England’s visit to India was marked by a series of allegations that England had never quite found themselves on terra firma in the Caribbean during the Stanford super series and there was little to show that England did any better in India in the five day internationals. Given that scenario, it would not be surprising if the tour went on, but with its wheels stolen.
The events in Mumbai shook up the England team beyond imagination. Already reeling from a string of defeats off the field, the tragedy that struck Mumbai last Wednesday would have only exacerbated their home sickness and brought about an even greater need and feeling to stay where they feel they belong – at home.
The ECB and the BCCI have been desperately trying to break that mindset and awaiting anxiously for Reg Dickason’s report on the safety and security of the players in India before the England team boards a plane back to India to keep up their commitment on the tour which now has been reduced to only two Tests.
That the show must go on, is a feeling that the BCCI is facing even as the cricket world, including the spectators in the sub continent, are battling the feeling knowing that cricket, while relevant as the livelihood of many people involved, appears low on the chart of priorities. While some are using the tag lines that they cannot let the terrorists win, there is a decided risk, whether it be Mumbai or London, when players decide to leave their shores, little forgetting that their own shores have not been so safe in the recent past. Still the comfort of home, even if it has been destroyed, is a crucial factor that could well determine how cricket in the sub continent shapes up and England have the opportunity to set a precedent in India – one way or another.
In that bid, the BCCI has already shifted the venue of the second Test from Mumbai to Chennai on the request of the England team and management. Now it appears likely that they will once again go out of the way to ensure that England does make the trip by plausibly shifting the venue of the first Test, Ahmedabad, to the more touted Mohali.
But it appears that even if Dickason comes up with a positive affirmation for the tour to go ahead, the ECB is willing to go lenient on players if the chose not to budge out of their homes. Already adamant and shaken by how cricket became a low priority in the aftermath of the events in Mumbai, Steve Harmison is unlikely to come back with the team as it appears is Andrew Flintoff. Kevin Pietersen has remained on the fringes, talking of his own nightmares about the possibility of going back to India after what happened but will perhaps lead the team if England decide to go ahead.
Once again, it is the players on the fringes that face the biggest dilemma. This could be the opportunity of a lifetime, not that their life is any less dear. But the possible reward of a more consistent livelihood and the opportunity establish oneself permanently in the dressing room will be the dangling carrot in dangerous times for the likes of Graeme Swann, Owais Shah and Ravi Bopara who may be given a run if the seniors in the squad do decide they would rather see a second string squad than themselves in the England line up for the tour to India.
The allusion of India being labelled was already made. Read:
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Read: Lalit Modi IPL Commisioner Making It impossible for Team England to make their escape - UK Media
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