Mental Disintegration... Indian style

It was hard not to be flabbergasted, when one saw the pronouncement. "Anil Kumble warns South Africa," read the headline, and proceeded to detail how the Indian leg spinner had suggested South Africa ought to be "wary" of himself and Harbhajan on the upcoming tour, and how their batsmen would be forced onto the back foot as a result of having to face "two quality spinners".

My mind couldn't help going back to Stephen Rodger Waugh, and his comments before Australia had embarked on their 2001 tour of India. Even before the series had commenced, Steve Waugh, in his typically inimitable style, had been shooting his mouth off about how the Australians would do this, blah blah blah, how they would achieve that, blah blah blah, and how, come what may, they had what it took to prevail in the conditions in India.

When queried by some as to why he was doing so much talking off the field, when cricket was clearly a game played 'on' it, Waugh replied that it was all part of a policy of "mental disintegration" that he believed in; to help soften up the opposition before a series.

Despite Australia's failure to triumph in India, at least in Waugh's defence, the man *had* led his team to 15 consecutive wins on the trot prior to the tour: and thus there was at least some justification to his chutzpah and to the methods he felt would be likely to succeed on the subcontinent.

What is somewhat puzzling, however, is when an Indian bowler, who averages nearly 40 with the ball away from home, and who hasn't been able to help India win even a single Test match overseas, speaks with the same assurance and cockiness of the Australian skipper. Even misplaced confidence ought to have its limits, surely?

That most cricket fans do not make the distinction between performances at home and those away is clearly there for all to see. Anil Kumble at home, and on the Krumblers in India, is indisputably a match-winner. 31 Test matches, a staggering 175 wickets at the wonderful cost of just 21.38. Those figures, clearly, more than speak for themselves. But then, again, so do these: 30 Test matches, 101 wickets at 39.46, the latter, of course, being Kumble's not-so-stellar showing overseas.

Why Kumble has not been more successful outside India is a question whose answer ought to be no mystery to those who see him bowl, either. The man just does not turn the ball. When you have uneven minefields to bowl on at home, and the speed at which you zip the ball through makes life doubly uncomfortable for the opposing batsmen who have to face you, then imparting spin on the ball is a luxury you can well do without. However, when you have to bowl on good cricketing pitches, and ones with even bounce, then that same luxury becomes an absolute necessity. Kumble's inability to adapt to his style of bowling overseas, has, in fact, been one main reasons why India has struggled to bowl opposition sides out twice, when on tour.

In fact, so utterly pathetic has Kumble been overseas, even against the three countries that ostensibly play spin bowling the worst - South Africa, New Zealand and England, though not necessarily in that order - his record still reads dismally: 14 Test matches, 45 wickets at the cost of 39.96.

Compare this with Shane Warne (29 Tests, 147 wickets at 22.60), Muthiah Muralitharan (9 Tests, 57 wickets at 22.14), or even the now defunct Mushtaq Ahmed (15 Tests, 62 wickets at 26.16) and it should not be hard to point the odd man out.

Strictly speaking, on those numbers, and given the fact that Kumble averaged 48 with the ball on his last tour to South Africa, and 90 on his last trip overseas (Australia), he shouldn't even be assured of a spot in the eleven when we tour. Fully fit, or otherwise.

What is sad to see, thus, is not only our media painting him as some sort of a match-winner and saviour of Indian cricket (which he clearly is not outside the Krumblers at home), but equally already writing off a young and talented 21-year-old off-spinner who does turn the ball, and who has a far better chance of succeeding abroad in the long run, than Kumble ever did.

Furthermore, 66 in the Bulawayo Test, and a blitzkrieg and very vital 44 at Kandy, have meant that Bhajju has done far more towards helping India win Test matches abroad in the short time he's been a fixture in the Indian side, than Kumble ever did over an entire decade.

At least when the Australians attempt to "mentally disintegrate", they actually have something to back up their words. As for Kumble, the less said about him on that front, the better.

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Mail Harish Chandramouli