Keep attacking India must strengthen batting line-up or play Ashwin ahead of Binny
So far neither team have come close to getting their selections right but India have at least displayed some tactical nous to go 1-0 over England. If India cut down selection blunders and the fast bowlers stay fit, they have every chance of completing a rare overseas series win, against an England side bordering on disarray.
Choosing an international team is about selecting the right players and finding the best combination. From the outset India spoke of playing five bowlers but that’s not what they did. For the first two Tests, they played three seamers, a steady slow bowler and a bits-and-pieces cricketer.
THE RIGHT SELECTION India either need to revert to four frontline bowlers and strengthen the batting or choose a genuine fifth bowler in Ravi Ashwin. He is a far superior bowler to Stuart Binny and he’ll also provide some lower order runs with his skill and temperament.
Apart from the fact that few England batsmen are in form, they only have Ian Bell who can take control of an opposing attack. Currently, England’s batting is unbalanced with too many grafters and MS Dhoni has cleverly implanted the peril of the short-pitched delivery in the minds of batsmen who are uncertain against the rising ball.
England’s selection mistakes are many but they revolve around the misguided assumption that Alastair Cook is the man to lead them in a ‘brave new world’. It should have been obvious following the Ashes disaster that Cook is not the leader to pit against the aggressive Michael Clarke. England are stuck with Cook because the hierarchy have unwisely invested too much in ‘their man’ and they have few alternatives. Consequently, the team continue to falter when they get into strong positions.
Cook runs out of ideas very quickly and this shows up alarmingly when the opposition start to take control. Also, his lack of influence over the bowlers is palpable as they appear to go on a bouncer spree at the first hint of frustration. Contrast that with Dhoni, who successfully cajoled Ishant into bombarding England with short-pitched deliveries.
NOT HIDDEN
Opponents are now aware of Cook’s inadequacies and are quick to take advantage. If an England team that’s in denial spare a moment of brutal honesty they’d probably also admit they’re aware of Cook’s fatal flaw. His ineffective leadership is having a debilitating effect on the team and the hierarchy would’ve been doing him a favour if they’d relieved him of captaincy.
It’s now reached the stage where the captaincy woes are weighing heavily on Cook’s mind when he’s batting, so not only is England led by an impotent captain, they also have one who is in poor form. The England selectors are also guilty of picking batsmen who might experience success against lesser sides but will struggle against the stronger attacks.
Sam Robson looks very limited, Garry Ballance is a fighter with the right spirit but is too restricted in his stroke play to bat at three against a strong attack. And it’s hard to believe Moeen Ali has made it to the highest level with a glaring weakness against the shortpitched ball.
India won against the odds at Lord’s after losing the toss. They now have the winning of the series in their hands if they pick the right combination and continue to play smart cricket.