OBVIOUSLY INDIAN cricketers do not have any intentions to leave the field – in the words of poet Robert Frost – ‘the woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep’.

The message of ‘failed fabulous and famous five’ of Indian cricket is loud and clear. Friends, they say, we Indian cricketers are made of hard stuff, our skins are thick and tough, we take brickbats with equal aplomb as we do the bouquets, and we are determined to uphold the Indian tradition of never quitting till we drop dead or are booted out.

We do it in politics, so why not in cricket? Don’t blame us for the poor performance – previous Indian teams have done worse. In 1996, India scored only 66 runs against South Africa in Durban – and the lowest ever scored in Test cricket was only 26 runs by New Zealand in 1955 in Auckland.

These things happen – we should not be targeted and criticized for such pathetic showing when on foreign soil – it’s all a part of the game. We play in the interest of the game and know that there is always a bright light at the end of every long dark tunnel. This tunnel appears to be pretty long one but, rest assured, things would improve.

To be frank, Test cricket is too dull and boring. It does not have any charm. Fees are fixed by the BCCI for each game – there are no additional incentives. Still we play because we have to.

This is the age of speed. It is a mystery why countries want to remain occupied with dull Test cricket. Let us live, play and pray for ODI, T-20 because that is where the money is.