Following eight consecutive overseas test defeats, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid & VVS Laxman should retire, says bruce reid, former aussie pacer & India's bowling coach during 2003-04 tour down under
Following eight consecutive overseas test defeats, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid & VVS Laxman should retire, says bruce reid, former aussie pacer & India's bowling coach during 2003-04 tour down under
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Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid & VVS Laxman head back to the pavilion
after their respective dismissals during the recent Test series in Australia.
Pics/ Getty images, AFP,
Reid, who served as India's bowling coach during their tour here in 2003-04, said the trio must retire. "India definitely need to blood some new batsmen. There's no doubt that Sachin, Laxman and Dravid have been champion players. But they need to realise that you can't play forever.
Bruce Reid
There comes a time, when you reach a certain age, you starting losing your reflexes, eye sight, and so on -- especially if the opposition is bowling as well as the Australians are. I have the utmost respect for the trio -- but they should go out before Indian cricket plunges even further -- not that you can plunge further than the rock bottom it has already hit," Reid told MiD DAY yesterday.
Reid was critical of the way left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan was handled by various coaches. "When I first met Irfan (Pathan) in 2003, I was so impressed with what he had to offer. But I was a bit amazed that he was put up in the batting order.
I feel he's not been taken care of the way properly. He has probably lacked the extra yard of pace that's needed, but I still think he's a very good cricketer. I want to see him lead India's pace attack in Tests when Zaheer Khan goes. I am not sure how much longer Zaheer will be able to continue."
The Western Australian credited former teammate Craig McDermott for improving Australia's bowling stocks. "Billy (McDermott's nickname) has realised where the bowlers were going wrong against England and South Africa -- before the series against India. Especially someone like Peter Siddle, who used to bang the ball too short all the time. He has been told to pitch it up more.
He's told 'Rhino' (Ryan Harris), Hilfy (Ben Hilfenhaus) and James Pattinson to swing the ball -- just like how England defeated us last summer. There was a stage a few years ago when 90 per cent of bowlers were looking for reverse swing. Now, it appears swing is coming back big-time, and it's very encouraging. It's happening all over the world.
"I am not saying India didn't bat appallingly (in the just-concluded Test series), but this has been one of the best bowling performances by Australia. They pitched the ball up, swung it and bowled fast. I think after England and South Africa, Australia now has the best up-and-coming attack."
Finally, Reid sympathised with India's domestic bowlers. "I just hope the administrators in India do something to help the seamers -- give them some nice wickets conducive to fast bowling, especially at the first-class level. At least they will know what it's like to beat the outside edge of the bat, and get the slips into action. I am afraid kids wouldn't want to take to pace otherwise."
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