Shape up or lose the No 1 ranking soon: Gary Sobers

Updated on: 19 May,2010 10:24 AM IST |
DD |

As if the embarrassing exit from the World Twenty20 was not enough, Sir Garfield Sobers has predicted more trouble for the Indian team

As if the embarrassing exit from the World Twenty20 was not enough, Sir Garfield Sobers has predicted more trouble for the Indian team.

Among the many reasons given for the loss was the inability of the Indian batsmen to play the short ball and Sobers believes this could lead to India's downfall in other formats of the game too.

"It was surprising to see the No 1 Test side struggle against quick bowling. A batsman cannot compete unless he knows how to tackle the rising delivery.

"If they cannot handle it, they will gradually lose their status as the top Test nation in the world," Sobers, arguably the finest all-rounder of all time, said.

Good team
"I believe India is a good team. They have a good bowling attack and have depth in batting. The only thing lacking is the ability to dominate genuine pace," Sobers added.

Sobers, who finished his 93-Test career with a batting average of 57.78 with 8,032 runs and 235 wickets, also felt that the absence of Virender Sehwag hurt the team badly.

"I wish he was here. The people of the Caribbean would've loved to see him play and he would have made a huge difference to the team as well. I hope he comes with the team when they tour next year," he said.

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