Making a case for Joginder Sharma

It is common knowledge that any team competing in the One Day format of the game would definitely hanker for one or more all-rounders.
The game has evolved over the years, but if we take a look at the three Indian sides which have won major tournaments, we will see them full to the brim with players who could both bat and bowl.

In 1983, the Indian team had Kapil Dev, Madan Lal and Roger Binny as accomplished all rounders, Mohinder Amarnath who did more than a little with the ball and Kirti Azad, a bits and pieces cricketer at the heighest level who nevertheless played his part as an attacking batsman and an offspinner. Added to them were the worthy contributors at the end including Syed Kirmani and Balwinder Singh Sandhu. (Incidentally Sandhu scored 71 on his test debut against a rampaging Imran Khan). Batting deep down and having lots of bowling options did play a crucial role in the Prudential World Cup triumph.

In 1985, the team’s balance was even better. Ravi Shastri opened the innings and played the sheet anchor, while his nagging left arm spinners were an asset to the side. No wonder he won the Champion of Champions award. Along with him Kapil Dev, Roger Binny, Madan Lal – all played as genuine allrounders. Mohinder Amarnath, as a matter of fact, played more as a bowler who batted in the lower middle order, bowling 26 overs in the tournament with an economy rate of 3. Sadanand Viswanath was as promising in front of the wicket as behind it. Even the number eleven batsman, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan had the poise, style and elegance of a middle order maestro.

In 1993, India won the Hero Cup. Again, the allround ability of the players was a key factor for the victory. Kapil Dev was past his prime, but definitely still a force to reckon with. Manoj Prabhakar, whatever his current image, was one of the rarest of rare cricketers who could open both the batting and the bowling with distinction. Added to that, in Sachin Tendulkar, India had a bowler who turned match winner in the solitary over he bowled in the nerve racking semi final. Ajay Jadeja also did a fairly decent – at times wonderful – job of turning his arm over. Vijay Yadav, the wicket keeper, was a very good stroke maker. Added to that, both Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath were very competent lower order batsmen.

Not only have allrounders played a vital role in India’s ODI triumphs. All the world over across decades, they have been of utmost importance in the One Day format.
The 1987 World Cup Champions Australia had Simon O’Donnel as a competent all rounder, Steve Waugh who, apart from his obvious batting skills, was an excellent bowler during those days – especially at the death, Alan Border would regularly turn his arm over and Craig McDermott’s batting talents were utilized by sending him up as a pinch hitter.

In the 1992 World Cup, Pakistan triumphed as much due to the all-round balance in the side as because of the exploits of Inzamam ul Haq. With Imran Khan and Wasim Akram leading the way, they had a world class scrapper in Moin Khan and utilized Amir Sohail’s left arm spin to good effect.

In 1996, Sri Lanka almost revolutionized the art of One Day Cricket with Jayasuriya at the top. Their all round strength was enhanced by the determined Aravinda de Silva, who, when he was not batting like a man possessed, was bowling canny off spinners and picking up more than a few useful wickets. Kaluwitherna proved to be a worthy partner of Jayasuriya at the top of the order and Dharamasena was more than a worthy batter down the order. When asked to, skipper Ranatunga and Gurusinha could turn their arms over.

In 1999 and 2003, Australia dominated the World Cups with players like Adam Gilchrist, Setve Waugh, Michael Bevan, Andrew Symonds and Tom Moody playing major and minor roles.

So, as India gears up for the World Cup, they are in desperate need of all rounders for the balance of the side.
In all the sides discussed, part time bowlers and moderately good lower order batsmen were present, but were mainly in support of the genuine allrounders – Kapil, Waugh, Imran and so on.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni looks a match winner with the bat, and does perform like an accomplished batsman sometimes. But that is where it stops. Irfan Pathan, promising a lot, looks more and more like a batsman who occasionally bowls well. And the spin of Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag and Dinesh Mongia can come in handy only when there are other players who add their genuine all round skills to the balance of the side, so that their overs become a luxury, not a necessity.

While there is a genuine concern regarding allrounders, it is a surprise that someone like Joginder Sharma is getting omitted in spite of regular performances that underline his all round skills.

The 23 year old Haryana cricketer hits the ball hard and also bowls fast medium with plenty of success in the domestic circuit.
In 34 first class matches, he has more than 1600 runs at 33 with 4 centuries and has taken 163 wickets at 19.92 with 4 ten wicket hauls. At least the figures speak for him as a genuine talent.

After two successive ten wicket hauls, he had been included in the Indian team to Bangladesh in 2004, and played three ODIs. He was not dismissed in the limited opportunities that he got, ending up with a highest of 29 not out and a strike rate in the 140s. While bowling, he was not really a success, finishing with 1 for 99 in the total of 21 overs that he bowled.

However, it takes time to get used to International Cricket, and that is why it was vitally important to blood him in South Africa.

His performances this season speak for themselves. In the Duleep Trophy, he scored 103 against the Central Zone attack of Murali Karthik and Piyush Chawla, and also picked up a couple of wickets. Against East Zone, he scored a blistering 122. In the finals against Sri Lanka A, he scored 72 and picked up 4 wickets.
In the Ranji Trophy, he started with 11 wickets against Andhra, following it up with 7 wickets and useful runs down the order in the next match.

What is heartening about this youngster is that he performs consistently in both the departments, unlike the current Pathan who tends to forget one art when obsessed with the other.

I am not implying that he will be an overnight success, or that he is India’s answer to all the questions raised in the dismal ODIs in recent past. But, he is one allrounder who can add immense value to the stability of the side and an option the selectors should definitely keep in mind.

Sudeepta commented:

"Well, his latest effort is a 10 for against UP at an average of 6 runs per wicket and strike rate of 15.3 balls. That surely strengthens his case.

Sudeepta"

It sure does. Are the selectors listening?