India s nickel greats Sunil Gavaskar .mil Bishan Bedi lashed out at their national team on Friday, sa\ ing Saurav (ianguh s men w’crv not good enough to play lest crivkel.
Both paid glowing tributes to Steve Waugh s magnificent Australians, who extended their winning streak to 16 matches alter completing a lo-wnkt i rump in the first I est here on I hursday.
Bui Gavaskar lamented the "limld" baiting of the Indians, who capilulaled in under three day s io give the tourists a 1-0 lead in the
three-match scries
" Hu Indians have ollen being described as tigers at home and lambs abroad." Gavaskar wrote in a sy ndicated column. Perhaps the time has now come to change that to pussycats al home as well as abroad.
"Unless the team changes it's attitude, il will be meow, meow and more meow."
India, which did nol lose a home series foi 12 wars between 1987 and 1999. have suffered cm-
Media censure
R minis. Hew Delhi
India's media turned on cricket captain Saurav Ganguly on Friday alter his side went down bv 10 wickets against Australia in the first I est in Bombay
Prince becomes a pauper" ran (he headline in Ihe Asian Age newspaper, referring (o Ganguly's nickname "Prince of (alcut la."
Most leading dailies attacked Ganguly’s captaincy and batting ami said India lacked focus com- • pared with the Australians.
Aller three easy Tests as captain. Saurav Ganguly.Js now confounded with reality — that captaincy is not quite his cup of lea because he is wanting lacti-
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barrassing revcises in their own backyard over the Iasi two years.
Pakistan won two of the three Tests on their lour of India two seasons ago. and South Africa completed a 2-0 whitewash last year — including a three-day win at the Wankhede Stadium here.
"Unless (he basic flaws in Indian cricket are sorted out. home wins will drv out unless Bangladesh or Kenya are the visiting team." Gavaskar wrote.
Waugh s gamble of asking India to bat first on a lively wicket succeeded because of timid bat-ting.'
Gavaskar, the first man io score 10.000 lei runs, said the lifeless wickets provided in domestic cricket were contributing to the team > downfall.
Once the ball starts to bounce above the knees, the Indian batsmen suddenly freeze." he said.
"On domestic pitches that are as flat as the autobahns of Germany. all the batsmen have to do it to get on to the front foot.
'But the moment (hey are pushed on the back foot, they are lost. I low does one expect them to be good against a relentlessly accurate Glenn McGrath."
Bedi, one of the game's great left-arm spihners, took a swipe at all-rounder Ajit Agarkar. who recorded his seventh successive duck against the Australians.
'if Ajit is persisted with as an all-rounder, then 1 was a mainline batsman.' he said.
"Surely the Iridian baiting can not revolve around Sachin I on dufkar all the lime.
And captain Saurav Gangrdv was anything but an inspiration for his (earn — a marked dilfer-ence between the two leaders.
lie n is plenty to Irani from this Australian sid< ...owning up indtviihi.il responsibility, pulling your weight in the side and discipline in even department of the gatin'. Bedi said.
h ndulkar played a lone hand hn India with 76 and 65, showing whv he is rated one of the best •.batsmen in modern cricket.
G.nigulv. under media scrutiny recently because of his reported extra-marital affair with a film actress, managed just eight and one in the match.
The elegant left-hander faces an uphill task to change the course of the series when the second fest begins in his home citv of Calcutta from March 11.
India may be without pace spearhead Javagal Srinafh. who broke a finger on his bowling hand .while fielding.
"We could not do anything to stop (he Australians In the first fest," Ganguly conceded "We have to work on our overall cricket to match them."
A victory for the tourists in (he second lest will give Australia their first series on Indian soil since Bill law rvs side won in BK/J 70.