Wriddhiman Saha's injury status?
We keep getting the fitness reports of all contracted players undergoing rehabilitation in NCA on a regular basis. There is absolutely no confusion whatsoever. Patrick (Farhart, the physio) keeps me and my colleagues updated on the fitness status of every contracted player. It was pure speculation that the selectors were not informed about Saha's fitness issues. Let me clarify that we are well informed about Saha's fitness status. In fact, apart from the information we get from Patrick, the performance statistics and fitness reports of all contracted and India 'A' players are tabled by our operations team in the selection committee meetings.
Are the national selectors kept in the loop about all fitness concerns when the Indian Premier League (IPL) is on?
Yes, we are very well informed with regards to the fitness status of all contracted and India 'A' cricketers right through the year, including IPL.
Injury prevention and workload management were big talking points during the IPL. But has anything tangible been worked out? There seems to be a lack of communication, overlooking of injuries, mismanagement of workloads...
I totally disagree. We have a clear plan with regard to injury prevention and workload management. The outstanding performance of our fast bowlers in South Africa and England is testimony to our workload management program. The basic fitness parameters fixed by us has raised our fitness standards. If our boys can fight till the last session of the 83rd day of the England tour with the same intensity that they fought on the first day of the tour, it speaks volumes about our fitness standards and the ability to fight.
In the last Indian bowling session in the fifth Test, our bowlers were bowling at speeds of 90 miles per hour. As part of this injury prevention process and workload management process, we have rested Virat Kohli for the Asia Cup and also intend to rest a few more players in the upcoming home series before the Australia tour.
Almost every domestic cricketer who needs to be given an opportunity has been given one. Then why is it that someone like Mayank Agarwal - despite his domestic exploits - is continuously ignored?
I totally agree that our committee has been consistent on this point and given utmost priority to the performances in domestic cricket. Mayank Agarwal has been doing outstandingly well in the past 10 months or so. You should also know that we have identified potential in Mayank and requested the head coach and assistant coach of Karnataka at the beginning of the season to give him ample opportunities this season. We have been keeping track of him for some time. He has done well and will get his due soon.
What are your thoughts on R Ashwin's performance in England. He has sometimes struggled on overseas assignments outside the subcontinent...
I still say Ashwin is one of the best spinners in the world today. He bowled brilliantly in South Africa and also started off very well in England. Unfortunately, he picked up an injury in the third Test. Though he had enough rest and was fit for the fourth Test, he couldn't deliver as expected. Over the past 4-5 years Ashwin and Jadeja have held our spin-bowling department together with pride and precision. I still feel they are the best that we have right now, with Kuldeep being third best.
Most international-level players forego the domestic circuit. They only play IPL and international cricket. Shouldn't those who fail to perform be made to play domestic cricket?
I totally agree that going back to domestic cricket and getting runs or wickets is the only the way to get back into the Indian team in the longer formats. In the past, even our legendary cricketers preferred to go back to domestic cricket to regain their form.
Six losses in eight Tests, is that a clear indication that changes need to be made?
A cricketer strives hard on and off the field to perform well. No one plays to fail. Once we identify that a particular player has the potential, we give him sufficient number of opportunities. We don't look for an opportunity to drop a player. It is up to the player to utilise the opportunities given to him.
What steps should to be taken now keeping the tour of Australia in mind?
We are a settled bowling unit. We need to consolidate our batting department. We should ensure our batsman get enough preparation time before heading into an important series. We are trying to find ways where our Test specialists will be going early and get enough match practise to get acclimatised to conditions.
The 50-over ICC World Cup is barely eight months away. Are the selectors focusing on that right now?
As we have only 24 ODIs before we play our first game in the World Cup, we have our blueprint ready. We only have a few spots left to be cemented.
The selection committee has functioned for close to 18 months with just three members on the panel. Now it's back to five…
We are happy that Gagan and Jatin have joined us. Even during their period of exile, they always used to discuss with us about various talented players. I am sure they were keeping track of domestic and international cricket even though they were not part of our committee.
Source : timesofindia[dot]indiatimes[dot]com
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