THE ASHWIN CONUNDRUM

The three pillars of the current Indian Cricket team regard Ashwin so high yet, he has struggled to cement a place for himself in this Indian line-up, especially in overseas conditions. Is it because of his record? Between 2015 and the WTC in 2021, in overseas conditions, he boasts an average of 30.43 and an economy of 2.62. Both being the best for any specialist spinner in SENA) and that he has taken
a whopping 48 wickets in 13 matches is icing on the cake. 

Ashwin has achieved this while performing in pace friendly conditions of South Africa and England, and in Australia too - a country considered not conducive for finger spinners, albeit a spinner named Nathon Lyon. Guess it is high time the tag of the spinner cannot perform in conditions alien to his home conditions is removed. Especially when you are tagging such taboos with someone from the subcontinent, and more so, when that someone is as smart and wily as Ravichandran Ashwin.

Ashwin is at the Mt. Everest of his career, ranked No.2 ICC bowler in long formats, and is regarded as one of the greatest spinners from India, owing to two major factors: Ashwin – The Learner, and Ashwin – The white-ball cricketer who went missing. 

Ashwin – The Learner: Any of us who have followed Ashwin’s rise from the CSK days to the crafty andguileful test match bowler he has become, would attribute it to the immense knowledge he possesses on his game, and the time he spends to keep innovating, in this world where only unpredictability is predictable! He is an obsessive cricketer, who is possessed by his ghost, which keeps pushing him to understand, learn, and hone his skills to wake up a new person with a new skill every day. Not many of us can be so obsessive in the things we do! In one of his interviews with Murali Kartik, he explained how he went about watching video footages of great spinners, understood in detail the way they executed various deliveries, and put together multiple different pieces, to create and complete a puzzle on his own – made him a completely different bowler, who now competes with himself and someone who has understood the “HOW” of his bowling!   

Ashwin – The white-ball cricketer who went missing: 2017 was probably the turning point of his career when he completely went away from the selectors’ radar for white-ball cricket. That probably gave him that much needed time and space to re-invent himself. While he was playing white-ball cricket, his learning or the obsession to innovate probably went to the extreme, wherein he started trying too many things, and it also started reflecting in his red-ball cricket form as well. The threat he possessed was slowly fading away and as Ashwin himself has accepted in many interviews, that he is not fretting over the fact that he is not playing white-ball cricket, and it has made him become calmer and focus on red-ball excellence.

Being Realistic and Forthright are the two key assets that Ashwin possess. An example of being realistic is when the Australian tour began in 2020, he admitted that he had a very open conversation with Virat and Shastri, and they insisted upon working on his batting to be in the scheme for selection. He admitted that he was not going to be part of the playing XI, started working further on his batting, and expected Jadeja to be preferred over him owing to his superior batting and fielding skills, which gives depth to the Indian team. 

However, with Jadeja getting injured, things only looked upwards from there for Ashwin - both with the bat and with the ball where he was a better bowler by leaps and bounds over Nathon Lyon. While there are many examples when Ashwin’s forthrightness has come to the purview, his stand on Mankading is well recorded, and probably is enough as an example to show the fact that he would not stand next to anything, which he feels is not right!

Ashwin being not selected has to do anything with him being Forthright and opinionated – Definitely Not! We may have seen instances of Kohli and Ashwin mocking or staring at each other during the IPL games, but let us understand, that these are two fierce competitors, and both are keen on winning every game that they play at any cost. So expressing their pleasure or displeasure does not necessarily mean they are at loggerheads! 

An example of the camaraderie and the mutual respect they share for each other is the BCCI video in which both of them feature, wherein Virat interviews Ashwin after he took 400 wickets. The appreciation that Virat showers, and the admiration, which Ashwin has for Virat the captain, can only be felt, during that interaction, and is beyond expression in words!

While the fans, cricket experts, social media, can all paint different versions and storylines about Ashwin’s absence in the playing XI in the ongoing England series, the only reason which probably is keeping Ashwin out, is the prowess and depth of our fast bowling unit with the ball, and the lack of batting skill! Would a fast-bowling allrounder’s availability bolstered Ashwin’s chances of being in the playing XI - Probably Yes. But Ashwin not being part of the playing XI does not take anything away from the calibre of him as a player and I would not be surprised if he focusses on fine-tuning his batting further and become a more dependable No.6, forget No.7 or anything below! For Ashwin, challenging himself is not new!!  

“July 09, 2017 – Sep 09, 2021” - 4 years and 2 months has gone by, 63 T20Is for Team India has gone-by, 4 IPLs has gone-by, To a wily spinner - Indian cricket Fans had bid good-bye from white-ball cricket, but there was one man and his belief which did not die and he wrote it on the wall of his house with strong determination, that his White-ball cricketing career was far away from being written on the wall – Ravichandran Ashwin – The only man who believed in himself! 

“Welcome back Ash, I am proud to be in your hands again, says the white-ball!”

Karthik Balakrishnan

Pure Cricket

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Pic courtesy: Internet

India eyeing series victory against England at Manchester

 The last week brought a series of good news for Indian cricket fans. It started with an amazing come from behind 157-run victory at Kennington Oval, followed by a surprise inclusion of India's best off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the T20 World Cup squad. If this wasn't enough, the fans were ecstatic with the announcement of MS Dhoni’s appointment as Team Mentor for the prestigious limited-overs tournament (T20 World Cup)- a coveted trophy that has eluded the Kohli/Shastri partnership.

But here we are, further North of England, at Old Trafford, playing England in the final test match, a golden opportunity to carry forward the momentum and win back the Pataudi Trophy after ten years. A draw or a win in the last test will ensure that Virat Kohli and his team will claim the trophy, a feat last achieved by Rahul Dravid led team in 2007.

 

But can the current Indian team put in one final effort and beat England at its fortress – Manchester (where England has lost just one of the last fifteen tests played). Surely if any team can do it, it has to be the current Indian team, riding high on confidence and rewriting records – not worried about the blemishes of the previous tours (India has never won at Old Trafford in the nine test matches they have played here). 

Over the last five years, England has had a formidable record at Old Trafford, winning five out of their last six test matches. India last played against England on this ground in August 2014, when the MS Dhoni-led India side suffered an embarrassing innings defeat, with Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali creating havoc in the first & second innings, respectively. 

Indian team, without the services of its coach Ravi Shastri is riding high on confidence and would look to end the long & gruelling tour on a good note. India’s strengths in the series - solid opening partnerships between Rohit & KL, fast bowlers’ ability to take wickets at crucial stages, and not to forget the contribution from the lower order, have ensured it is ahead in the series – with one test to go. Shardul Thakur, Shami and Bumrah have all contributed with the bat at different stages of the series. India’s number-three Pujara has also regained confidence with important second innings contributions of 91 and 61 in the Leeds and Oval Test, respectively. His ability to play spin well should also hold India in good stead.

Bumrah’s match-winning abilities were at display at Oval, but what was heartening to see was the return of Umesh Yadav, who bowled consistent lines & length, something he has struggled to do in his previous outings on overseas tours. 

On the other hand, English supporters will hope that captain Joe Root, the best batsman in the team by a long distance, could carry his rich vein of form (564 runs at an astonishing average of 94 with three centuries) and help England post a respectful total. The fact that no English batsman (with an exception of Root) figures among the top 5 series run-getters exacerbates its batting woes. The coming back to form of English openers Rory Burns and Hameed is a welcome sign, but England will need meaningful contributions from their middle-order batsmen to compete against the in-form Indian line-up. 

James Anderson, despite being in the twilight of his career, remains a major threat and he will look to add to his tally of15 wickets at his home ground. Ollie Robinson, the find of this season, has been the highest wicket-taker (21 wickets) and has posed serious questions every time he has bowled against the Indian batsmen, who have often struggled against the tall bowlers. The English side has also been bolstered with the return of fit again all-rounder Chris Woakes, with a match haul of 7 wickets and a fifty in the first innings at Oval.

 

England, despite boasting an impressive record at Old Trafford, will have its task cut out against this Indian team which has made it a habit of breaking big records and surprising oppositions with their incredible performance. Having watched the current Indian team over the last few years, it won’t come as a surprise to fans if the Virat-Kohli led team complete the unimaginable record of beating both Australia and England during the same calendar year, a feat not many subcontinent teams have achieved in their cricketing history. 

Expected Team Changes

Indian team is likely to make few changes to the playing XI, with Mohd. Shami returning to the team after being given time off at Oval. Ajinkya Rahane’s patchy form on the tour means he is likely to make way for Hanuma Vihari, who with a solid technique can negate the English conditions. Vihari also has the experience of playing county cricket earlier this year. With Old Trafford pitch likely to take a turn in the second innings, Ravichandran Ashwin could get a look-in as well. It would be interesting to see if team management continues with a four-pacer theory or go back to two spinner-three pacer theory, an idea dumped by team management after the WTC final defeat.

India (Likely XI): KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk.), Jadeja / Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Jasprit Bumrah

With Craig Overton injured and looking off-colour during the last test, the English team will welcome the return of their quickest bowler Mark Wood. With his extra pace and height, he can trouble the Indian batsmen under seaming overcast conditions. Jos Buttler returning after a short paternity leave will take up the wicketkeeping duties and could replace Bairstow, who has had a quiet series and failed to convert the number of starts. Buttler, who has failed to put up a big score in the last three matches, also received the vote of confidence from his captain for his match-winning abilities. Ollie Pope, who scored 81 in the first innings of the Oval Test, will for sure retain his place and play at number 5. 

Both James Anderson and Ollie Robinson have gone through heavy workloads during the test series, and it will be interesting to see if England management decides to rest one of the two pacers. James Anderson – playing at his home ground could still play and Jack Leach could play his first test of the series – in case England decide to rest Robinson.

England (Likely XI): Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Jos Butler (wk.), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, James Anderson, Jack Leach

Ground and weather conditions:

The English summer is coming to an end, and the temperature is likely to drop as we move north of England to this beautiful city of Manchester. Rain is likely to stay away for the greater part of the test match, with one or two spells of rain forecasted on the first day. Over the years, the pitch has been conducive for both fast and spin bowlers. While pacers will enjoy the cold and overcast conditions, spinners should also have a role to play in both innings. In their last game at the ground, both England and Pakistani spinners had a successful outing, with Yasir Shah claiming eight wickets in the match. We expect spin to play a role, so it won’t be a surprise if both sides pick two spinners in their bowling line-up. With less than 24 hours to go for the toss, and India on the verge of making history, the fans will be glued to their TV screens to watch two giants of the game Anderson and Kohli resume their battle for one final time. 

Girish Bhatia

Pure Cricket

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Pics Courtesy; Internet

Great Win, but…

The Lords and Oval wins have hastened pundits to put the team aside the best of the past

Team India’s win at The Oval on Monday Sept 7th was quite an achievement, coming after the humiliating defeat at Leeds. London has been a happy hunting city for India this series, the win at Lords was achieved with aplomb only to be sullied by the 78 all out at Yorkshire.

Half a century after the famous series clinching win at The Oval in 1971, Virat Kohli’s team attained the improbable. Wiping off a 99 run deficit and winning by 157 runs is a remarkable feat in Test cricket. The win was made possible by some stupendous batting performances from Rohit Sharma, who scored his first overseas century, Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, skipper Kohli and of course some rear-guard action by Shardul Thakur and Rishabh Pant.

Thakur, who was picked as one of the seam bowling replacements for Ishant Sharma and Mohd Shami, truly encapsulated the hunger for winning of the team by making a half century in each innings. It has to be recorded with pride that the Indian bowling unit, for the second time in the series, won by picking up 20 wickets in the match in not-so-friendly bowling conditions. The flat wicket did not turn much for the sole spinner in the Indian team - Ravindra Jadeja, or assist the seamers in any way. Its credit to Umesh Yadav in the 1st innings and a record breaking effort by Jasprit Bumrah in the 2nd innings which made the win possible. Bumrah became the fastest to reach 100 wickets in Tests in 24 Tests (overshadowing the legendary Kapil Dev, who reached the milestone in 25 Tests) and Jadeja and Siraj too pitched in with crucial wickets along with Thakur.

While the  victory has been hailed on par with the best ever, it is too premature to compare Kohli’s team with the Windies of the late 70s and 80s or the Aussies of Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting. Those teams’ legendary streak came with little or no blemish. The current India team having won the series against Australia down under and beating England at Home is on the cusp of attaining yet another away series victory. However the two huge reverses – the 36 all out at Adelaide and the 78 at Leeds will remain in the record books as blots on an otherwise marvellous seasons. 

We should also put in perspective the opposition batting, that revolved around its skipper Joe Root and couple of experienced batsmen in the top order. They sure missed the services of Jos Buttler and the exuberance of Ben Stokes. England haven’t had a settled top-order, with the opening combination changing more frequently than the seasons, for quite some years now.

The bowling line up too is not consistent, for the first time in years, it has been spearheaded by just one experienced bowler in James Anderson, the absence of Stuart Broad and Mark Wood too didn’t help. A stat on the form of the ageing champion since 2020 makes interesting reading – Anderson averages 19.43 bowling in the 1st and 2nd innings of the match, but the average drops to 100.25 in the 3rd and 4th innings. Surely not a potent force to have restricted India below 200 in the Oval first innings and letting them off the hook to score 466 in the second.

Not taking away the sheen from the stupendous performances leading to the India victory, it surely speaks about the resistance or the strength of the opposition. For all those comparing the team to the all-round world beaters of Clive Lloyd and the Aussies, India had a great win, but they aren’t anywhere close to being there, yet!

- Venkat Parthasarathy

Pure Cricket

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Pics Courtesy: Internet