India vs England, Second Test, Mumbai- Day 4
There was a danger of one bowler becoming irrelevant at the toss when MS Dhoni revealed he would play three spinners instead of two. That the Indians were outbowled by their English counterparts remains a big worry for Dhoni as the teams head to Kolkata for the third test. Monty was the undoubted star but it was the lack of any incisiveness that would worry India the most.
Monty was able to find sharp turn and bounce from the same spot repeatedly during his spell in the first inning. Compare that to Ashwin and Harbahajan who seemed to struggle on a pitch tailor made for them. Ojha was better but he seemed to have difficulty finding the correct pace to bowl at on this kind of a surface. When he did find his rhythm, the English batsmen were clueless. He found his range after Cook had gotten out but by then everyone felt it was too late to stop Pietersen. Ojha did get him but not after a match-winning inning. Ojha did not try and vary anything too much and found a spot to bowl on while Pietersen was at the crease. Pietersen seemed a little nervous about it and was eventually dismissed to a delivery that turn from that very spot. Ojha was the best out of the three Indians though.
Ashwin seems to be Dhoni's go to man. He bowled a lot of overs and a lot of them were rubbish. Most of them included one boundary ball which Pietersen and Cook cashed in on during their partnership. When he did find the same spot for six deliveries, Ashwin picked up a wicket. However, it took 42 overs for that wicket to come. He was often too short and although he got a few to turn and jump, the batsmen seemed to be a little more relaxed while batting against him. He was not consistent enough and that questions Dhoni's logic that Ashwin is the teams no.1 spinner. That mantle should now rest with Pragyan Ojha. Harhabjan Singh was the third bowler on display and although he did not bowl too many overs, he did not appear particularly threatening. The bounce on offer should have made him more dangerous. Harbhajan seems to have lost his way in international cricket. He is not able to rediscover the big spin that made him a star all those years ago.
Both Ashwin and Harbahajan bowled the wrong lines and were punished for it. Monty Panesar was a different story. He seemed to have judged the pitch very well and found turn and bounce from the outset. His pace was the important factor as he bowled very quickly and gave the ball a bigger rip than the Indians. Swann also played his part. He bowled a very attacking line and put a lot of spin on the ball. The two of them easily beat the Indian spinners and the game swung their way.
This performance is a serious cause for concern for the Indian selectors as neither of the two offspinners showed any heart. With the spin stocks in domestic cricket also at an all time low, India will need to think long and hard about an over-reliance on spin.
 |
| Ojha was good but not good enough |
There was a danger of one bowler becoming irrelevant at the toss when MS Dhoni revealed he would play three spinners instead of two. That the Indians were outbowled by their English counterparts remains a big worry for Dhoni as the teams head to Kolkata for the third test. Monty was the undoubted star but it was the lack of any incisiveness that would worry India the most.
Monty was able to find sharp turn and bounce from the same spot repeatedly during his spell in the first inning. Compare that to Ashwin and Harbahajan who seemed to struggle on a pitch tailor made for them. Ojha was better but he seemed to have difficulty finding the correct pace to bowl at on this kind of a surface. When he did find his rhythm, the English batsmen were clueless. He found his range after Cook had gotten out but by then everyone felt it was too late to stop Pietersen. Ojha did get him but not after a match-winning inning. Ojha did not try and vary anything too much and found a spot to bowl on while Pietersen was at the crease. Pietersen seemed a little nervous about it and was eventually dismissed to a delivery that turn from that very spot. Ojha was the best out of the three Indians though.
 |
| Monty was easily the best spinner in the game |
Ashwin seems to be Dhoni's go to man. He bowled a lot of overs and a lot of them were rubbish. Most of them included one boundary ball which Pietersen and Cook cashed in on during their partnership. When he did find the same spot for six deliveries, Ashwin picked up a wicket. However, it took 42 overs for that wicket to come. He was often too short and although he got a few to turn and jump, the batsmen seemed to be a little more relaxed while batting against him. He was not consistent enough and that questions Dhoni's logic that Ashwin is the teams no.1 spinner. That mantle should now rest with Pragyan Ojha. Harhabjan Singh was the third bowler on display and although he did not bowl too many overs, he did not appear particularly threatening. The bounce on offer should have made him more dangerous. Harbhajan seems to have lost his way in international cricket. He is not able to rediscover the big spin that made him a star all those years ago.
Both Ashwin and Harbahajan bowled the wrong lines and were punished for it. Monty Panesar was a different story. He seemed to have judged the pitch very well and found turn and bounce from the outset. His pace was the important factor as he bowled very quickly and gave the ball a bigger rip than the Indians. Swann also played his part. He bowled a very attacking line and put a lot of spin on the ball. The two of them easily beat the Indian spinners and the game swung their way.
This performance is a serious cause for concern for the Indian selectors as neither of the two offspinners showed any heart. With the spin stocks in domestic cricket also at an all time low, India will need to think long and hard about an over-reliance on spin.
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