THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary- October 6, 2016- Topic 2
India’s ascent to the number one position in Test rankings offers some cause for cheer given the tumult off the
field, with the R.M. Lodha Committee and the Board of Control for Cricket in
India still sparring over
administrative reform. India’s
178-run victory over New Zealand in the second Test at Kolkata, paving the way
for a series triumph, secured the lead billing. This is the fourth instance of
India securing the top slot in the International Cricket Council’s rankings
since it was introduced in 2003. It is significant that out of the four stints,
irrespective of the time frame, three have been over the past year. For a squad
evolving from the pangs of transition and with big shoes to fill, from those of
Sachin Tendulkar to those of Anil Kumble, it has done remarkably well. The
combined numbers of the playing XI at Kolkata were 28.54 years in age and 27.54
in the average number of Tests played — for such a young team to register
dominance, under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, is no mean achievement. When India
first secured the number one ranking in 2009, it was a team packed with
contemporary greats, including Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Virender
Sehwag, M.S. Dhoni, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh.
In contrast, the current line-up is a
work in progress, with cricketers still working out their natural slot in
Tests. Kohli and R. Ashwin remain the pivots, while Murali Vijay, Ajinkya
Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha have established their staying power as Test
cricketers. The emergence of opener K.L. Rahul is a good sign, especially given
India’s traditional dilemma in finding batsmen capable of seeing off the new
ball. These men form the core that can take India forward. However, much
remains to be done. The opening combine is yet to firm up, and Cheteshwar
Pujara and Rohit Sharma need to re-establish their solidity. The bowling
remains over-reliant on Ashwin. These shortcomings should be sorted out over a
long home season in the course of which India will host England, Australia and
Bangladesh. The first two will offer keen competition, unlike what India
encountered against the West Indies and New Zealand. For now, there is the
third Test at Indore, and a 3-0 sweep against New Zealand would give India
confidence for the rest of the season. As for the team displaced from the top
position in the ICC ranking, Pakistan, its short-lived reign poses a question
about the difficulty in grading Test teams. Pakistan plays most of its matches
away from home, and therefore does not enjoy a similar advantage. Nonetheless,
the dominance of the two subcontinental teams in the ICC ranking affirms the
strength of South Asian cricket.
Vocabulary
Ascent: a climb or walk to the summit of a mountain or hill.
Example: The first ascent of the Matterhorn
Synonyms: climb, scaling, conquest
Tumult: a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people.
Example: A tumult of shouting and screaming broke out
Synonyms: clamor, din, noise, racket, uproar, hue and
cry, commotion
Spar: make the motions of boxing without landing heavy blows, as a form of
training.
Example: One contestant broke his nose while sparring
Triumph: a great victory or achievement.
Example: A garden built to celebrate Napoleon's many triumphs
Synonyms: victory, win, conquest, success, achievement, feat
Pang: a sudden sharp pain or painful emotion.
Lindsey experienced a sharp
pang of guilt
Synonyms: pain, sharp pain, shooting pain, twinge, stab, spasm
Dominance: power and influence over others.
Example: The worldwide dominance of Hollywood
Synonyms: supremacy, superiority, ascendancy, preeminence
Pivot: the central point, pin, or shaft on which a mechanism turns or oscillates.
Example: The insert requires minimal preventive-maintenance grease at its pivot
points and axles.
Synonyms: fulcrum, axis, axle, swivel, pin, shaft, hub, spindle
Solidity: the quality or state of being firm or strong in structure.
Example: The sheer strength and solidity of Romanesque architecture
Self-
reliant: reliant on one's own powers and resources rather than those of others.
Example: A self-reliant little girl
Synonyms: self-sufficient, self-supporting, self-sustaining, able
to stand on one's own two feet
Reign: the period during which a sovereign rules.
Example: The original chapel was built in the reign of Charles I
Synonyms: rule, sovereignty, monarchy
