How many players does a team constitute? The simple answer is 11. But it could vary from 11 to 22. The all-rounders-packed India side that strode out against South Africa could boast of 16 players. Eight batters, six bowlers and two wicket-keepers. They are not a disjointed bunch of bits and pieces cameo-acts, but genuine specialists, who could barge into the team based on any singular dimension of theirs.

The soul of their total cricket ethos is the three all-rounders, three skilled to bat anywhere in the order, walk out in any situation, on any surface, and expect to score runs. They could bowl at any time: take the new ball, operate in the middle overs and plough with the soft and ragged ball, straddle the different worlds of attacker, enforcer or a hold-an-end-up thrift merchant.

On

See Full Page