Concentration, determination and temperament - the essentials of Test cricket

Bat and ball / Paul Moon / 20 November 2007 / Leave a Comment

Pablo Luna - Moonlighting for Betfair. Pablo looks at why great ODI players find it so difficult to make the step up to Test cricket ahead of the India v Pakistan series

I have often been asked should the Test and ODI team be made up of the same players. If they are good enough for Test Cricket then why should they not be good enough for ODIs and vice versa? Australia seem to cope easily with the transition and set the standards so you would assume that other Test nations automatically follow suit - not so!

Some class cricketers are better at one discipline than the other and it is primarily because of their personalities and behaviour patterns rather than their cricketing skills and technique. For example, in Test cricket it is a prerequisite that you need the CDT's, concentration, determination and temperament. Although these traits help in ODIs also, it is possible to temporarily scale the heights without them. Without the CDT's they will fail Test cricket irrespective of technique or physical acumen!

Looking ahead to the forthcoming 3 Match Test Series, between India and Pakistan, starting Thursday 22 November 2007 in Delhi I would like to elucidate and expose those who should be good enough to excel at both codes.

Yuvraj Singh (India) made his Test debut back in 2003 and has played just 19 matches, whereas he has played 195 ODIs. He has been much more effective in the ODIs and this is because of his lack of CDT. His commitment has also been questioned. He is a typical example of an exceptional cricketer not able or willing to bridge the gap (www.cricinfo.com). With his capabilities he should take a long hard look at himself, surely there will come a time later in life when he regrets his present attitude.

Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) is another who cannot quite come to terms with the concept of Test cricket because of his lack of concentration and temperament. He originally retired from Test cricket in 2006 claiming that the workload was too much to cope with and he wanted to concentrate on ODI's. What utter nonsense! In April 2006, after discussions with Shaharyar Khan (PCB Chairman) and Bob Woolmer he reversed his decision. He has played 26 Test matches in nine years, another player who pitifully refuses to make the most of his talent.

Conversely, in these prevailing times, there are those who are not physically gifted to cope with the ODIs, Danesh Kaneria (Pakistan) is one of them. Despite playing 47 Test matches he has only been selected for just 18 ODIs where he has a batting average of 6.00 (12 runs in total) and a bowling average of 45.53 (15 wickets in total). His fielding is described as somewhere between unreliable and hilarious making Monty Panesar look like a Jonty Rhodes special.

It is fascinating that Mohammad Sami (Pakistan) has been called up after a ten-month absence into the Pakistani squad. He is another under-achiever! He came into cricket as one of the fastest and most exciting bowlers in the world (157 km/h) with an ability to swing it and bowl a mean yorker. He has never given two consistent performances in successive matches, a most exasperating cricketer. He is one of two men to have taken a hat-trick in Test and ODI cricket. He also bowled a 17 ball over in ODI cricket showing both sides of his personal coin. This discontented man appears to be a moody character and though a naturally fit man, has been known to be very casual in his approach to cricket, once again underlining the importance of having the right temperament and attitude. This current series may well be his final chance to show that he has what it takes to succeed.

Prolific scorer in domestic cricket in India, Wasim Jaffer (India) is another who has not kicked on. Considered to be another Azharuddin, great things were expected of him. Given his Test debut in 2000 he has only managed 22 matches and not deemed suitable for ODI's. Will he deliver the goods this series?

India's record in New Delhi is second to none, they've won their last six Tests here - and with Kumble and Tendulkar in form all indicators point to a seventh consecutive victory for the hosts at fortress Feroz Shah Kotla. India, with home advantage, are favourites at [2.64] with Betfair and Pakistan [5.2] with Betfair. The draw is available at [2.24].

Conditions in New Delhi are expected to be hot and humid - no surprises there - and the weather should not have much of an impact with no rain forecast over the five days. Whoever calls correctly will probably bat, even if winning the toss rarely leads to victory - only five teams who won the toss have gone on to win the Test (in the 28 matches played here, not a single team have opted to bowl first after winning the toss). The reason teams generally bat first is to avoid the prodigious turn on a crumbling day five pitch. The track is always on the slow side and offers pacers very little assistance at the start, but assists the spinners more and more as the match progresses. The groundsman is convinced it will be a result-oriented pitch.