VRV may have learned a good deal from that experience, but it’s doubtful whether the selectors did, for he was surprisingly included in the test squad for the West Indian tour, and even more surprisingly, ended up taking part in the first two tests. Singh exemplifies ‘raw’; having played only eight first class games over two seasons prior to his debut, and missing a good number of first class games between injuries and training sessions with the national team. With these in mind, and an economy rate of 8.75 from 12 unsuccessful overs in ODIs, his selection in the test side made little sense, particularly with the tests clashing with the Top End series** in Australia in late June, a clash between A-level teams that would have been a far better chance for him to hone his skills, away from the harsh spotlights at test level.

VRV Singh’s performances in the first two tests have done little to vindicate the selectors’ decision, taking just two tailend wickets and often not doing enough with the ball to merit his captain’s faith. Despite the help from the team support staff, the exposure and the encouraging words of Ian Bishop, who reckoned the tall Punjabi quick to be a good prospect, he’s gained very little ground over this tour. One can only wonder how much more beneficial the Australian tour in June would have been, for Singh would have for the first time had the chance to bowl abroad on faster, more responsive tracks against better opposition more familiar with pace and bounce. Instead, he’s been forced into a baptism of fire, and like so many past Indian cricketers, has struggled.

Success in cricket at the highest level is just as demanding of one’s mind as it is of skills, which is where experience and mental toughness become such valuable traits. Only the odd youngster like Sachin Tendulkar or Neil Harvey have had prolonged successes from a young age; most players though have either crumbled immediately or after promising starts, struggled to cope with the intense rigours and pressures of international cricket. One just needs to look at the likes of Parthiv Patel or Irfan Pathan, two of India’s most recent graduates from the Under 19 team to the test side. Both began promisingly, with Patel showing a maturity and assurance beyond his years both behind and in front of the sticks, and Pathan showing a talent that had the likes of Wasim Akram waxing lyrical. Both though stumbled into form ruts, and with neither having the experience or knowledge of their own games to deal with the situations, both saw their careers suffer.

There’s much to be learned from some of the more recent Indian selection successes. Ramesh Powar, brought up in the cauldron of Mumbai cricket, returned to the national team with two ODIs in Pakistan and several seasons of domestic cricket under his belt, and despite batsmen charging him and the press questioning his physique and fitness, Powar was a booming success in the handful of one day games he played at home. His Ranji teammate, Wasim Jaffer, earned a recall to the test side a few months ago after four years’ exile from the national side. Armed with runs in the Ranji and Duleep trophies and far more experience and awareness of his own game, Jaffer promptly shed his past demons with an eighty and a century against England, following with a double hundred in the previous test at St. Lucia against the West Indies soon after.

MS Dhoni too came into the side after a couple of years of experience on the domestic circuit, rather than being flung straight into the deep end after Under 19 cricket, and the results have been there for all to see. One can only hope that the Indian selectors take note of this. As much promise as the youngsters of VRV Singh’s ilk hold, they need time and experience to ready themselves for the highest level. Not everyone is a Tendulkar, who can adapt so coolly at such a young age. A little more thought in selection, and a little more focus on performance rather than simply prowess in the nets or in the odd game here or there, and the Indian team might be far stronger in the long run.

**The Top End series will comprise four-day, one day and Twenty20 games between A-teams from Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand and India and be played in Cairns and Darwin from late June onwards. Hafta will have an exclusive preview of the series, with in depth looks at major players in next week’s issue.

(Salil Benegal is based between Chicago and Singapore, and switches between studying chemistry and freelancing (or trying to) in cricket and travel writing. A strong fan of both the Indian and Australian cricket teams, Salil also maintains a cricket-centric blog at http://www.sbenegal.blogspot.com/)

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