INVESTEC TEST MATCH SERIES IN ENGLAND
India's series with England on a 5 test match in England was just completed on 17th August and two of the matches ended just in 3 days. The visitors started the series with the first test at Trent Bridge, Nottingam with a draw and won the second test at Lords with 95 runs. The third test at Southampton gave the impeteus to England to level with India at 1-1, with a win by 266 runs. The fourth at Old Trafford and the fifth at Oval were lost by India by an innings and thus the whole story of 5 test of the series, tells how a team which drew first, won the home team in second, gave up the lead in the third and meekly surrendered in the fourth and fifth.
As usual the former cricketers wanting the coach to be replaced, the captain Dhoni to be replaced too are vociferous. A dispassionate analysis of the matches will bring out the following:
1. After England levelled the series in the 3rd test, Indians never scored even 200 in an innings and the runs started lesser and lesser as they progressed towards 5th test.
2. The captain was forthright in his reasoning for the loss of the series as he said they have not even competed.
3. The youngsters in the team who are more used to one day and T20 matches could not cope up with the demand of 5 day cricket. No one wanted to stay when there were difficulties in batting with a steady bowling by Anderson and Broad.
4. There inadequacies were all the more exposed, with a cloudy morning or a rain affected pitch and when the England bowlers swung on a good length. 5. While Bhuvanesh Kumar was accurate, his speed of 125-130 Kmph, was easily negotiated by the English batsmen. But he still among the wickets. Aaron who came in 4th and 5th test though bowled with guile was erratic and gave away runs and when the team wanted that to be economical. Ishant sharma could not be fully utilised but definitely showed that his experience was handy for the captain when he gave the least of the runs in the 5th test. Shami should have been utilised, though he was not at his best. Why should there be coaches, if they could not correct his deficiencies or they could not foresee his inability at England. This applies to the captain too.
6. The batsmen who used to slog, the tail enders Sharma and Ashwin proved that batting was not a difficulty. Even though they scored lesser runs in the 5th test, they showed character and batted well against the speedsters of England. Bowler Ashwin should have been in the team from 3rd test onwards. You reserve Jadeja for one dayers and T20s. In his place take another spinner, an understudy to Ashwin.
7. The top order batsmen have totally failed without giving a start in the matches in which we have fared badly. While Vijay tried his best to remain, some more application is required in playing the away going ball and rotating of strike which was not seen at all, given priority. Negotiating the ball in the "V" was not seen from the top order batsmen and all their catches were taken at slips by England. Too many edges by these men, merely resulted in a catching practice at slips for English team.
8. These top order men also made 'hero' of Moeen Ali. He bowled in right areas but a total surrender of the Indian batsmen to this bowling was atrocious.
9. Fielding was good though catches were dropped, dime a dozen, in the 5th test in slips and the Indian speedsters lost their sheen because of this. In this case Dhoni is no exception, as he also contributed his part. At 32, Dhoni who is also desirous of handing over the mantle to somebody, India should think of a captain and also a wicket keeper for tests. It need not necessarily be that a captain should be the same for all formats and keeping this is mind, Kholi be kept for one dayers and T20 and a new captain for Tests. Dhoni can play under Kholi in T20s.
10. Overall, the top order batsmen have to contribute in overseas conditions and the team selection should be based on that. The left hand-right hand combination for the opening pair is to be maintained and Dhawan deserves a relook. Vijay, Rahane and Rohit should be kept in the team and Pujara will have to work well to be back in the team. Speedsters Ishant sharma, Bhuvanesh Kumar, Aaron and Shami should be given extended time in test matches and Binny should be retained in the team to use him when there is a problem of fitness of other players. He should be retained in the team for his batting too. A new wicket keeper, Dinesh Karthik or Noman Ojha can be tried. Specialist slip fielder is a necessity if spinners have to be successful and Vijay, Rahane and Rohit should be trained for that. Aswin, vijay, Rohit Sharma to be slip fielders Rahane should fulfil the task of short-leg for both speedsters and spinners as required. Only tall persons should be in slip catching positions for speedsters and hence Shami after bowling should be utilised here and should be trained in close catching. Throws to reach from boundaries and half way mark, Ishant Sharma, bhuvanesh kumar, Binny, Aaron should come in handy and necessary practice sessions should be had for that purpose.
Thus the team gets formed:
Vijay, Dhawan, Rohit, Dinesh Karthik, Rahane, Binny, Aswin, Ishant, Bhuvanesh, Aaron and Shami.
Reserve: Chetesh Pujara, Normon Ojha, Karan sharma (Any other spinner) and Pankaj singh.
This team has to perfrom and a new Indian Coach who has no pretentions that earlier teams were due to improper selection, is required with separate fielding and bowling coaches. For sometime, foreign coaches need not train indian team and the players who were trained by different foreign coaches would do. Suitable alterations have to be made without disturbing the test squad while selecting men for one dayers and T20.
India's series with England on a 5 test match in England was just completed on 17th August and two of the matches ended just in 3 days. The visitors started the series with the first test at Trent Bridge, Nottingam with a draw and won the second test at Lords with 95 runs. The third test at Southampton gave the impeteus to England to level with India at 1-1, with a win by 266 runs. The fourth at Old Trafford and the fifth at Oval were lost by India by an innings and thus the whole story of 5 test of the series, tells how a team which drew first, won the home team in second, gave up the lead in the third and meekly surrendered in the fourth and fifth.
As usual the former cricketers wanting the coach to be replaced, the captain Dhoni to be replaced too are vociferous. A dispassionate analysis of the matches will bring out the following:
1. After England levelled the series in the 3rd test, Indians never scored even 200 in an innings and the runs started lesser and lesser as they progressed towards 5th test.
2. The captain was forthright in his reasoning for the loss of the series as he said they have not even competed.
3. The youngsters in the team who are more used to one day and T20 matches could not cope up with the demand of 5 day cricket. No one wanted to stay when there were difficulties in batting with a steady bowling by Anderson and Broad.
4. There inadequacies were all the more exposed, with a cloudy morning or a rain affected pitch and when the England bowlers swung on a good length. 5. While Bhuvanesh Kumar was accurate, his speed of 125-130 Kmph, was easily negotiated by the English batsmen. But he still among the wickets. Aaron who came in 4th and 5th test though bowled with guile was erratic and gave away runs and when the team wanted that to be economical. Ishant sharma could not be fully utilised but definitely showed that his experience was handy for the captain when he gave the least of the runs in the 5th test. Shami should have been utilised, though he was not at his best. Why should there be coaches, if they could not correct his deficiencies or they could not foresee his inability at England. This applies to the captain too.
6. The batsmen who used to slog, the tail enders Sharma and Ashwin proved that batting was not a difficulty. Even though they scored lesser runs in the 5th test, they showed character and batted well against the speedsters of England. Bowler Ashwin should have been in the team from 3rd test onwards. You reserve Jadeja for one dayers and T20s. In his place take another spinner, an understudy to Ashwin.
7. The top order batsmen have totally failed without giving a start in the matches in which we have fared badly. While Vijay tried his best to remain, some more application is required in playing the away going ball and rotating of strike which was not seen at all, given priority. Negotiating the ball in the "V" was not seen from the top order batsmen and all their catches were taken at slips by England. Too many edges by these men, merely resulted in a catching practice at slips for English team.
8. These top order men also made 'hero' of Moeen Ali. He bowled in right areas but a total surrender of the Indian batsmen to this bowling was atrocious.
9. Fielding was good though catches were dropped, dime a dozen, in the 5th test in slips and the Indian speedsters lost their sheen because of this. In this case Dhoni is no exception, as he also contributed his part. At 32, Dhoni who is also desirous of handing over the mantle to somebody, India should think of a captain and also a wicket keeper for tests. It need not necessarily be that a captain should be the same for all formats and keeping this is mind, Kholi be kept for one dayers and T20 and a new captain for Tests. Dhoni can play under Kholi in T20s.
10. Overall, the top order batsmen have to contribute in overseas conditions and the team selection should be based on that. The left hand-right hand combination for the opening pair is to be maintained and Dhawan deserves a relook. Vijay, Rahane and Rohit should be kept in the team and Pujara will have to work well to be back in the team. Speedsters Ishant sharma, Bhuvanesh Kumar, Aaron and Shami should be given extended time in test matches and Binny should be retained in the team to use him when there is a problem of fitness of other players. He should be retained in the team for his batting too. A new wicket keeper, Dinesh Karthik or Noman Ojha can be tried. Specialist slip fielder is a necessity if spinners have to be successful and Vijay, Rahane and Rohit should be trained for that. Aswin, vijay, Rohit Sharma to be slip fielders Rahane should fulfil the task of short-leg for both speedsters and spinners as required. Only tall persons should be in slip catching positions for speedsters and hence Shami after bowling should be utilised here and should be trained in close catching. Throws to reach from boundaries and half way mark, Ishant Sharma, bhuvanesh kumar, Binny, Aaron should come in handy and necessary practice sessions should be had for that purpose.
Thus the team gets formed:
Vijay, Dhawan, Rohit, Dinesh Karthik, Rahane, Binny, Aswin, Ishant, Bhuvanesh, Aaron and Shami.
Reserve: Chetesh Pujara, Normon Ojha, Karan sharma (Any other spinner) and Pankaj singh.
This team has to perfrom and a new Indian Coach who has no pretentions that earlier teams were due to improper selection, is required with separate fielding and bowling coaches. For sometime, foreign coaches need not train indian team and the players who were trained by different foreign coaches would do. Suitable alterations have to be made without disturbing the test squad while selecting men for one dayers and T20.
