The first Test debacle

Home / India, New Zealand / The first Test debacle

The first Test debacle

Bobji 0 Comments 0 tags

I have already written one blog about the first Test debacle. This is a continuation of the same.

There are certain players in the team who have not been living upto expectations for a very longtime. Chief among them are Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul and to a certain extent, Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja has been pretty much inconsistent whereas in the case of the other two, they are more or less a nervous wreck. Despite multiple opportunities, through the world, they have not been performing at the best of their abilities. I have written quite a few articles about Rahul, whether he is required for Tests or what is his problem. It is probably worth repeating it here.

Lokesh Rahul and multiple opportunities

I do not have any doubt about the ability or talent of Rahul but what is the use of such a talent if it is not put to optimum use? He really is an enigma. Rahul has got hundreds in England, Australia and South Africa. Infact, his first 100 in Test cricket, was against Australia in Australia. At that stage, when India were struggling to find proper openers, everyone thought that India has found an opener who could hold himself in all conditions. Expectations naturally increased but he himself seemed to have been surprised that he got a hundred in Australia. An average of 33 in 53 Tests. In 10 years, he hasn’t improved a wee bit. If Rahul’s Test career is terminated by the beginning of the 2^nd Test, he can only blame himself.

He just does not have any means to complain that he wasn’t given enough opportunities. 53 Tests is a largesse by any measurement. There are so many cricketers in this nation who don’t even get half or even quarter of that many opportunities. Rahul was given because the selectors and the team management saw the potential in him. He has got all the shots on the book and is not weak against pace or spin. The hundreds in pace friendly countries are an example. What has prevented him from performing all these years, is not at all clear. Perhaps, it is in the mind.

Nevertheless, he must have sorted that part by now but apparently, he hasn’t. He must realise that there are lot of players who are eyeing his spot. Dhruv Jurel can play as a proper batsman or Padikkal is there. There certainly isn’t any dearth of options for the middle order spot.

Mohammed Siraj deception

I, for one am under the impression that Siraj has taken to Test cricket as a fish to the water. He was extremely impressive in that first Test tour to Australia. In just his 2^nd Test, he became the leader of the pack. I thought that he is an ideal partner for Bumrah. Fast forward 4 years, Siraj hasn’t done much to be counted as an automatic in the team. Ofcourse, if Mohammed Shami was fit, he would have taken the 2^nd seamer’s role. Having said that, Siraj has gained enough experience in the last 4 years.

He has played 30 Tests, though his average is quite decent, his strike rate is woeful. Just 80 wickets in 30 Tests is unacceptable. Siraj himself will admit that he has underachieved. One can say that he has bowled in unfriendly conditions. Agreed but even then, 19 wickets in 13 Tests in India is poor. That is just over one wicket per Test. Siraj is fast going the Umesh Yadav way. A bowler who has pace and decent control but nevertheless, the wicket columns remains weak. Siraj also must realise that there are quite a few bowlers who are ready to step-in. The emergence of Akash Deep, who in his short career, he picked up wickets with the new ball in India, is a threat for him. There are already rumours that Akash Deep will replace Siraj in the 2^nd Test. That will be his first warning.

With Shami unlikely to be part of the squad to Australia, Siraj will be part of the bowling attack but it remains to be seen how effective will he be.

Ravindra Jadeja, is he over the hill?

Jadeja’s stocks have dropped drastically. For 4 years, from 2018, he was exceptionally good with the bat. His highest score was achieved during this period. He calm assurance in the crease, sort of rubbed on the others. However, after 2021, his performance with the bat, dipped and dipped alarmingly. What complicates matters is that, his white-ball batting hasn’t been great either. He is in the midst of a slump that no one seems to notice. Yes, he still picks up wickets, especially in India but he is in the team as a batting all-rounder. He is expected to score runs and score consistently because in a side that is determined to play 5 bowlers, one of the all-rounder must score runs. He being the better batsman when compared to Ashwin, expectations are higher on him.

I do not know whether his place is under threat but I certainly hope that he feels the pressure.

Kohli

I have written enough about him. Alongwith Jadeja, I hope Kohli feels the pressure too. It has been 5 years since he has been consistent. If his best days are over, it is better he is treated as a mortal and place comes under increased scrutiny. I do believe that the Australian tour will be his final series if his performance not only improve but improve to the level what he is capable of.

Wrapping up the first Test debacle

Yeah, we have lost the first Test. It has happened before. Nothing to be worried about but these players will have to pull up their sleeves and show what they are made of.

Explore More

The top and middle-order let India down – 3

Ravindra Jadeja Probably the most improved batsman in the world. I will write a separate blog about Jadeja. In this test, he showed why he is preferred to Ashwin though it was never between Jadeja and Ashwin. I have always said that Jadeja plays outside of India as a specialist batsman. Everyone knows that his bowling is non-threatening in English conditions. He may take advantage of a 5th day wearing pitch and that is about it. He paced his innings beautifully. The way he manipulated strike with the tail in the first innings was excellent. If only Pant had stayed with Jadeja, the lead could have been around the 450 mark. Shardul Thakur Shardul Thakur is not an express fast bowler. As such he can never terrorise any batsman with his pace. He is in the team in overseas conditions because he can contribute with the bat. If he fails with the bat and does not keep the economy rate down and provide breakthroughs, it is tough to justify his inclusion. After the enormous partnership between Pant and Jadeja, India needed one more partnership of 50-odd runs to establish authority over England. If only Shardul had stayed with Jadeja at the point, we may have well earned another 60-75 runs. A first innings score of close to 500 would have proved quite challenging but Shardul failed with the bat at the wrong time. Moreover, his bowling was not threatening and he missed an easy sitter of Stokes. Shardul was the star performer earlier in the series and as such this one bad game should not invite condemnation. However, Shardul must realise that he is in the team for his batting as much as he is for his bowling. In hindsight, would Ashwin had been a better choice than Shardul? Maybe may not be. The only reason that I am not able to emphatically say yes is the fact that there is no proof to the contrary. As Manjrekar rightly said, he is yet to take a 5-fer in the countries that matter. With age not on his side, it is anybody’s guess whether he will be able to correct that aberration. Mohammed Shami Shami is a brilliant bowler. We know that. Shami bowls some magic balls. We know that too. Shami makes the batsmen play more often. We know that one as well. Shami is unlucky. That is the problem. He is good and he does bowl lot of excellent deliveries but if they do not fetch frequent wickets, then there is a problem that needs to be identified. A couple of wickets in the second innings just when things started to look dicey for India, would have put the game firmly in India’s grasp. His record in England is a major concern. Just 38 wickets in 13 tests, under 3 per test is not the expected return from the premier fast bowler. It is unfortunate that despite his obvious talent, he has often failed to deliver against the major teams. This is the 3rd consecutive test that India failed to defend and Shami has a lot to contribute towards that dismal record. One good thing about Shami is that he showed maturity while batting in the first innings. He gave adequate support to Jadeja which is good to see. He played the short-balls much better than Shreyas. He will have to work with experts and see where is he going wrong? Does he have to pitch the ball much closer or short? Is the length the problem? Jasprit Bumrah The captain played a blinder and absolutely annihilated Broad. Sadly, it was with the bat. With the ball however, Bumrah once again failed at the crunch. He is quickly becoming the Kohli of bowling. For someone this talented, his match winning feats are less. He is the most protected Indian bowler. He has played all but just 2 of the games outside India. Bumrah is often given a break from tests in India. It makes sense because his action is so irregular that over-bowling may result in an injury but being the bowler the opposition plays cautiously and being the premier Indian bowler, to have failed to defend scores in the last innings on three successive occasions, it really casts a big question mark on his effectiveness. Whether all the pampering, is it really worth? The Edgbaston game was the 5th time in the last 10-12 tests that Bumrah did not raise to the occasion. It includes the WTC finals in conditions that is any fast bowler’s dream. Ofcourse, he picked up 5 wickets in the test but was still unable to break the Root-Bairstow partnership. I have written that he is becoming the Kohli of bowling. Kohli is similar in the sense that when faced with a target to chase, this is about Test cricket only, he is unable to win the game with his bat. He had a couple of opportunities in South Africa in 2017 and a couple more in England in 2017. Bumrah had this one apart from the two tests in South Africa, the WTC finals and the 2nd test in New Zealand. The last one was a long shot because the target was meagre. One thing to note is that he is not the rabbit with the bat anymore. He has certainly improved on that front but it is his bowling that is required. Mohammed Siraj Siraj usually is quite expensive. Even when he is among the wickets, he is expensive but even for him, this test would have been an awakening. He was literally taken apart by both Bairstow and Root. Towards the final stages, the way Bairstow toyed with him in the last over, any bowler would have been ashamed. These are early days and he has shown sufficient skill to become the mainstay but he must also realise that being the 3rd choice bowler, his chances will be limited when India play at home. Conclusion to the top and middle-order let India down This was a golden opportunity for India to win a series in England. Ofcourse, not when they were 98/5 but once a lead of 134 runs was secured, India must have accelerated quickly and must have built an impenetrable position. The negativity of Pujara, Vihari and to an extent Kohli and Jadeja, the recklessness of Pant, the inability of Gill to make a rare opportunity count and the impotence of the bowlers in the final innings meant that India were lucky that they had an upper hand for more than 60% of the game. Remember, we played with one player less because Shreyas is literally a free wicket. By the next time, India go over to England, some of these players would have retired and whether we will get another chance in the foreseeable future, is doubtful.

Before reading the top and middle-order let India down – 3, please read part 1 & 2 Ravindra Jadeja Probably the most improved batsman in the world. I will write

India against Australia 2001 the greatest series – 3, Part 1 and Part 2 can be read here and here. The Australian chase Hayden and Slater started off briskly. This

It would be blasphemous to say that Test cricket is on the way out. The pundits and the purists will scorn such a thought. Come what may, Test cricket must