TEST CRICKET BATTING MANUAL

 

Image Credit – Cricinfo.

Venue – JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi [March 16-20, 2017].

The Indian Test team is going through a phase of transition as the legends and stalwarts of the game have bid farewell to the gentlemen's game. As a result, the team is struggling like never before. Yes. We did play well in England, but a home whitewash against the Proteas last winter did expose the cracks of our Test cricket. The bowlers are struggling to pick up 20 wickets, whereas the batsmen are struggling to bat for long.

The duo of Bumrah and Siraj do get us wickets in the overseas conditions, but the batting department lacks consistency on tough surfaces. Presently, the Indian team is in dire need of a proper Test cricket batsman who could bat for the entire day and take the pressure off his side. We desperately need someone like Dravid or Pujara who can take a Test match away from the opposition single-handedly. After all, who can ever forget Pujara's double hundred against the Aussies in Ranchi?

In the spring of 2017, Australia toured India to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Aussies won the first test at Pune, whereas the Indians won the second test at Bangalore. The series was 1-1 when both teams reached Ranchi for the penultimate test. Australian Captain Steve Smith won the toss and decided to bat first on what looked like a good batting surface.

The decision turned out to be a good one as the visitors piled up 451 runs in their first innings. Steve Smith played a captain's knock (178*), whereas Maxwell also scored a gritty 104 as Indian bowlers went for runs. In response, Hosts were 328/6 when keeper Wriddhiman Saha joined Pujara in between. The match was on a knife-edge. One more wicket and Aussies would have bowled us out in no time.

But this is when Pujara showed his class and played one of the exceptional Test knocks. Pujara batted for more than 11 hours (672 minutes) and scored a magnificent double-hundred (202). It is pertinent to note that Pujara faced a total of 525 deliveries, which makes around 87.3 overs. Along with Saha, who also scored a wonderful hundred, Pujara stitched a partnership of 199 runs as the Indians took a vital first innings lead.

The test match, however, ended in a draw. But it is pertinent to note that if Pujara had not scored that double hundred, we would not have reached the total of 602/9. It was due to the monumental efforts of Pujara that we remained in the test match. The modern Indian Test team needs someone like Pujara who could bat the entire day and take the attack to the opposition with solid defence and stroke play.

The art of defending is vital for survival and excellence in Test cricket. One could only hope that after Dravid and Pujara we will get our next wall very soon.

To watch the Innings of Pujara, Click Here-

Part 1.

Part 2.

Part 3.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN INDIA

 

Image Credit – Cricbuzz.

The morning started with the retirement news of Ajinkya Rahane. It was not surprising news because he had been out of the Indian setup for a long time, and it was almost certain that the team had moved forward from him. However, the news of retirement formally marked the end of the glorious Indian Test side which dominated world cricket for almost a decade. It all started with Ashwin's retirement in Brisbane, followed by Rohit, Kohli and Pujara. Apart from them, Shami, Bhuvneshwar, Umesh and Ishant are out of the Test team for a long time, and it's almost certain there is no possibility of a comeback.

It is pertinent to note that the Indian Test team was in shambles when Kohli took over in December 2014. However, in a couple of years' time we jumped from the seventh spot to the top. Credit goes to these players who made India the powerhouse of test cricket. Winning at home became a habit, and fighting abroad became our identity. Australia, England, and South Africa – we dominated them all.

The team was so strong that winning a test match in India itself appeared to be an achievement; forget about winning the series. However, every good thing comes to an end, and so has our dominance in red-ball cricket. Presently we have lost 5 out of the last 8 home test matches, with 2 whitewashes in between. Yes, you read it right. We have faced a whitewash in our home. Something which no one could have ever imagined. The team is in transition. But the problematic part is that the red ball legends are being replaced by IPL stars, which has caused further deterioration of the quality of Test cricket in India.

Today one could only hope that the glory days of test cricket would return soon. But, for the time being, we can only remember and cherish the 2015-2023 era when we ruled red-ball cricket.