Race to the Top: South Africa and India: Part I- The Brains Trust

It may all soon boil down to this.

With Australia on the downswing, England plagued by internal rifts, and Sri Lanka yet to show their mettle outside the sub-continent, India and South Africa are left as the two major contenders to Australia’s crown.

The coming year could easily see either one of these two sides grabbing the number one slot in both the (sane) forms of the game.

Their results in the past year an a half have been identical. Both have beaten the likes of England, Australia, and Pakistan, and drew each other on the only occasion they met.

In such a scenario, a contest between these two teams could help in deciding who the real number one contender is.

But since that is not due for at least another couple of years, there is no harm in trying to predict which team will come up triumphant, and therefore figure out which is the better team—which is precisely the exercise I am disguising in this article.

The process is simple.

I shall compare the important parts of each team in the different forms of the game (only Test and ODIs as they are the main bone of contention, as it were). Doing so in just one article can be tiresome, both to the reader as well as the writer. Thus I have decided to split it into various parts.

I shall begin with the Tests, and in this particular segment, compare one of the most important parts of the teams: the decision makers.

In any international team, there are two basic personnel who could be classified as the decision makers: the Captain and the Coach.

But as we shall see, these two aren’t the only ones who share this responsibility, as other senior members of the team, referred to here on in as the OKM, are also required to chip in with valuable contributions.

Cricket, they say, is very similar to chess. It is a game of strategy, and a lot of it is played in the minds, and not just on the field.

Therefore, the ability of these men to out-think the opposition becomes as vital as their ability to hit a crisp cover-drive or deliver a toe-crushing yorker.

Man-management also becomes important, especially in a team like India’s, where the player pool is comprised of people from different backgrounds, speaking different languages, and having very different needs to prosper and play at their peaks.

So let us begin by analysing the two sides.

South Africa

Captain: Graeme Smith

Coach: Mickey Arthur

Other Key Members (OKM): Jaques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Makhaya Ntini

India

Captain: Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Coach: Gary Kirsten

OKM: Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh

For South Africa, the captain and coach partnership has been vital. Their comments post Melbourne Test victory clearly suggested that these two men share a common goal, and have formed a partnership that is going to be lethal for opposing teams.

When the coach and captain are so in sync, wonders can happen for the side. The younger players feel safer, and everyone knows whatever is being done is for the betterment of the team.

We don’t need to look any further than the Steve Waugh-John Buchanan. The Oz Captain-Coach duo was at the heart of Australia becoming the powerhouse—nurturing the likes of Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, and Matthew Hayden onto to their future greatness.

And like-wise, a broken relationship between such important figures can have a devastating impact on the team.

The Sourav Ganguly-Greg Chappell fiasco is probably a number one example on the “Don’t List for Successful Teams” manual. The rift between the two caused havoc. Team unity was non-existent and performance took a hit, which culminated into a group stage exit at the 2007 World Cup.

Gary Kirsten, who replaced Chappell, has settled well into the role though. A lot like John Wright in his approach to coaching, the team seems to be responding well to him and Dhoni at the helm.

While Graeme Smith and Mickey Arthur have had time together, Dhoni and Kirsten are just beginning. How well they gel in comparison to their South African counterparts, only time will tell. But they will certainly be helped along the way by the experience of the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman, et al..

Experience is probably the only way one of these two teams can be said to be clear cut winners.

India with it’s pantheon of cricketing heavy-weights, certainly have a deeper pool to draw from. But what it draws is the concern.

Instances of OKM contribution have been higher for the Indians in the recent past. Be it Tendulkar’s masterstroke in promoting young Irfan Pathan up the order a few seasons ago against Sri Lanka, or Zaheer Khan’s field placing tactics, all have played a very crucial part in India’s success.

It’s the approach where the two sides differ. The South Africans are fairly relaxed about who takes the lime light, as both Smith and Arthur are given equal credit in the results.

The Indians though, seem to be much more oriental. The root problem with Chappell was the Aussie’s hunger for power. The Indian’s were used to the behind the scenes functioning of John Wright. The Captain is the real boss, or should be, screamed the former greats.

And so it is now, with Mr. Kirsten rarely making public statements, and all the limelight firmly on skipper Mahi.

The captain’s differ in their handling of key bowlers as well.

While Smith prefers to set his field, and demand his bowlers to adhere to his orders, Dhoni is seen chatting up to his bowlers more often. If nothing is happening, the skipper is often seen sprinting up to the bowler from behind the stumps to have a quick word with his player.

It is often stated that his position as wicket-keeper helps Dhoni in setting the field, and strategising a batsman’s fall. It may well be true, as few can say they have seen Dhoni’s plan misfire.

Though Dhoni seems less dictatorial of the two, Smith’s “listen to the captain” attitude seems to work for him as well, as could be seen at Melbourne, when a fired up Dale Steyn ran through the Australian batting order, after being disgruntled that the Captain wouldn’t give him the field he wanted!

Which team has the better brains trust? It’s your vote! Leave your opinions!