Get well Kumble

You need to take 20 wickets to win a Test match, even if the opponents be a team as inexperienced as Bangladesh. As the rain-battered first Test ended in a draw, two things stood out clear: The elements had their say and India sorely missed Anil Kumble.

Bangladesh’s Test (in)experience is something the whole world knows about. Yet, after losing the ODI series 0-2, they would have been worried what to do in the longer version of the game.

In an age where instant cricket is the flavour and even Twenty20 will become more and more popular, Test matches are special. The Ashes series produced thrilling action two years back, though the last series Down Under was just too predictable.

For long, India have experimented with going into a Test match without five regular bowlers. More often that not, they have had someone chipping in, instead of having a fifth bowler.

So this time, when Kumble and Ramesh Powar were also in, I thought we were in for a lot of spin. Sadly, even though the hosts were struggling at 149 for eight in the first innings, they managed to slip to safety as Kumble spent the better part in the dressing room after being laid low by fever.

The point is, in a Test where the old guard – Sachin and Sourav -- helped themselves to hundreds, it would have been good if the remaining four bowlers could have struck. In the end, when Rahul Dravid made a ‘bold’ declaration and gave Bangladesh a total to chase, it didn’t look too exciting.

I am sure, had Kumble been there, it would have been worth watching. More so, as Sachin Tendulkar’s mixture of deliveries did see plenty of lateral movement.

Young faces and new talent is something nice to talk about, but I still think if you talk of bowlers who can win India a Test, Anil Kumble is still the flavour.

Anil, I do hope you are fighting for the second Test starting in three days time. The Bangladesh batsmen must face the music!!