Virat has lot to learn, team has to re-think plans
ADELAIDE: For years, Glenn McGrath was the biggest challenge for India’s batting stalwarts, playing in Australia meant he was the threat they had to counter. The pace ace though wears a different hat now, as head of the MRF pace academy in Chennai, he has a greater understanding of India’s current seam attack. After India’s pacers flopped for the second day, he gives his take in a chat with Hindustan Times. Excerpts:
Where exactly did it go wrong for India?
It was a bad move to begin with on Day 1, Varun Aaron and Mohammed Shami bowling around the wicket spoilt a good chance to bring the ball into Warner as the angle would have cramped him for space. Also, bowling wide and full to Warner and not bowling in the right areas is where they let the momentum slip away. Varun in particular, with his pace, could have been really effective on a first day wicket, yet choose to bowl a wrong side and wrong length. It undid a lot of their plans. It was a wrong tactic to start with.
What was the problem on Day 2, length, line or game plan?
Again, the game plan was missing, too fullish and widish didn’t help. Ishant Sharma bowled really well, a line that was ideal to restrict stroke-play, which the other two failed to achieve. They really have to do a lot of work on their bowling and create opportunity.
Clarke enjoyed the width on offer. Could a close-in fielder on the leg side and sharp bouncers have unsettled him? South Africa and England have done that successfully.
Definitely that was his plan, to not strain his back by leaning into the shots and drive. Notice how he withdrew from the line of the ball to create space for playing square of the wicket? I agree, with his troubled back, there could have been different field-placements, a close-in fielder around his leg side and short stuff to his body could have been tried out. Once you let these batsmen get into full flow, it’s difficult to salvage the situation. But I must say that Clarke, in spite of his troubled back, handled short-pitched deliveries really well.
Is Virat doing the right things on the field?
It’s been just one-and-ahalf days. I know he has a lot to learn, and the team management has to rethink plans. It’s not easy to be doing all the right things on your first appearance (as captain).
Is it fair to criticise the bowling on a wicket known to favour batting?
I agree Adelaide has been a high-scoring wicket, but that doesn’t mean pace attack with a plan will fail. India seriously need to rethink their game plan and decide what areas they need to bowl. I’m keen to see how Australia bowlers do, that will give us a fair idea about the contrasting style of bowling and plans.