India’s pace pangs Down Under
Trio of Shami, Saini and Bumrah have failed to move the ball and offered width for batsmen to play shots
MUMBAI: In 2018-19, India’s fast bowlers received high praise after their historic first Test series win in Australia. Their quickly adapting to the conditions, and striking early with the kookaburra ball that can lose sting once the shine wears off, it was a coming of age story. The Tests are a fortnight away, but the confidence of the new-ball bowlers has been hit after heavy defeats in the first two ODIs at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
India’s bowlers landed in Australia in good rhythm, high on confidence. Playing in the twomonth IPL had helped build on their run-up, pace and control after months-long lockdown. Strike bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami were impressive in the league, moving the ball at high pace to be among the leading wicket-takers. Yuzvendra Chahal was the stand-out spinner.
But the SCG ODIs have shaken them. Taken for 374 runs in the series opener, India conceded 389 on Sunday, losing both. It left their batsmen with too many runs to chase. Bumrah (10-1-79-1) and Shami (9-0-73-1) conceded 70-plus runs on Sunday. The bigger concern is Bumrah has taken just three wickets in eight ODIs this year, averaging 146.33. Main spinner Chahal went for 89 and 71 (nine overs) in the two games. to stop with a 19-ball 45 and 29-ball 63*. “IPL is different, can’t compare that with international cricket. There you have to hit every ball; in 50 overs, they organise their batting as they don’t have to do that. Wickets with more bounce suit Maxwell’s game,” said Madan Lal, former India pacer and coach.
“The Australians are playing a very aggressive game and we have to match it, otherwise we have no chance in T20s as well. You can’t bowl short, they will rock back and smash you. You have to hit the deck at a length where it becomes difficult to hit,” said former India pacer, Kharsan Ghavri.
Lal attributed the struggles to an inability to move the ball. “I am surprised our main bowlers Bumrah and Shami are struggling. If you don’t move the ball, it is always going to be very difficult. Navdeep Saini’s ball is coming straight. The only bowler who looks like moving the ball is Shami. Otherwise it is up-anddown stuff. Whatever speeds they bowl—141 to 145 kph—is not going to trouble them. They are used to that. The lack of early wickets is going to put pressure on the spinners and the batsmen are able to attack Chahal,” said Lal, who felt Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar (in T20 squad) may be more effective as they can move the ball.
India vice-captain KL Rahul defended the bowlers at Sunday’s post-match press conference, but the India think-tank knows if it does not find a way to stop Steve Smith, it will become a forgettable tour. Australia’s ace batsman has been in great touch, scoring back-to-back hundreds. always a chance if you bowl a disciplined line and length.”
Ghavri echoed Vengsarkar’s views: “Smith is very strong on the on-side; to stop him you have to pack the off-side, and he is bound to make mistakes.”
Sachin Tendulkar had advised the fast bowlers before the series. “Smith’s technique is unconventional...Normally, we tell a bowler in Tests to bowl on or around off-stump, or may be a fourth stump line. But for Smith, because he shuffles, may be that line moves further away by four to five inches,” he told PTI. “One has to aim between fourth and fifth stump for Steve to nick one—it’s a mental adjustment of line more than anything else.”
Lal, who took the most famous wicket in ODI history— Viv Richards in the 1983 World Cup final—though felt Bumrah and Co must attack the stumps against Smith. “Don’t give him room, let him make room. If he hits balls from the stumps, at least you have a chance of getting him out. If you gift him runs, he is going to be lethal,” he said.
Bumrah is known to adapt quickly. Hazlewood’s tactic of “bowling into the pitch” or digging it in to extract bounce has worked. Bumrah explained his thought process in an earlier interview to HT. “If I’m going to England, I ask myself, what does James Anderson do? I like to do a lot of homework.”
He gave the example of his successful Test debut in South Africa, in January 2018. “I’d never gone to South Africa. I was playing my first Test. When you play in India, you look to bowl full because there’s not a lot of bounce over here. But in South Africa, I quickly realised that when I bowled full, they play through the line and it’s easier for them to play that length.”
A strong response by the fast bowlers could mark a turnaround.