Don't Lose The First Test, Sunil Gavaskar's Prescription for Away Tours
An away series is a tough assignment for any team. The change in weather patterns test one's physical adaptability while the different playing conditions put one's technical abilities under the hammer.
How does a team deal with the rigours of a tough away series?
"Don't lose the first Test," prescribed Sunil Gavaskar in his column in a leading national daily. (Shah Rukh Khan's Wankhede Ban Lifted)
An away series is always a tough assignment for any team. The change in weather patterns test one's physical adaptability while the different playing conditions certainly put one's technical abilities under the hammer.
According to Gavaskar, the alien conditions are stressful enough but if a team loses the first Test, it becomes immensely difficult to cope with the pressures of the rest of the series. (Jayasuriya Optimistic About Revival of Cricket in Pakistan)
"Once you lose that first Test, you're on the backfoot and playing catch-up with the home team," wrote the Indian legend.
The home team - already enjoying the home conditions and support - gets an added boost from the early win and then can go on to exert more pressure on the visitors. (Pakistan Cricket Board Hits Out at BCCI)
Gavaskar pointed out the difficulties that a team faces in an away tour. He said that it takes time for the body to get used to the conditions and settle down in a rhythm: "By the time the second Test comes along, the body clock is tuned to the country you are in and the pitches are more familiar."
The Indian batting great rued the lack of warm-up games nowadays and also sympathised with batsmen who lose form during an away series, "With one warm-up game before the Test series and no games in between, it's impossible for an out-of-form player to get a chance to regain his touch."
Gavaskar, however, praised how Pakistan bounced back after a slow start in Sri Lanka to clinch the historic series 2-1 and also lauded the Bangladeshi team for their efforts against the visiting South Africans.
"Bangladesh have been most impressive", wrote the veteran of 125 Test matches, "In the first Test, they were quite defiant against the pace of the South Africans and had them on the ropes before the rain came in to spoil the party."