CHENNAI: A week before the first Test against Australia in Pune began, R Ashwin had during a chat with Express stated clearly that he was in favour of wickets that offer good contest between bat and ball.
“We’ve not played on spinning tracks in the last year-and-a-half. Against New Zealand and England, we had very good wickets. When you play on such pitches, there are good chances to both score runs and pick wickets,” Ashwin had said.
But with allegations that the management went for a rank turner — a tactic that back-fired — the Indian team has been faced with huge criticism from all quarters, with many doubting their ability to bounce back from such a comprehensive loss.
But national selection committee chairman MSK Prasad believes that the team will turn their fortunes around in the next Test that starts on March 4 in Bengaluru.
“I cannot comment on the wicket. But I have full faith in our team. They have been playing well as unit for a very long time. Pune was just an aberration, and we will come back strongly,” said the former India stumper on the sidelines of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.
What is heartening is the fact that the wicket for the Bengaluru Test has a legacy of offering more leniency to batsmen, coupled with some assistance for speedsters.
Raghuram Bhat, Karnataka’s selection committee chairman, was confident that India will get a good surface to play on.
“Chinnaswamy has always been good. I think the surface will play true and offer a good contest between ball.”
Prasad too reposed his faith in India in a similar fashion. “India will do well in the second Test. I’m 200 per cent sure of that, and I have full confidence in their ability. Let’s not forget that our pacers have been doing well in the recent past.”
He also shot down the idea of tweaking the playing XI for the second Test. “Do not forget that the same team has been delivering for the last 18 months to reach the position where they are (No 1).”