Indian bowlers to watch out for against Australia in 2nd Test
The 2nd Test between Australia and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 proved to be a cracking game of cricket. Critics presumed a boring contest between the two giants of cricketing fraternity as docile wickets in India don’t offer much assistance to bowlers.
Respectively, both teams piled over 400 runs in their first innings, losing all their ten wickets. The game took a turn when the pitch started to deteriorate a bit, and bowlers of the either teams took advantage of helpful bowling conditions. India chasing
a modest target of 216 runs, crumbled under pressure, wining a close contest by just one wicket.
Indian bowlers did a great job at Mohali by restricting Australia to 191 in the first innings. There bowling department has come of age.
Therefore, it is important to discuss their premier bowlers, who will be integral if India is to win at Bangalore.
Zaheer Khan
Zaheer Khan can swing the ball both ways at will, and at a decent pace. He is in the mould of Pakistani fast bowlers as he can swing the new ball, and can reverse the old cherry with great control.
He really came of age in the 2007 away Test series against England. His tally of 18 wickets in England helped India secure a series win in England after 22 years. Since, then he has never looked back.
He has become the leader of the pack with 73 Test matches under his belt. In his 73 appearances he has gathered 250 victims at an average of 32.
Against, Australia his overall figures show he has struggled against them, but he has still managed to produce some match winning performances against them. Add to this, his performance at Mohali earned him man-of-the-match award with match figures of 8/137.
In the first innings he bowled with great authority and composure, earning him figures of 5/94. He knew how to get Aussie batsman out. Swing is main problem for Kangaroos and Zaheer tormented them with reversing ball. Most of his wickets are a result of
reverse swing with the old ball.
In the 2nd innings, in his first spell he wasn’t able to take a single wicket. The ball started to reverse and then it was Zaheer again, who took 3 quick wickets with the old cherry to restrict Aussies to a total of 191.
India will be looking for their premier fast bowler to give them early breakthroughs with the new ball, and then, if there is any amount of reverse swing, Zaheer should take full advantage to dismantle Australia’s batting line-up in the 2nd Test
at Bangalore.
Harbhajan Singh
Currently, he is India’s leading bowler and their most successful off-spinner in history. In 86 Test matches he has made 362 strikes at an average of 31. He has his own way to go about his off-spinning business.
He has been criticized for not giving flight and loop to his off-breakers, but his 362 wickets in Test cricket are his response to his critics. Mainly, he bowls at a flatter trajectory and has a sharp doosra.
On Indian tracks, the spinners usually get more help than in any other part of the World. The wickets have uneven bounce and pace. It helps Harbhajan to be able to use his tricks in front of the best batsmen of the World on spin responsive Indian wickets.
He is another one of India’s players, who preserve their best for Australia. Against his favourite opposition, he has played 15 matches, taking 84 wickets at an average of 28.
Furthermore, his numbers in India against Aussies are more than pleasing. At home, in his 11 appearances he has gathered 75 victims at an impressive average of 23.
The “Turbunator” showed signs of his class in the first Test at Mohali, taking a match tally of 5/154. He will be l*****g his lips in anticipation of tormenting his beloved opponents again.
Australia will be worried about their Indian nemesis ahead of the 2nd battle at Bangalore. If http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 manage to keep Harbhajan quiet, then they have a chance of leveling the series.
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