Cricket Xtra: Nothing wrong in India demanding spin

Ajit Vijaykumar 08:15 09/11/2015
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  • Batting struggles: South Africa.

    India suffered some crushing setbacks in the limited overs leg of the home series against the South Africans.

    Very few thought that the Proteas would take both the T20 and ODI series, sealing the latter by a stunning margin of 214 runs. The pressure was immense on the Indian management to turn things around and the focus turned to the state of pitches.

    South Africa are without doubt the more experienced side of the two and have more firepower at their disposal than the Indians, be it pacers, all-rounders or seasoned batters. But one aspect where India can claim the upper hand is in the spin department. That had not been exploited by the hosts in coloured clothing so in the lead-up to the first Test, all attention was on the surfaces that was being rolled out.

    India had asked for a turner in the series deciding fifth ODI in Mumbai but what they got was a flat surface where South Africa piled on 438. Heated words with the curator were exchanged and complaints lodged.

    There was a lot of brouhaha over the nature of request but there is nothing wrong in making such demands. The Indian management asked the curator in Mohali ahead of the first Test to prepare a wicket which suited the spinners and offered turn as soon as possible. What they got was one of the driest surfaces seen in recent times where the slow bowlers called the shots from the first day itself.

    South African batsman Dean Elgar said it was “not a very good cricket wicket” after 12 wickets fell on the opening day. Even though Elgar had himself snared four Indian wickets, he was not happy with the amount of help on offer. So what exactly is the criteria for a good cricket pitch? Should only fast bowlers be allowed to take wickets on the opening day? If the ball starts to turn on the opening day is it an unpardonable offence?

    The Mohali Test finished inside three days. But that is not the first time a match has finished so early. Not even a single match in the last Ashes series in England lasted five days, with two successive games concluding with more than two days to spare.

    When James Anderson and Stuart Broad bowled Australia out for 136 and 60 in successive Tests, it was hailed as superb and incisive bowling but Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja wreaking havoc in Mohali is being seen by many as a ploy which has resulted in the spinners getting more than they deserve.

    Why is it that when fast bowlers swing and seam the ball around in England or hurl bouncers at will on Australian and South African pitches, it is seen as a challenge which needs to be conquered but when spinners call the shots from day one, it’s all about tailor-made wickets?

    The slow bowlers still have to give the ball a rip and get purchase from the surface to get wickets, just like pacers who need to bowl the right lines to be successful. India know the only way to beat a strong Proteas side is by laying out a spin trap. They recognised their strengths and stuck to it.

    If the South Africans and Englishmen continue to dish out green-tops when playing at home, the Indians too have every right to prepare wickets that suit them.

    Keep going Kane

    Kane Williamson can now safely be called as the No/ 1 batsman in New Zealand. Middle-order batsman Ross Taylor has scored only one century since the beginning of 2014 and has not quite taken the world by storm in the longest format.

    Brendon McCullum is still their most entertaining batsman with the ability to score big whenever he gets going. He claimed a double ton and a 195 in consecutive innings at the end of last year and still has it in him to make a sizeable contribution across formats. But it is Williamson who is the cog that holds New Zealand’s batting together.

    In the first Test against Australia at the Gabba, it was the 25-year-old who stood up to the unrelenting Mitchells – Johnson and Starc – while the rest of his team-mates found the going tough. His 140 went a long way in taking the Kiwis to 317.

    The Australian quicks were giving it their all on a responsive pitch but Williamson seemed to have that extra bit of time to play them off the back foot.

    Williamson is only 25 and has many more years of run-making in front of him. He is not as flamboyant as Virat Kohli but has a much sounder technique and is ice-cool on the field. He is tipped to be the next captain for New Zealand and given the massive leaps he has made in international cricket, it’s only a matter of time before he is handed over the reins.

    Thereafter, McCullum can be allowed to play out his remaining years on the international circuit with total freedom. Kane sure is ready for the transition.

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