We Didnt Start The Fire

The world is changing a little too fast for some of us. In this relentless search for progress, pillars -- or what we thought were pillars -- are crumbling. Ganguly discovered the shifting sands first, now VVS Laxman.

So is it the end of the road for him? The first time a player is left out, the pit-stop option seems the most likely. But as you look a little closer, look at the path ahead, it is difficult not to come to the realization that Laxman needs a dramatic re-entry to remain a force. India seem to look increasingly towards a five-bowler regime, certainly in home conditions, and with a renewed, and necessary, emphasis on specialist openers, it means there are only two middle order slots available. Tendulkar currently occupies one and that means there is a bit of a dog-fight for the one that remains. There is one other, more global, trend that we are seeing, cricketers playing only one form of the game are struggling to hold their place and I have no doubt that Laxman has lost out on that count.

Like bowling, batting is about rhythm.Yuvraj Singh has benefited from the rhythm in one-day cricket. Elsewhere, some spirited one-day performances from Michael Clarke have helped him get a spot. New Zealand are picking their new one-day batsmen into test cricket, Ashwell Prince and Justin Kemp have made a similar move and that means Justin Langer is now the only top player in the world getting by without playing one-day cricket.

Now away from the one-day game, Laxman was probably watching some fine young players get injections of confidence and time in the middle. It can make players insecure and lead them to believe that every opportunity is their last. In reality it is probably that way anyway but confidence doesn't allow thoughts like those to clutter the mind. I suspect though that the five bowlers route is a horses for courses policy. India are backing their batsmen to come good in these conditions but will probably go back to six batsmen when they travel. That will be the moment of reckoning for Laxman; that will decide whether he has another two or three years at this level.

Meanwhile Munaf Patel and Piyush Chawla get to wear India caps too. Patel, takes the place of a young man from Rae Bareli who two test matches ago was thought to be a little gem. That is how quickly things are moving but player's careers need to be handled a little more sensitively than stocks and yet with both, volatility isn't the best course. Chawla is the flavour of the month and may he long be that way. His ability to bat at a decent number can actually help the five bowler theory.