Sydney’s unwarranted reputation as a spin haven could trick India into playing two spinners today in a move that would benefit the Australian batting line-up, which has struggled against India’s quicks.
Visiting spinners have averaged 80 with the ball across the past four Tests at the SCG, which includes Indian spinner Ravi Ashwin’s return of 5-247 at 4.41 runs per over four years ago.
Yet India yesterday named three spinners – Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav – and only three quicks in their 13-man squad for this Test, with in-form fast bowler Ishant Sharma unfit.
One of those three pacemen, Umesh Yadav would be an unappealing selection given his very poor performance at Perth, where he took 2-139 and was by far India’s most expensive bowler on a pitch tailor-made for fast bowling.
India made the glaring mistake of not fielding a spinner in that Test at Perth, where Australian tweaker Nathan Lyon bowled his team to victory with eight wickets.
Now it looks as if India might again misread a pitch and field a poorly balanced attack. Picking two tweakers and two quicks would see them fooled by the SCG’s unjustified reputation as being spin friendly – a hangover from a past era when it was the best pitch in Australia for slow bowlers.
That has not been the case for years now. Nothing underlines this better than Lyon’s record at his home ground in Sydney, where he has averaged nearly 50 from seven Tests.
Visiting spinners have been thrashed at the SCG the past few summers. Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Ravi Jadeja was arguably the least threatening of India’s four bowlers in the last Test at Melbourne, which will only make it even more curious if India double-down on spin today.
Ishant is a major loss for India. He has been the least prolific of India’s main three quicks, with 11 wickets for the series compared to 20 for Jasprit Bumrah and 14 for Mohammed Shami. But Ishant’s vast experience (267 Test wickets) and wonderful consistency help glue together the Indian attack.
While he is not as intimidating as Bumrah or a natural wicket taker like Shami, Ishant has helped build immense pressure on the Australian batsmen. He has rarely bowled a bad over, let alone a bad spell, conceding a miserly 2.54 runs per over across the series. Ishant has been particularly challenging for Australia’s right-hand batsmen, bringing the ball back into LBW candidates Aaron Finch, Mitch Marsh and Peter Handscomb.
(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
With Bumrah and Shami so dangerous against left-handers, this has given India’s pace attack a great mix. Umesh Yadav will be the quick to partner Bumrah and Shami if India decide against playing two spinners. He was well below his best at Perth, where he could not locate the correct length, too frequently dropping short or over-pitching.
There is also the possibility India could play five bowlers, with three quicks and two spinners. That would only be likely if Ashwin is healthy to play – he will reportedly undergo a fitness test this morning.
It would also be a departure from the six batsmen and four bowlers strategy which has earned India a 2-1 lead. Australia surely would be happy to see India field just two pacemen in this match. The visiting quicks have been fantastic in this series, particularly with the old ball. Australia’s batsmen have scored a huge number of 20s and 30s in this series – missed opportunities but also indicative of the ceaseless threat of the Indian bowlers.
Bumrah in particular has been outstanding with the weathered ball. He again shapes as the key for India, who have a chance to create history by winning their first Test series in Australia in history.
satz
Roar Rookie
England tours have been marred by mostly doctored surfaces the last 2 times. In SA, pitches for all 3 tests were bad. NZ tour was the fairest. Not that previous tours are relevant to present.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Paul - a last piece of business in Australia perhaps. Presumably you don’t mean globally? Kohli has lost all 5 series in South Africa, England and New Zealand since he started playing. These three teams more of a challenge than Australia at the moment. India has never won a series in South Africa. So a lot of unfinished business for him still.
Nathan Absalom
Roar Guru
I've said it once, I'll say it again. If Australia's seamers bowl full with the seam up with the new ball we're in with a shout. If they bowl the short rubbish and scramble the seam like in Melbourne, then India will score 500-odd.
Franctony
Roar Rookie
I disagree. Really excited that kuldip is finally playing. In my view he's India's best spinner, better than Ashwin. He's a genuine wicket taker and is also dangerous on flat tracks because batsman have struggled to pick him across the world. India have played their best 11, unlike Australia.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
"left-arm spinner Ravi Jadeja was arguably the least threatening of India’s four bowlers in the last Test at Melbourne" Not sure I agree with you on that one Ronan - I thought Jadega looked very threatening against our left handers bowling into the rough outside their off stump - and it might happen here at the SCG
JoM
Roar Rookie
Ugh, another lost toss.
cantab
Guest
It would at least strengthen their tail considerably. Bringing in Labuschange and handscomb is substantially more crazy.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Interesting stats on the spinners, and on Ishant. Not sure which Yadav Australia would fear more though, Umesh or Kuldeep? Don’t agree that Ravi Jadeja was the least threatening of India’s four bowlers in Melb, particularly when he was bowling into the left handers’ rough. Made Harris look hopeless, Khawaja back to his usual fragility against spin and Head completely scratchy. Ashwin is also particularly dangerous against left handers, and bowling to lefties is a strong suit for Shami. Yet we have persisted in the folly of playing four of them, three particularly ordinary against spin and facing the extra challenge of footmarks as the game progresses. Something that India’s all right hand line up has less problem with, given that only one of the five/six quick bowlers playing regularly makes footmarks in their danger area. The plan we read of today to bat Labuschagne at 3 almost sounds like a two fingers to all the Roarers and other cricket fans tearing their hair out at current selection policy. Not only will we pick someone who has done almost zero to justify a spot in the Test team, we’ll make him the least qualified no.3 in Australian cricket history! Presumably the plan is to shield him from coming in too early against the spin. But if I were India, I’d bring on spin from both ends within a few overs if Bumrah and Shami don’t break through. Khawaja, Harris and Labuschagne could be in the sheds very quickly. Not because it’s the SCG but because this lot are super vulnerable to spin. Though Labuschagne might be better than the other two. The only saving grace is that Mitch Marsh isn’t in the XI. The At least the selectors had Handscomb up their sleeves to really get under skin of the cricketing public, although this might actually make sense if they play two spinners, as he is the second best player of spin in the this team! Otherwise, it might also have been better in my view to drop Finch to the middle order and omit Head or Harris for this game, but obviously that wasn’t going to happen. Hope I’m proved wrong.
Paul
Roar Guru
Ronan, I think the other alternative is to consider one last piece of unfinished business for Kohli - winning a Test series in Australia. He does not have to win this last Test, only draw it, so why would he NOT go with 7 batsmen, 2 quicks and 2 spinners? It doesn't matter if he doesn't get 20 wickets, Australia has not shown the ability to score any meaningful totals or score quickly in this series. Kohli's lineup will determine his mindset. If it's stacked with batsmen/allrounders, he's playing for a draw and if he wins the toss, that's almost assured.
Steve
Guest
2 spinners will be fine for India, it strengthens their batting if Jadeja and Ashwim both play and they will have enough bowling strength to take 20 Australian wickets.