The open call by the Indian captain Dhoni for turning tracks and compliance by the Cricket Board allowed the the English and not the home team to take advantage.
Because the idiotic shenanigans unmasked the subterfuge which is always present and most pertinent in a test match - the pitch conditions. English cricketers for once were clearly told about the track conditions to expect.
Once the visitors knew the track isn’t going to seam at all, they went on an all out attack, restricting the Indian batsmen.
When the Pommies came out to bat they again had the advantage. The advantage of knowing the conditions aren’t going to suit the Indian pace bowlers, who in any case aren’t good enough to massacre 10 wickets without spin assistance.
In contrast, if we look at the last test match at Ahmedabad (Test no. 2058), which India won, it was the Indian fast bowlers who gave the crucial breakthroughs for the spinners to then punch it in. In the England 1st innings the quick bowlers scalped one wicket each with 8 going to spinners. In the England 2nd innings the pace and spin bowlers divided the spoils with 5 wickets apiece.
Why do medium pacers bowling on iffy-spiffy flat tracks make such a difference?
It is because the Tommies (as also the Aussies and the Proteas) simply are unable to adjust quickly between the faster ball and dancing ball. When we pepper them alternately with seam and spin bowling, it upsets their rhythm and makes them appear flat-footed.
By the same token, if they know or are reasonably certain that the ball will move in only one way (either seam or spin), they are able to tackle and excel in the game. That’s why in England, Australia and South Africa, where they are more confident of the ball seaming or bouncing, but not turn, they are superior.
That is also the reason why Muralitharan and Warne were so successful - their ability to turn the ball square could not be answered by the white men in the fast and bouncy pitches. And the reason why Warne wasn’t so successful against India.
In this 2nd Test (no. 2062) a left handed guarantee was assured by the Indian side. The English will face the turning ball, and the pitch will *not* seam.
We have to remember the other factor ‘bounce’ is non-existent in Indian conditions. Again, any chance of uneven bounce which might have unsettled the English, was flattened (again no pun) when the curator pitched in to ‘make’ the track spin friendly.
When the Indian batsmen came out to bat on the first day, the Englanders knew there was no percentage in trying to blow them away with speed. Instead of holding back and waiting for something to happen, they went on the attack.
Alistair Cook, the English skipper is being hailed as one of England’s better captains ever. It may or may not prove to be true - one sparrow doesn’t make a summer. But in the Mumbai test match Alistair Cook showed us what captaincy is about in the cricket field - take a good stock the team’s resources, plan the attack, stick to the game plan and not allow breathing space to the opponents.
The last of which did the Indians batsmen in. For we all know the Indian batting line up has a tendency to ‘follow-the-leader’ when quick wickets fall. Even when the Indian line-up was a famed and feared one with Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman and Ganguly, the tendency to crumble at the slightest discomfort was well known.
So there was no way this pale imitation of that batting line up (with only the pathetic Tendulkar still sticking on) ever putting on a Horatio act to save, leave alone win, a test match.
Thus the battle was lost even before the coin was tossed.
:-P
Because the idiotic shenanigans unmasked the subterfuge which is always present and most pertinent in a test match - the pitch conditions. English cricketers for once were clearly told about the track conditions to expect.
Once the visitors knew the track isn’t going to seam at all, they went on an all out attack, restricting the Indian batsmen.
When the Pommies came out to bat they again had the advantage. The advantage of knowing the conditions aren’t going to suit the Indian pace bowlers, who in any case aren’t good enough to massacre 10 wickets without spin assistance.
In contrast, if we look at the last test match at Ahmedabad (Test no. 2058), which India won, it was the Indian fast bowlers who gave the crucial breakthroughs for the spinners to then punch it in. In the England 1st innings the quick bowlers scalped one wicket each with 8 going to spinners. In the England 2nd innings the pace and spin bowlers divided the spoils with 5 wickets apiece.
Why do medium pacers bowling on iffy-spiffy flat tracks make such a difference?
It is because the Tommies (as also the Aussies and the Proteas) simply are unable to adjust quickly between the faster ball and dancing ball. When we pepper them alternately with seam and spin bowling, it upsets their rhythm and makes them appear flat-footed.
By the same token, if they know or are reasonably certain that the ball will move in only one way (either seam or spin), they are able to tackle and excel in the game. That’s why in England, Australia and South Africa, where they are more confident of the ball seaming or bouncing, but not turn, they are superior.
That is also the reason why Muralitharan and Warne were so successful - their ability to turn the ball square could not be answered by the white men in the fast and bouncy pitches. And the reason why Warne wasn’t so successful against India.
In this 2nd Test (no. 2062) a left handed guarantee was assured by the Indian side. The English will face the turning ball, and the pitch will *not* seam.
We have to remember the other factor ‘bounce’ is non-existent in Indian conditions. Again, any chance of uneven bounce which might have unsettled the English, was flattened (again no pun) when the curator pitched in to ‘make’ the track spin friendly.
When the Indian batsmen came out to bat on the first day, the Englanders knew there was no percentage in trying to blow them away with speed. Instead of holding back and waiting for something to happen, they went on the attack.
Alistair Cook, the English skipper is being hailed as one of England’s better captains ever. It may or may not prove to be true - one sparrow doesn’t make a summer. But in the Mumbai test match Alistair Cook showed us what captaincy is about in the cricket field - take a good stock the team’s resources, plan the attack, stick to the game plan and not allow breathing space to the opponents.
The last of which did the Indians batsmen in. For we all know the Indian batting line up has a tendency to ‘follow-the-leader’ when quick wickets fall. Even when the Indian line-up was a famed and feared one with Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman and Ganguly, the tendency to crumble at the slightest discomfort was well known.
So there was no way this pale imitation of that batting line up (with only the pathetic Tendulkar still sticking on) ever putting on a Horatio act to save, leave alone win, a test match.
Thus the battle was lost even before the coin was tossed.
:-P
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