On the Write Line

World Champions. That was the tag the Indian team carried along with it when it boarded the flight to England for a four match Test series against the hosts. Everything was picture-perfect. Except for a few minor hiccups  (read injuries) . Having performed well in the Caribbean, the rum-soaked spirits were soaring high. And back home, the expectations were thick enough to be able to cut with a knife.  But as the series against England unfolded, there was drama and disappointment. Who thought, this was the very side that had lifted the World Cup, three months ago? A billion hearts sunk, as the hosts trampled the visitors at Lords and Nottingham. Writers started scurrying around to write obituaries, cricketing pundits started dissecting the Indian team’s performance with wisdom’s knife. Who could have thought the Indian team would give such an abysmal display in all the three departments- batting, bowling and fielding?  The omens definitely