CHENNAI: India vs South Africa. Mohali, 2015. India win by 108 runs. Two pacers account for 20 of 107.5 overs India bowl in the match, claiming one wicket between the two. India vs England. Mohali, 2016. India win by 8 wickets. Two pacers log 59.5 of 184.1 overs India bowl in the Test, sharing 7 wickets and forming a crucial part of the attack.
Contrasting roles played by Indian quicks in two wins separated by a year underlines the difference in the nature of surfaces the Tests were played on. Not just these two games, pitches in general for the England series have been different so far, from the Day 1 turners seen against South Africa last year.
If that strategy drew adverse reactions even in India for producing Tests that got over in three days, pitches this year have received acceptable ratings from the England captain Alastair Cook despite his team being at the receiving end. This tactical shift reflects a change in the philosophy of the Indian team under two coaches.
With Ravi Shastri team director, additional emphasis was on “home advantage”. It meant no role for pacers, survival nightmares for batsmen and disaster for advertisers/broadcasters due to early ends. Under Anil Kumble, the strategy seems decent batting strips with turn later on, where spinners are not the only go-to men.
Propagator of making most of the own strengths, Shastri was open in his approval of square turners. The outburst at the pitch curator for not getting one for last year’s series-deciding ODI against South Africa in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium made his stand clear.
“Such incidents suggest there might have been instructions from the team management to prepare pitches that turned square from Day 1. Those were not good wickets for Test cricket. The gradual slowness and spin in the later stages we see in the England series is better for Test cricket. There’s turn, but things are not lop-sided,” former India spinner Maninder Singh said.
“The team’s mindset has changed under Anil, who believes more in own ability than help from conditions. It isn’t like we have to win by hook or crook. His cricket was about planning, perseverance and hard work. The Indian team will benefit if they embrace these values. It will help them become a better force overseas,” the former left-armer said.
BCCI’s pitches and grounds committee confirmed there has been no demand to roll out turners this time. Before the South Africa series, curators had been instructed to prepare surfaces assisting spin, without worrying about extent of turn.