Previewing the Chennai Test for The Roar, I wrote, “Australia has selected her XI as if the Test was to be played in Brisbane or Perth rather than in Chennai. What, three quickies and only one spinner, I asked myself in horror?
“England had won the series in India a few months ago thanks to their spinners Graeme Swann and Monty Panessar. But Nathan Lyon does not fall in their category.”
Prophetic?
In the first Test in Ahmedabad last November, England made the same mistake Australia did in the Chennai Test this month – they picked only one spinner, Swann.
And just as Australia lost by eight wickets yesterday, England had lost by nine wickets in the first Test three months ago.
In the subsequent Tests, England added offie Panessar to their spinning arm and won the second and third Tests by huge margins and drew the fourth Test to win the series 2-1.
Although Lyon, Xavier Doherty and Steve Smith are not in the same class as Swann and Panessar, having two spinners will give Australia a better chance to draw the series level in the second Test in Hyderabad, starting on its spinner-friendly pitch.
If I were a selector I would drop Philip Hughes and include Usman Khawaja in the Hyderabad Test and include Doherty or Smith at the expense of Mitchell Starc.
Although the Chennai pitch favoured spinners, it was not the reason for Australia’s eight wicket loss. Face it, they won the toss and thanks to skipper Michael Clarke’s superb 130 and debutant Moises Henriques’ 68, totalled 380 despite spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s seven wicket haul.
The pitch started deteriorating on the third day but in spite of this Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and captain MS Dhoni played confidently – especially Dhoni. His magnificent double century will be remembered for a long time. That was on day four.
The above four are exceptional batsmen, however even debutant fast medium bowler Bhupendra Kumar, batting at no. 10, hung around for 167 minutes, adding 140 runs for the ninth wicket with Dhoni (224 runs with 24 fours and 6 sixes).
On the same pitch, Australia lost 9 for 175 before being rescued by Henriques (81 not out) and no. 11 bat Lyon’s 11 off 77 balls. If a 10th wicket pair can add 66 runs, the highest partnership in the innings, why can’t the others?
The dusty pitch took spin but that was not the only reason for defeat. Good footwork as shown by Dhoni, Henriques and tail-enders Kumar and Lyon on day four showed that the pitch was not unplayable.
The Aussies were psychologically paralysed.
Just as the Australian team of 1956 had developed ‘Lakeritis’ after England’s off-spinner Jim Laker had taken 19 for 90 in the Manchester Test, Clarke’s men should not suffer from ‘Ashwinitis’ in this series.
If Henriques can conquer the spin-top pitch, so can others.
cricketbash
Guest
First and foremost, this Australian side does not merit a comparison with Alastair Cook's men who beat India in India last year.. The OZ were lucky enough to win the toss and post 380 on board, when the wicket was at its best.. As Sunny Gavaskar puts it, this OZ team is totally inexperienced.. You got to be at your crafty best to tackle high-quality spinners on sub-continental square turners. You should be playing on front-foot most times and look to smother the spin. Controlled aggression is essential too.. something like KP brand of cricket Having said that all, it must be noted that, Chef lead England exceptionally..
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Hi Behroze, Nice to hear from you. Surely disappointing but Aussies are much better than their performances in the first two Tests would indicate. It's more psychological. The openers have to fire. The batsmen have to use their feet against Indian spinners as the English bats did a few months ago. It's more psychological. About time Border and or Hayden give them a pep-talk saying, "Mate, the Indian spinners are good but not great. Use your feet and don't throw away your wickets sweeping like chooks in headlights. No panic." Australia can win the last two Tests and retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy if their mindset is right. If Clarke can do it, the remaining five batsmen can do it. If Vijay can do it, seven Aussies can do it. Behroze, my new post after yesterday's disaster was published on the Roar this morning. "At last! Clarke will bat higher up" By Kersi Meher-Homji, 6 Mar 2013. Tagged: Cricket, india cricket, Michael Clarke 84 Have your say. Cheers BB, Kersi
Behroze
Guest
Hey Kersi – you might as well write another one called “Thrashed by an innings & 135 runs in Hyderabad”!! What’s happening to our boys? Have they been jinxed? And fancy not taking a second wicket-keepeer??? What's so special about Wade? Brad Haddin would have been a goood choice even purely as a batsman. He can play those dust bowl wickets of India - why don't our selectors consider checking with experts like you & me when picking a team? LoL :) BB
slim
Guest
Can't you all see ??? We are crying out for Rob Quiney to bat and bowl at number four. Lets be true to ourselves. Dhoni would of been out on 20 if this happened.
Blackie
Guest
Like you Frankie I am a big Hughes fan. How anyone think about dropping the youngest man ever to score centuries in each innings of a test match beating a record set by the Black Bradman - George Headley. The only Australian to score a hundred on debut in a ODI. The person with the best batting stats in the last English County season in 40 over and T20 cricket. The current domestic cricketer of the year. The list of achievements goes on. He can play spin as he showed playing Herath the most successful spinner internationally over the last year as well as anyone in the last summer. He got a ball tha stopped on him in the first dig which he dragged on. The ball in the second innings was unplayable. He had to play some shot as it could have just as easily shot along the ground. Hughes record indicates that he will find a way to score runs even on a raging turner.He just needs to be persevered with.
John Edgar
Guest
He should wait his turn and get his citizenship next November, its unfair to guy like SOk, Holland, Beer who have worked hard in shield to warrant a spot.
Simba
Guest
Yes that's a fair point Sheek. There is a bit of blame on the bowlers and the batsmen in this test. I guess I was just making the point that the bowlers shouldn't take all the blame. The bowlers (especially Lyon) leaked too many runs too quickly, especially to Dhoni. Then again if our batsmen were good enough they would have (and should have, in my opinion) salvaged a draw. An extra 75 in each innings would have done that.
Finny92
Roar Rookie
I find it hilarious how everyone is so desperate to find players capable of winning the ashes back for you, but fails to see that bar Pattinson and Clarke you have a very average team.
WhatUsername
Roar Rookie
Not only do we fly over SOK, but we should fly over Burns, even if it is for the experience. He can't do any worse than Cowan/Watson/Hughes and co.
jameswm
Roar Guru
He IS better than Zampa, though 11 years older I think.
Bayman
Guest
jameswm, In this team I'd bat Clarke at three. Basically the spinners will be on by the time he gets in and he's our best chance against the spinners - and hopefully he could slow the collapse from there and put some pressure back on the Indian bowlers. Given that Warner and Cowan get even a minor start then Clarke at three. In England it might be different but given Clarke will still be our best batsman then maybe three again. The fear, of course, is that if he gets exposed early and fails then we don't have a lot left. It's probably true but I still think, on balance, the best player bats three. The consistency he has shown since being made captain indicates that responsibility does not really faze him - so, again, three.
Wolfie
Guest
So Sunil, Watson can't bowl (as it's so obviously been stated) at all, so in your words he "buggers off". Who does that leave you to open with, considering your beloved Khawaja has come into the side....Cowan. Should Watson stay, he goes the slog, gets out in the 20s or 30s off the equivilant number of balls and we're in a worse position than if a traditional opener had taken 60-80 balls to do the same. This obsession for 4-5 runs an over is killing perceptions of how a test is played. M Johnson shouldn't be allowed back near the test team. Speaking to a group of English friends (of which 3 played county cricket), they are licking their lips that he will play in England so their bats can pick him off and watch him implode
Ads
Guest
By that logic, take out Clarkes 100 odd and it would have been a humiliation....
AndyMack
Guest
Bird has flown the coop?? You should be writing headlines for newspapers Fivehole.... "butcher gets the chop", "hughes laughing now" and "Greg Blew It" up there as well....
AndyMack
Guest
really?? he is the first one i would pick. Starc is a odi specialist AFAIC and Siddle is a trier and someone happy to take into a test if no-one else.
AndyMack
Guest
take your political mumbo jumbo elsewhere Allanthus..... sport and politics dont mix remember...
AndyMack
Guest
Not when u have DRS sometimes and not other times....
AndyMack
Guest
Would agree that "sticking around for a while" is handy is say Aust or Eng when the ball is moving around early, but in India, getting to 30 and getting out is killing the team. Use the best batting conditions to get a start and not go on with it??
AndyMack
Guest
Wolfie, agree a bit of luck here or there is important. Problem is if Cowan didnt get that massive slice of luck on 49 at the Gabba (he went on to make 100+), he would prob be out of the side by now. Seems luck is going his way, and he still only averages 30 odd. And i like Ed.
AndyMack
Guest
Sheek, 12/202 gives him an average of 16. If he finished the series with an average of 16 i would say that is "running wild" and will be up for player of the series in a 4-0 win (unless Dhoni knocks out another 200+ innings)