Thursday, October 16, 2008

Match the Aussies in pace

It was clear in the first Test that India's pace bowlers Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan were on par with, if not better than, the Aussie speedsters. But they were outnumbered. Two pacers can't compete against four. The captain tends to use them in long spells, rather than in shorter, attacking bursts. And they run out of steam.
It was also clear in the first Test that Kumble was even less effective than the rookie Cameron White, who at least ensured Sachin Tendulkar takes yet another Test to reach his milestone of highest run-getter in Tests. And Bhajji was not any more dangerous than part-timer Michael Clarke.
So, why not go into the Mohali Test with four pace bowlers? Or pick Amit Mishra as the lone spinner for variety. Of course, I know that's not going to happen, given the track record of this Test team's leadership to keep newcomers benched. Nor will they even consider something radical like a Caribbean-style pace battery, with Sehwag playing the foil like Viv Richards. But, why not day-dream?
Everyone knows the Mohali pitch either favours pace early on and then settles down to a sleeping beauty, or it's flat from the outset. Either way, the pacers are more likely to do damage, and India can fight firepower with firepower, as in Perth.

7 comments:

Tarun said...

U mean drop Bhajji?

Anonymous said...

Sumit, Sachin lost concentration. I would place more blame on Sachin for gifting it away to White, who looked largely innocuous.

Anonymous said...

sumit,
in today's TOI, page 27, ponting in his column says, "Mohali pitch is tailor-made for Kumble and Bhaji. And the last line of his piece is that zaheer khan is playing mindgames to change his plans. Doesn't say it all? If ponting says its going to help sipnners — that too not any spinners mind you but the KumBha Mela duo — then it means we MUST go with pacers. australia is picking siddle, so why can't we pick Munaf? But looking at Kumnle's leadership, even if someone were to suggest, like you have, that we go with a 4-pronged pace attack, Kumble will probably cite Ponting's column to go with 2 spinners and then make an ass of himself and the team. we have some hope if the idiot at least has the sense not to play himself, with his injury. then dhoni's captaincy might help.

Soulberry said...

I agree with "last season's Perth -Mohali always" comparison.

Amit Mishra gets a chance...what can he do?

Mohali sa plenty of noobs do well...even Chawla got it right there as did Munaf.

Unknown said...

yes, tarun. with three pacers, my choice of spinner would be mishra. bhajji has lost his bite and variety. mishra would be something new for the aussies.

Anonymous said...

Too late on this one... we won LOL. Looking forward to your next post... cheers

Raj said...

Ishant makes all the difference.
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