Back To The Grind

‘Roots’

Sunil Gavaskar at an event
Source: Google

I think it was the series against England when Sunil Manohar ‘Sunny’ Gavaskar went on a rant in the post match show.  Reasons for little master’s worry was the rash nature in which the high profile Indian batting lineup had given up against spinners.  

India have been known to produce world class batters of spin bowling.  Pitches in the Indian sub-continent start spinning from day one of a test match.  Due to favourable turning wickets and dry conditions, batsmen from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and even Bangladesh are better prepared to face spin bowling with regular practice.  We have seen instances where batsmen from South Africa, Australia and England have suffered immensely because of variable bounce assisting spinners.  Not that these teams do not have the spin arsenal in their own rank, but hot and humid conditions test them to extremes. Similar is the case when the sub-continent teams travel abroad to tackle the pace and bounce in South Africa and Australia, swing as well as overcast settings in England.  We see similar patterns of batting collapse there.  

Moeen Ali celebrating a wicket
Source: Google

India had collapsed against the spin of Moeen Munir Ali who had taken 9 wickets in his first match of the series last year at The Rose Bowl, Southampton.  Moeen Ali tormented the Indians with an uncomplicated approach with more focus on accuracy, flight and variations in speed rather than relying on a ‘mystery’ delivery.   

Since the beginning of the millennium, India and England have played 10 Test series against each other- Both countries have won 4 each, while 2 have been drawn

Moeen Ali vs India: 41 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 32.63

2014 (England)- 19 wickets

2016-17 (India)- 10 wickets

2018 (England)- 12 wickets

He played only the last two matches of the 2018 India tour claiming nine wickets in the last game.  

Nathon Lyon appealing for lbw
Source: Google

Equally innocuous looking finger spinner is Australia’s Nathon Michael Lyon.  Such has been his influence that even matches that ended in Australia’s loss gave out a lot of positives.  Post Shane Warne era, Australia seem to have finally have a world-class spinner.  Lyon has climbed the charts over the years and has taken a special liking towards the famed Indian lineup consisting of Sachin, Kohli, Pujara, and Rahane (all considered to be great players of spin bowling).

Nathon Lyon vs India: 85 wickets in 18 matches at an average of 32.60

2011-12 (Australia)-  7 wickets 

2012-13 (India)-       15 wickets

2014-15 (Australia)- 23 wickets

2016-17 (India)-       19 wickets

2018-19 (Australia)- 21 wickets

Lyon was dropped/ didn’t play in two matches out of a possible 20 against India.

He is second in the list of highest number of wickets by a spinner against India in Tests only next to Deshabandu Muttiah Muralitharan (105 wickets in 22 matches)

Moeen Ali and Nathan Lyon, both contribute handsomely with bat and in the field as well, thereby not limiting their parameters of selection.

Domestic players fighting it out for the Ranji Trophy
Source: Google

Sunny Gavaskar believes there’s only one way of tackling world class spin and that is to play domestic cricket whenever possible.  Go through the grind in the Ranji Trophy and sweat it out in hot and humid conditions.  He believes that international cricketers must involve domestic cups in their schedule whenever they get a chance.  A good domestic season gives confidence to batters as they have had a good amount of practice against quality spinners by the time season ends.  So it sums up as a tactical and psychological win for the player as well as the management.  

Modern cricket roster is cramped and a player playing two to three formats rightly deserves a break.  But domestic games must get a look in since it takes the player back to the roots where he started dreaming of an international cap.