BASIL SYLVESTER PINTO
PANAJI
In 33-years of their Ranji history, Goa have rarely tasted success. While part of the blame lies in the system for throwing up names undeserving to be part of the side, rest assured those given an opportunity to prove themselves in the absence of the ousted veterans for the current season, are frittering away the gilt-edged chances. As a consequence of which the State that was anointed with its baptism into the Ranji fold in 1985-86, are now harbouring the worst fear of being shelved to the beginners’ group in the ensuing 2019-20 season.
Let us have a look why the State Ranji team finds itself in the periphery of Elite cricket.
Not adhering to the GCA management mandate:
At the start of July 2018, the Goa Ranji probables were announced with the management at Goa Cricket Association having a clear mandate that it was time to show the non-performing seniors the door and give a fair trial to the promise and talent of the younger domestic players. A positive middle-order batsman, Suyash Prabhudessai was handed his First Class cap against Haryana in Lahli. In scoring 36 in the second innings with wickets around him collapsing like nine pins on a difficult seaming surface he earned lavish praise from the team’s Head Coach, Prakash Mayenkar. Next game, against Jharkhand, he was Goa’s second innings top-scorer with 39. He may have played a rank bad shot to lose his wicket and his place in the side. But then to look at it, how many other batsmen around him did any better, that he was made a scapegoat? After sitting out the Services game at home, Suyash responded strongly as he got another go in the Agartala game. With the chips down, in association with Snehal Kauthankar he tried to salvage the situation for his side in both essays. Suyash made 34 and 65 in the game to answer his critics in style, starting from the powers-that-be.
Questionable inclusion of Asaduddin, a professional with zero FC experience:
After sitting out two games, the so-called third professional in the squad, Mohammad Asaduddin earned his maiden First Class cap at 29 against Services in Porvorim. Coming in at the expense of a hard done Suyash Prabhudessai, who was inexplicably dropped for the reason of playing a shot too many, the Hyderabadi pottered around in making just 2 from 11 deliveries. More significant to note, what was a middle-order bat and a professional batting at 7, after wicket-keeper Keenan Vaz? Perhaps his blue-blood lineage gave him another game in Agartala where his name was penciled in along with his direct competitor, Suyash Prabhudessai as regular opening batsman, Amogh Desai was unable to tour with an injury. Asaduddin failed again miserably in making 15 and 0.
Opening conundrum:
Through the 2018-19 Ranji season, Goa more often than not failed to have an opening stand of some substance and with captain, Sagun Kamat in apparent good nick coming in early. As the season wore on, while Sumiran Amonkar stood a stodgy and dour opener, his partner at the top, Amogh Desai began to endure a horrid season with the willow that was punctuated with injury for the Services game that saw him excluded for the North East fixtures in Tripura and Assam.
It was here that the onus was on the captain, Sagun Kamat to shore up more responsibility by moving up to open with the anchorman, Sumiran Amonkar despite his recent failures at one-down. That said, the selectors drafted greenhorn wicketkeeper-bat Rajsekhar Harikant as the third opener in the touring squad with crucial games looming ahead and with a guarantee he would open. Harikant, on record has opened in multi-day formats playing for Income Tax at the corporate level. Make him bat up the order was unwarranted, with his captain, Kamat having tons of experience and an unbeaten triple ton as well as an opener at the level not too long ago. Kamat’s argument to continue at no.3 was who would play at that pivotal position and with Harikant drafted in as an opener by the three-man selection committee. In the event of which, if the recent trend is to be accounted for Kamat has walked in early anyways and it was only a psychological case he ought to arrest. A welcome change in mindset did see Kamat walk in to open with Amonkar and taking first strike as Tripura enforced follow-on. That he continues to shoulder responsibility and lead from the front with the bat as well is a thought that engages with the connoisseur of Goa cricket.
Lack of runs in the middle-order:
The seasoned campaigners in Sagun Kamat and professional, Amit Verma are enduring a run-drought. Save for his most recent innings, captain Kamat batted at three, with his last six innings finding him notch only 26 as his highest. Verma meanwhile after the blazing 154 against Jharkhand has come up with three ducks in his next five innings with an unbeaten 23 as his best against Services. All-rounder Darshan Misal would like to be more consistent with the bat and has shown the ability to play the big knock under pressure if his match-saving fourth First Class hundred against Services was of any indication. Perhaps what could be heartening to the side going into the Assam game starting December 22 in Guwahati is the encouraging form of Snehal Kauthankar who made 79 and 27 in Agartala, apart from Suyash Prabhudessai who made a strong statement upon his return to the XI in the same game.
Musical chairs behind stumps:
Save for a fighting 41 against Jharkhand, gloveman, Keenan Vaz did little else that merited him four games in the 2018-19 Ranji season. While Samar Dubhashi, a late middle-order wicket-keeper batsman, should have felt injustice that he did get an automatic selection for the Tripura game after getting just a game at home against Jammu & Kashmir to showcase his mettle. That Rajsekhar Harikant got his opportunity and played as an opener in the first essay against Tripura, a move indicative as a release for the misfiring top bats in the side (Sagun Kamat and Amit Verma), the step almost immediately backfired. Better sense would prevail, if Harikant is not dropped after a failure much the same way Dubhashi was and plays the Guwahati game in the lower middle-order.
Uncertain, inconsistent bowling:
An overworked pace bowling professional, Krishna Das returned to the Goa attack for the Tripura game after a two-match injury-induced absence but without making an impact. The seasoned seamer would like to make a huge impression against his former team Assam next up, much the same way he did against Haryana (11/116), to inspire his new side to a dramatic turnaround in performance and result. His absence notwithstanding, Goa were further depleted with home-grown pacers, Lakshay Garg and first-change Felix Alemao, regulars in all games with Das until this stage out on the lurch as well. Thrown into the home game against Jharkhand, was rookie Vijesh Prabhudesai, the only out-and-out pacer who grew into the game while handy bowler, Amogh Desai shared the new ball with him in the first innings consequential of a practically empty fast bowling stock to look at. Move to the next game against Services, a fit-again, Garg bowled well in patches as Vijesh held his spot impressing with a fifer in the first innings to justify his inclusion as a now-fit Alemao, appeared raring to go in the wings.
But as with most other games, Goa attack’s inability to dismiss the tail cost them dearly in the Tripura game as well. The lower-order of Tripura came strong to post a formidable 358 from a precarious 128/6 in their first innings. Meanwhile, the spin department has not been able to maximize their opportunities with the door shown to slow-left-arm orthodox bowler all-rounder in seasoned Shadab Jakati for this season at least. Like all-rounders, Darshan Misal and Amulya Pandrekar are yet to justify their all-rounder tag. Interestingly though it has been batting all-rounder, Amit Verma whose scarcity of runs particularly in the last two matches has his leg breaks coming up with rich dividends, and he will be the go-to slow bowler moving forward.
With the calamitous fear of Goa perilously nearer to having a big party against relatively freshers to the First Class level next season, one hopes that the State Ranji team pulls themselves from the rough and make the moments count here on in seizing the initiatives coming their way to reap the desired results.
