India slammed for test loss at Harare

Media and former players slammed the Indian team on Tuesday for their test loss against Zimbabwe, just over a week after they hailed the side's first test win outside the subcontinent in 15 years.

India won the first test at Bulawayo nine days ago, but lost by four wickets on Monday as Zimbabwe squared the two-match series to leave India without a test series win outside Asia since beating England 2-0 in 1986.

"India lost the second test match because of bad batting. Pure and simple," wrote former test player turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar in a newspaper column.

India scored just 237 and 234 in their two innings at Harare on what was described as a good batting wicket.

"It pains you to be suddenly aware that we still haven't won a series outside the sub-continent," Manjrekar wrote.

Skipper Sourav Ganguly, whose poor batting form has continued since the 2-1 victory over the Australian tourists, came in for heavy criticism.

"Skipper's safari ends with a duck as India lose," said a headline on the sports page of The Hindustan Times.

"More than Ganguly the skipper, it will be the batsman who will need to explain why his once eloquent batting has suffered such a prolonged slump in tests," said the Times of India.

Former India captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi slammed India's frailty against quick bowling on fast, bouncy wickets.

"No wonder the Indians are a little wary of playing at Harare. The wicket here does help the quick bowlers and Zimbabwe bowled sensibly on it," Pataudi wrote.

India had lost by 61 runs the last time they played at Harare in 1998.

"The better team won at the Harare Sports Club and once again the Indian team returns without a test series win outside the subcontinent in 15 years.

"Very little seems to change when it comes to India's performance overseas," said The Hindu.

India's only other away wins since the 1986 England series have come in Sri Lanka in 1993 and against Bangladesh in their inaugural test last year.

Mail Cricket Editor