India’s thin bowling resources hindering their progress – Opinion
India achieved the peak of its cricketing history in the last five years, winning the ICC World T20 2007, gaining the number one Test ranking and also clinching the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 Cricket World Cup 2011 at home. However, there has been an evident decline in their performance
over the last 12 months, with the Men in Blue being whitewashed by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in Test cricket and failing to defend the Asia Cup 2012.
Without a shadow of doubt, the premier reason behind http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750’s problems is a weak bowling attack, which looks very thin since the retirement of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh’s loss of form.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in September/October.
Ashwin and Ojha, the spin-twins delivered the goods in the first Test match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hyderabad-c792, picking up 18 wickets in the match and helping India go 1-0 up in the series. However, this does not look like a long term solution for Dhoni's
problems, with the spinners forced into the backseat overseas, where wickets support seam and swing.
Some talented bowlers like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/PP-Ojha-c2198 have emerged through the ranks of domestic cricket in the recent past; however, apart from some exceptions, most of their performances have been very inconsistent.
India’s popular cricket commentator, Harsha Bhogle, is extremely worried about the country’s current bowling resources and urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take drastic measures if the Men in Blue are going to remain a force in international
cricket.
Some discarded bowlers like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Piyush-c82317 Chawla have been recalled to the Test team, which is a massive concern for Bhogle.
The latter had an ordinary fifth season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), failing to restrict the opposing batsmen and leaking runs at crucial stages. The leg-spinner has been selected for the World T20 squad as well.
In his recent article for ESPNcricinfo, Bhogle expressed his reservations over the leg-spinner’s selection in both the squads.
"Chawla had a decent IPL at best, and stumbled when the pressure rose. You would need an advocate of great skill to win his case to be in the T20 side; and, to be honest, he would struggle to find someone to take on the job in the case of Test cricket,"
he stated.
Historically, India has produced a number of legendary batsmen but it is a barren land when it comes to producing great fast bowlers. The Men in Blue have always had the services of quality spinners like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Anil-Kumble-c44737
and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harbhajan-Singh-c61453. The situation however, is not looking very rosy in this department of the game as well.
Bhogle feels that many budding fast bowlers emerged through the ranks of domestic cricket over the last 10 years but all of them failed to live up to the expectations.
“There are just no spinners, and the new-ball bowlers, like seasonal flowers, wither away, never to return,” the analyst added. “If Indian cricket has thrown up http://www.senore.com/Cricket/A-Nehra-c873 and Parwinder Awana,
it means new-ball bowlers exist.”
If the selectors have to recall the discarded bowlers again and again, it goes to show how thin the Indian bowling resources are. With a strong batting line-up and mediocre spinners, India can certainly do well at home but they must
produce high quality fast bowlers to prove their mettle in the longer version of the game.
Disclaimer: Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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