This is the question I am asking myself again and again.. after India trailing by 2-1 in 4 match test series with 1 to go. In post match presentation Dhoni said that batsmen didn't played well. They couldn't score well. But how did England put the total of more than 500? Indian batsmen didn't played well was the fact but not the only problem. If you have seen this match, Panesar and Swan were turning balls and asking questions to Indian batsmen on each and every delivery.
In last innings England came to chase a target of 41 runs. Cook was in hurry to finish but seeing him coming down the pitch, Ashwin turned the ball outside off and got him stumped. That ball did turn a lot and if you see in the reply, seam position of the ball was pointing to slips, a classic seam position for a off-spin ball (leg-spin for Cook as he is left handed). Cook totally missed the ball, couldn't connect to it. My point is Ashwin can turn the ball and even in-form english batsman couldn't read it. Ball did turn to some extent for the other 2 wickets India got in this innings.
If Indian bowlers could have done this in First innings England could never have scored 500 runs and put Indian batsmen in pressure in the first place.
This was the main difference between Indian and English spin bowlers. If you see other balls in last inning, Bell easily finished match in matter of minutes, those balls didn't turn much. If you observe closely, Ashwin was holding ball across the seam and trying to turn, obviously ball was not turning enough and Bell played them easily. Why he was doing this purposely if he was able to turn the ball?
On the other hand, English spinners did turn ball good enough. Indian batsmen didn't really throw their wickets, those were good spin deliveries on which batsmen missed their shots and timing.
There is a lot of cricket going on these days in the form of IPL, 20-20, one days etc where we can see many new Indian faces as spinners. But sadly, I can not find a single spinner who is turning the ball like classic spinners do. Like Warne and Muralidharan. Everyone seems to be very excited about bowling new things like Carom ball, Other one, Wrong one, Googly (this not new) and Top spins. But they are forgetting basics of spin bowling: to turn the ball. These other techniques will only help if they spin the ball and use these things wisely. The wrong one is wrong only when you bowl it rarely, it becomes predictive if you use it every now and then.
The other day I was watching an interview of Bapu Nadkarni on television - a legend Indian spinner who represented India in 1950-60's. He said that there used to be Pata/ flat wickets at that time. Spinners need to make a spot, a rough area on pitch for ball to turn. They used to ball on the same spot for day in and day out to create such patches on wickets and then turn the balls. Then the man showed his hand with which he used to bowl. His fingers were bended permanently! Finger bones were bended by bowling and trying to turn the balls on Pata wickets... This was the dedication these men have shown.
Now a days, spinners are getting good wickets as captains influencing decisions about wickets. They should use this opportunity and work on their basics..
If you want people to call you spinner, you should start turning the ball!
In last innings England came to chase a target of 41 runs. Cook was in hurry to finish but seeing him coming down the pitch, Ashwin turned the ball outside off and got him stumped. That ball did turn a lot and if you see in the reply, seam position of the ball was pointing to slips, a classic seam position for a off-spin ball (leg-spin for Cook as he is left handed). Cook totally missed the ball, couldn't connect to it. My point is Ashwin can turn the ball and even in-form english batsman couldn't read it. Ball did turn to some extent for the other 2 wickets India got in this innings.
If Indian bowlers could have done this in First innings England could never have scored 500 runs and put Indian batsmen in pressure in the first place.
This was the main difference between Indian and English spin bowlers. If you see other balls in last inning, Bell easily finished match in matter of minutes, those balls didn't turn much. If you observe closely, Ashwin was holding ball across the seam and trying to turn, obviously ball was not turning enough and Bell played them easily. Why he was doing this purposely if he was able to turn the ball?
On the other hand, English spinners did turn ball good enough. Indian batsmen didn't really throw their wickets, those were good spin deliveries on which batsmen missed their shots and timing.
There is a lot of cricket going on these days in the form of IPL, 20-20, one days etc where we can see many new Indian faces as spinners. But sadly, I can not find a single spinner who is turning the ball like classic spinners do. Like Warne and Muralidharan. Everyone seems to be very excited about bowling new things like Carom ball, Other one, Wrong one, Googly (this not new) and Top spins. But they are forgetting basics of spin bowling: to turn the ball. These other techniques will only help if they spin the ball and use these things wisely. The wrong one is wrong only when you bowl it rarely, it becomes predictive if you use it every now and then.
The other day I was watching an interview of Bapu Nadkarni on television - a legend Indian spinner who represented India in 1950-60's. He said that there used to be Pata/ flat wickets at that time. Spinners need to make a spot, a rough area on pitch for ball to turn. They used to ball on the same spot for day in and day out to create such patches on wickets and then turn the balls. Then the man showed his hand with which he used to bowl. His fingers were bended permanently! Finger bones were bended by bowling and trying to turn the balls on Pata wickets... This was the dedication these men have shown.
Now a days, spinners are getting good wickets as captains influencing decisions about wickets. They should use this opportunity and work on their basics..
If you want people to call you spinner, you should start turning the ball!
7 comments:
I think we need quality spinners who spends much time on these wickets rather to play in short forms.And these days players do not persevere, just search the easy route of 20-20 and one-day games for fame and money.The audacity of the captain that he thought that by getting spin pitches victory can be taken for granted,now the myth has cracked and India is no more safe for team India..now what kind of pitch to demand??
IPL should be a reward. Not a default.
it's true.. agreed.. but I also think 20-20 is spreading the game to wider audience. Many new players got chance and attention due to it. We need to find the balance between Test and T20
I think turning the ball isnt the most important factor in fetching wickets. Kumble is a perfect example. Kumble never stopped trying and was always hungry for wickets and we all know he didnt turn the ball. Kumble was all about accuracy and perseverance. Accuracy comes after sweating it out in the nets. I am not sure how much time the current spinners spend at the nets. I think their "attitude" is the distinguishing factor.
Also, having said that not everyone is Kumble. If you cant work hard at the nets then you gotta spin the ball to make you effective atleast :)
Kumble never was a conventional spinner.
and yes.. Not everyone is like Kumble.
And what I believe in is if you are a spinner then you should spin the ball.
and yes, i do agree with practice and attitude factors
Well, yes. Agree with the fact that Indian spinners were not turning the ball much. There were also a couple of points which Dhoni made after Mumbai test - First, Monty was turning the ball but along with extra pace than normally a spinners ball with. That was also one of the difference and Indian Batsmen were not able to play him. Second thing was Indian spinners were not accurate, they were either short or wide and naturally, were punished.
I really think the current spinners have talent but lack the hunger to win, take wickets and the perseverance which Kumble had. Hopefully we will get a good spinner with such qualities and who will spin the ball too!!
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