One starling revelation which came to fore when Andhra lost to Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals at Lahli was that it was ill-equipped for the big stage performance. Both technique and temperament-wise Andhra was way behind its rival from the West.
When Andhra graduated from Group ‘C’ to Group ‘B’ with its positive cricket many felt it (the team) would do well in the knockout phase but it faltered on the not-so-batsman-friendly-strip at Haryana.
Andhra’s capitulation, on a pitch which looked similar to outfield, was quite contrast to Maharashtra’s methodical acceleration and wicket-to-wicket bowling. Batters like Kedar Yadav (80 in 86 balls) and Rahul Tripathi (43 in 38 balls) proved Andhra batsmen that there was no devil on the green-top pitch. Bowlers like Fallah, Mundhe, Muthuswamy and Sanklecha proved what mattered was line, length and discipline not speed.
“Andhra, after playing minnows like Tripura and Goa, locked horns with a better team from the top group. It got exposed,” opined a commentator.
In the low-scoring game, Andhra’s think tank was found wanting especially at crucial junctures when both the batters and bowlers looked clueless.
Baffling The way speedster Kakani Harish was handled by Andhra skipper Mohammad Kaif baffled many. Even the commentators who kept wondering why Kaif was persisting with the erratic paceman when he had proven bowlers like Siva Kumar, Vijay Kumar and Stephen in the arsenal. Harish’s raw pace looked unwarranted on a strip which was responsive to slow-medium swing bowling.
A couple of loose overs by Harish saw Maharashtra's Kedar Yadav taking the match away from Andhra, which until then was in Andhra’s grasp. Kedar counter-attack proved to be the turning point of the match.
The other factor for Andhra’s dismal show was the spineless exhibition of batting skills by the top order batsmen in both innings. That there was no partnership of 50 runs was a proof for lack of technique.
Flamboyant Bharat was never given room and D. B. Prasanth, on both the occasions, made his exit in a foolish manner. M.U.B. Sriram, Ricky Bhui, skipper Mohammad Kaif, and A. G. Pradeep – the crux of Andhra batting- looked over-cautious on a strip on which the ball kept low and generated uneven bounce. Kaif’s hair-line fracture to his finger also dented Andhra’s prospects.
The commentary team felt that Andhra batsmen ought to have gone for stroke-making and played their natural game. In fact the defensive approach (Andhra was chasing 177 for victory in two and half days) brought more pressure on the lower order batmen, forcing them to turn impatient. “It was a mind game out at Lahli. Maharashtra fought back well while Andhra succumbed to pressure,” said NCA level III coach J. Krishna Rao.
However, Andhra team deserves a pat on its back for its graduation to Group ‘B’ after a gap of six years and the credit should go to association’s cricketing director M. S. K. Prasad, who toiled hard to spruce up quality playfields, academies and appoint coaches and other supporting staff.
But Andhra, to survive in Group ‘B’ next season, should pull up its socks and improve its cricket both technique and temperament-wise for it will be facing more quality teams far better than Maharashtra. The onus, again, will be on the former India stumper – M.S.K. Prasad to mould a team with fighting spirit.
