Where is Indian cricket heading?

I am sure all those who are reading this must be filled with enough stories about what the BCCI plans to do... Obviously the answer is TALK, TALK, GIVE EXCUSES...

The state of Indian cricket is abysmal. Right from "selecting the selectors" to player selection, things have always seemed bizzare. I was astounded to see people pouring comments on Dravid being the sole cause of Sachin and Saurav being dropped. This is mere bullshit!

I admit I am not a big fan of Saurav, but his presence in the Indian side always sends the wrong signals. He has never been a team player, always bothering only about himself and his records. Many may argue that since his comeback, he has averaged fifty plus in ODIs. But what has surprised me is that people have failed to notice the manner in which he scored those runs; scoring at a rate of 60 odd, leaving bad deliveries fearing that he may edge one behind, Ganguly is still a mere shadow of his former self. Somehow, he has not looked convincing.

By choosing Dinesh Mongia, the board is portraying a situation that can be understood in two different ways. Being a veteran, 31 years of age, he has experience playing for Liecestershire and holds enough Ranji experience to command a place in the side. For those who argue that 31 is too old, we must not forget that even Mike Hussey of Australia made his debut when he was 30. But with the BCCI telling the selectors to pick a young team, the selection of Mongia sends a message of a different wavelength.

I have seen many lament about the fact that we need an Australian coach who can make us mentally tough. This is insane. If India has to scale to that height, we need Australian players instead. Greg Chappel's era was a disaster, no doubt. There has been a lot of emphasis on India requiring a foreign coach, but the fact remains that a coach can only teach and strategize; the players must perform on the field.

The situation remains damp, with Tom Moody and Dav Whatmore throwing their hats in for the job. Irrespective of who is chosen, there will be debates sparking off regarding the selection. We wont hesitate to expect a legal skirmish within the board regarding players chosen from various "zones". Zonal bias has always been, and will always be, the black sheep of Indian cricket. But the fact remains that as long as we see politics and sport mingling, keep your fingers crossed. Who knows where the BCCI is heading?