Let there be more experiments!

By John Cheeran
The biggest gain for India from the one-day series against Sri Lanka is the increase in their confidence level. Some times score lines do matter. Especially if it is a tennis score (6-1) in a cricket series.
The series was a story of experiments that worked; experiments that did not turn into disasters. With a new captain showing the resolve to bring in the necessary changes, and players responding in splendid fashion, India, the No.7 team in One-Dayers outclassed and out-thought the No.2 side in the world. It really is an achievement.
One shouldn’t grudge skipper Rahul Dravid and coach Greg Chappell their success.
Dravid was willing to experiment; Team India was determined to execute it.
Dravid’s and Chappell’s approach to the team composition had some thought behind it, which was revealed as the seven-match series unfolded.
The one-day series began in Nagpur with Irfan Pathan coming in as No. 3.
As the series finished off at Baroda, Pathan was brought back to No. 3 and youngster affirmed his potential as an all rounder. The team management has convinced fans, critics and most crucially, the players themselves, that changes are part of a grand design.
This is in sharp contrast with some of the desperate ploys employed by Sourav Ganguly in the past such as Parthiv Patel being made an opener in the Rawalpindi Test just to ensure that skipper played the match!.
Now Pathan knows he will be there as an all rounder in the team; not just as a bowler.
Same goes for Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Dhoni, pushed up to No. 3 at Jaipur, found himself at the same spot on quite a few occasion as the series progressed. As it all ended in Baroda on a happy note Dhoni, though lower down the order, underlined his batting prowess.
Yet I feel there is more room for experiments.
Now Indian batting has enough catalysts to quicken the scoreboard. There is a scramble outside the batsmen’s tent to get in. That’s quite a positive sign.
We have bowlers who are capable of manipulating the 50 overs to bring success. But I believe for a long time bowlers in one-day cricket have been doing just the secondary role; defending the batsmen’s effort.
India should add variety and depth to its arsenal so that Dravid could dictate terms to the Goliaths of the crease as the battle scenes differ.
The South Africans are here for the five-match series, for of them day-nighters, and I expect Dravid and Chappell to infuse some bold thinking into our bowling.
Young pacer Rudra Pratap Singh has taken wickets and his chances. Sreesanth has showed promise but India still need bowlers with big heart.
The invitation is out. Please join the Team India.