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India’s Stuart Binny and Ravindra Jadeja grab a moment in the limelight India’s Stuart Binny and Ravindra Jadeja grab a moment in the limelight
(about 1 month later)
In Bangalore this may be remembered as Binny’s match. After all it was his debut and he delivered a calm, match-saving innings when India were wobbling on the final day. In Burnley it will be known as Anderson’s game, even though he will be a happy man if he never has to bowl on such a track again. In Nottingham, with rather less enthusiasm, it might be recalled as Birks’ match. The groundsman at Trent Bridge, Steve Birks, has been an unwelcome centre of attention because of the soporific nature of his pitch.In Bangalore this may be remembered as Binny’s match. After all it was his debut and he delivered a calm, match-saving innings when India were wobbling on the final day. In Burnley it will be known as Anderson’s game, even though he will be a happy man if he never has to bowl on such a track again. In Nottingham, with rather less enthusiasm, it might be recalled as Birks’ match. The groundsman at Trent Bridge, Steve Birks, has been an unwelcome centre of attention because of the soporific nature of his pitch.
As a consequence the following may be sleeping less easily in their beds: Mick Hunt, Nigel Gray, Matthew Merchant and Lee Fortis. They are the head groundsmen at Lord’s, Southampton, Old Trafford and The Oval, the venues for the rest of the series. There is an impatience not only among the old pros required to comment. The England hierarchy must also be exasperated by at least two of the three Test surfaces they have encountered this season, although they have disguised their ire pretty well. As a consequence the following may be sleeping less easily in their beds: Mick Hunt, Nigel Gray, Matthew Merchant and Lee Fortis. They are the head groundsmen at Lord’s, Southampton, Old Trafford and The Oval, the venues for the rest of the series. There is an impatience not only among the old pros required to comment. The England hierarchy must also be exasperated by at least two of the three Test surfaces they have encountered this season, although they have disguised their ire pretty well.
Bits and pieces of this Test have been diverting: the record last-wicket stands and the mini-collapses that disturbed the post-prandial snooze, Anderson’s batting and the slightly more predictable, polished centuries of Murali Vijay and Joe Root. Moreover bits-and-pieces cricketers have played a prominent part. The purists proclaim that they are not supposed to survive at this level; the five-day game should be the realm of the specialists.Bits and pieces of this Test have been diverting: the record last-wicket stands and the mini-collapses that disturbed the post-prandial snooze, Anderson’s batting and the slightly more predictable, polished centuries of Murali Vijay and Joe Root. Moreover bits-and-pieces cricketers have played a prominent part. The purists proclaim that they are not supposed to survive at this level; the five-day game should be the realm of the specialists.
That was not always the case here. The multi-dimensional men were to the fore; for India on the final day this meant Stuart Binny, who was all composure, Ravindra Jadeja, who was not, as well as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who hit his second half-century of the match (he is supposed to be a bowler).That was not always the case here. The multi-dimensional men were to the fore; for India on the final day this meant Stuart Binny, who was all composure, Ravindra Jadeja, who was not, as well as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who hit his second half-century of the match (he is supposed to be a bowler).
Jadeja, right, three times a triple centurion in first-class cricket, has yet to get beyond 43 in 13 Test innings. Here he played an extraordinary knock. He did not score a run before his 38th delivery and, when he finally opened his account, it was via a charge down the pitch to Anderson and a lofted drive. Even so, Jadeja’s 31 in more than two hours was important.Jadeja, right, three times a triple centurion in first-class cricket, has yet to get beyond 43 in 13 Test innings. Here he played an extraordinary knock. He did not score a run before his 38th delivery and, when he finally opened his account, it was via a charge down the pitch to Anderson and a lofted drive. Even so, Jadeja’s 31 in more than two hours was important.
The purist – a category into which this correspondent occasionally drops – has been bewildered by the absence from the India team of Ravi Ashwin, a specialist bowler with a bit of mystery. But had Ashwin played at Trent Bridge it would have been instead of Binny, Jadeja or possibly Kumar. Would he have been more valuable on this surface? In all probability England were happy about his absence even though this pitch was not just a fast bowler’s graveyard; spinners could be laid to rest here as well.The purist – a category into which this correspondent occasionally drops – has been bewildered by the absence from the India team of Ravi Ashwin, a specialist bowler with a bit of mystery. But had Ashwin played at Trent Bridge it would have been instead of Binny, Jadeja or possibly Kumar. Would he have been more valuable on this surface? In all probability England were happy about his absence even though this pitch was not just a fast bowler’s graveyard; spinners could be laid to rest here as well.
Yet it was curious that, despite the conditions, India aped the balance of England’s line-up – four seamers and a batting spinner – since, unlike the home side, they had a genuine alternative in Ashwin. Later this week there will be much staring at the Lord’s pitch by the hierarchies of both sides to establish the best balance of bowling attack for the second Test.Yet it was curious that, despite the conditions, India aped the balance of England’s line-up – four seamers and a batting spinner – since, unlike the home side, they had a genuine alternative in Ashwin. Later this week there will be much staring at the Lord’s pitch by the hierarchies of both sides to establish the best balance of bowling attack for the second Test.
England are fretting about this. Since the groundsmen keep delivering surfaces that neutralise their pacemen, they have felt compelled to reconsider their spinning options and Simon Kerrigan has been summoned.England are fretting about this. Since the groundsmen keep delivering surfaces that neutralise their pacemen, they have felt compelled to reconsider their spinning options and Simon Kerrigan has been summoned.
India will be less concerned about him than England may be of Ashwin.India will be less concerned about him than England may be of Ashwin.
At Trent Bridge Moeen Ali took four wickets to Jadeja’s none, yet he can still learn from his Indian counterpart. So far Ali has demonstrated that there is much to admire in his stock off-break. He spins the ball, which dips nicely towards the end of its flight path. Despite Kerrigan’s call-up, there is a very strong case that Ali should remain England’s sole spinner at Lord’s unless the selectors spy a turning track in St John’s Wood.At Trent Bridge Moeen Ali took four wickets to Jadeja’s none, yet he can still learn from his Indian counterpart. So far Ali has demonstrated that there is much to admire in his stock off-break. He spins the ball, which dips nicely towards the end of its flight path. Despite Kerrigan’s call-up, there is a very strong case that Ali should remain England’s sole spinner at Lord’s unless the selectors spy a turning track in St John’s Wood.
Yet Jadeja can, by his example, inform Ali about how to go about bowling in Test cricket. Jadeja has 36 wickets at the impressive average of 26 in his Test career. He is the most conservative, risk-averse spinner imaginable.Yet Jadeja can, by his example, inform Ali about how to go about bowling in Test cricket. Jadeja has 36 wickets at the impressive average of 26 in his Test career. He is the most conservative, risk-averse spinner imaginable.
He does not flight the ball; any variety from his low-slung action is accidental; his goal is to restrict the batsmen and to stay on. Bishen Bedi would not have been his model; perhaps Derek Underwood, who once self-effacingly described himself as a “low mentality” bowler, could have been.He does not flight the ball; any variety from his low-slung action is accidental; his goal is to restrict the batsmen and to stay on. Bishen Bedi would not have been his model; perhaps Derek Underwood, who once self-effacingly described himself as a “low mentality” bowler, could have been.
Ali might benefit from being less ambitious in his bowling. He should not worry too much about the doosra or the pursuit of the magic delivery.Ali might benefit from being less ambitious in his bowling. He should not worry too much about the doosra or the pursuit of the magic delivery.
Like Jadeja, he should aim to be sufficiently mean that his captain keeps him on. Then this silky batsman will have a good chance of being more than a “bits and pieces” bowler.Like Jadeja, he should aim to be sufficiently mean that his captain keeps him on. Then this silky batsman will have a good chance of being more than a “bits and pieces” bowler.