The first Test between India and New Zealand at Eden Park has proven my theory right – that every Test team should have a quality spinner.
MS Dhoni decided to select Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin, a plan that I believe has backfired.
Jadeja, who is simply a standard off-break, part-time, one-day bowler, could only manage to get one wicket in 26 overs. India missed an opportunity which New Zealand ceased.
When New Zealand came out to bowl, young leg spinner Ish Sodhi had a crack before tea; there was plenty of turn and extreme bounce, something Ashwin would have utilised a lot more than Jadeja.
As a cricketer, I would much rather face a bowler who can only turn the ball one way. Time spent batting is made so much easier when you don’t have to worry about anything out of the ordinary.
Ashwin didn’t have the greatest ODI series but I still feel he would have done a better job than a part-timer. He has variation and batsman have to concentrate really hard to pick his knuckle ball, which puts doubt in the batsman’s mind.
This brings me to Australia’s tour of South Africa, and my feeling that both teams are missing something.
Neither Australia nor South Africa really have a spinner that can turn the ball both ways, and there will most likely only be one good pitch for fast bowlers in this series.
On top of that, both spinners are fairly similar in quality, with only one difference – the way the ball spins.
If I were a betting man I would say that this is going to be a very high-scoring test series. Early wickets will be key because after the first session in a day’s play batters will be calling the shots, and both spinners will be under the pump with opposition coaches targeting the spin option.
If either side had a spinner who could turn a match in a matter of overs this could be one of the best series in recent years, but unfortunately it will be the seam bowlers who will have to dominate from ball one or there will be plenty of centuries on offer.
During the Big Bash League I came across a very good young leg spinner called James Muirhead. Give this talented guy a season in Sheffield Shield cricket and he will be the next big thing.
I have never seen him fail to turn the ball, whether it is early on or late in the innings. He’s got great control and if Shane Warne works with him I think Australia could have the best attack in world cricket.
South Africa have no leg spinner or any unorthodox bowlers coming through. We saw Imran Tahir over in Australia, who didn’t have much control – I think the jump to international cricket is just a bit too much for him.
Given the dynamic of skill in the teams I predict a 1-1 series with the second test in Port Elizabeth the drawn test, as that wicket is pretty flat and doesn’t have much pace or bounce.
Armchair expert
Guest
Correction, it was the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh test that Mendis just played.
Armchair expert
Guest
@Nick, Mendis just played in the NZ test in the past week and for memory, took 6 wickets in the 1st innings.
Armchair expert
Guest
The only thing I'd disagree with here is Lyon being 5 times better than any other spinner, he deserves to be in the test team with his recent performances but his shield bowling average is 47 compared to O'Keefe 26 and from the rumors we hear, it's not a lack of ability that's costing O'Keefe selection.
Armchair expert
Guest
Yes Jason, I couldn't agree more on the Jadeja and Muirhead comments but I'll reserve judgement on the Lyon/Peterson comparison until after this series, the only test I've seen Peterson play, he outbowled Lyon, so Lyon needs to turn the tables.
Armchair expert
Guest
I agree Ashwin should be in the team but not at the expense of Jadeja.
Armchair expert
Guest
Jadeja's freak catches and rocket arm also got them an extra 3 wickets on top of his valuable runs.
Armchair expert
Guest
In hindsight, Hauritz got lucky with a couple of bags of wickets against a "dodgy" Pakistan team implicated in matchfixing, which inflated his figures.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Amla scored 300 vs the Poms where he had Swann in his pocket. Amla scored 490 odd runs in India in 2010, where Harbhajan was totally outclassed. de Villiers and Smith have both scored double hundreds in the sub continent. Lyon's no threat.
Jason Rebelo
Roar Pro
Both De Villiers and Amla have an average in the low 30s against offspin. Smith in the 40s, all below their career average. Hardly wrecking it against spin, unless you consider a few sixes wrecking. Mark my words, Lyon is the biggest difference between the sides, in that he can bowl much better than Peterson could ever.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
South Africa don't need a world class spinner. They have Steyn, Philander and Morkel who are all world class. Australia beating a declining England seems to have clouded our judgement. Prior to beating the Poms 5-0, we where 0-2-7 against India and England. Lyon won't be any threat to South Africa. Guys like Smith, Amla and de Villiers have wrecked Ajmal, Swann and Harbhajan in the past, lyon's not in that class.
Deccas
Guest
anil kumble, very little spin, 400+ test wickets.
Deccas
Guest
I hope by nurtured you mean largely ignored and left to learn his trade in the shield.
Barry Rhodes
Roar Rookie
@Simoc - Who are you referring to? I haven't mentioned anything about India's pace attack at all. I just thing they need Ashwin for the next test and I think we will see a difference.
Barry Rhodes
Roar Rookie
@ChrisB - Glad you mention spin there not sure if you have read what has been said about the spinners. The main discussion is about the ball spinning incase you were wondering. Unlike most people I am not a lounge commentator, I still play the game in fact. Robin is actually a personal friend of mine and I wasn't bad mouthing him I am just stating facts and I am sure if he could have more variation he would love it, I know his been working on a few so lets see if he brings it out this series.
twodogs
Guest
Gday Barry, young Muirehead smacked me right between the eyes the moment I saw him bowl. It is rare when this happens for they don't come too often. He bowls a high action and turns the ball prodigiously. His consistency with length will come. Get him on a plane to Saffasville now and don't groom him, that will probably **** him for good. On Lyon, he's a good tidy offie but more the team mascot- much adored by the team. Get Muirehead on the plane for gods sake. Dont miss the opportunity. The saffas will be bamboozled.
ChrisB
Guest
You mention playing cricket against Robin Peterson. It must have been in Under 10s by the level of cricket knowledge you display. What on earth are you on a out? Most mystery spinners fade away quickly (read jack Iverson for eg.) as test batsman work them out, play them from the hand, whatever, but basically work out a method to jangle them, and they don't usually have the consistency to stand up. You mention Warnes first wicket? I assume you mean the Gatting ball? Not his first, if so (Shastri from memory, and he got 1 for 160 odd). Such wickets, while spectacular are the spinners version of spreadeagling the stumps with a vicious Yorker or getting a wicket with a great bouncer. The vast majority of spinners wickets thru history have been thru accuracy, subtle variations of line, flight, dip and spin, and strangling the batsman to make a mistake.
Simoc
Guest
More correctly your comments are rubbish. Indias fast bowling is talented enough to have them 2 in the world. Zaheer is world class though maybe a bit off recently. Ishant has produced the goods on occasions. Seems you only see what you want to believe.
Barry Rhodes
Roar Rookie
@Nick - Murali, Saqlain, Harbhajan, Ashwin, Narine, Ajmal these are all off spin bowlers who turn the ball both ways. I would much rather face Peterson, Lyon, Swann, Vettori or Harris. Wouldnt you? Warne might not have bowled his googly often but he had his stock ball which he controlled and could turn different amounts. He had a top spinner, a flipper and a slider. That is more than enough armory dont you think? I do agree that flight, drift, dip and control is key to a spinner but common if you dont turn the ball you wont have any purchase off the wicket. You are more likely to be defensive and let the batters make mistakes rather than get him out with pure skill ie Shane Warnes first ever test wicket. That's called spin where I come from.
Barry Rhodes
Roar Rookie
@DCNZ - Im glad I am on the same page as the great Martin Crowe.
Barry Rhodes
Roar Rookie
@Sideline - The same thing was said about Nathan Hauritz who then just slipped under the radar after a few bad games. I am not saying Muirhead should get picked now I am saying he should be nurtured so when he is mentally and physically ready and wont be a one hit wonder.