England-based former India left-arm spinner opens up to Clayton Murzello on how Indian players contributed to their 0-3 mess in the ongoing England series
England-based former India left-arm spinner opens up to Clayton Murzello on how Indian players contributed to their 0-3 mess in the ongoing England series
ADVERTISEMENT
However, sheer dedicated hard work brings you fitness without a doubt. Dedicated bowling practice with the correct approach should give you the ability to bowl a line and length. And a lack of this has amazed me.
>> England deserve all the credit, accept it!
THE most sporting thing to do at this stage is to congratulate the England team for being absolutely geared up before the series. They executed their plans not only successfully, but under very difficult circumstances -- a couple of times in the series in the first and second Test -- things could have gone the other way in India's favour.
The underlying fact is that they have shown stronger stomach and resilience.
>> India's batting line-up is still the best
Thisu00a0England team have come a long way. At the same time, if you look at our team, it has come on this tour with enormous reputation. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a marvelous captain. He still is, even after his team has lost 0-3. And despite the defeat, he still has the best batting line-up in the world.
>> Nothing new about Zaheer's fitness problems
I BELIEVE in the adage that 'bowlers dictate a match.'
When you have bowlers who you are comfortable with and who can take 20 wickets, that's when you are sailing. Otherwise, you are always keeping your head above water. Our best bowler -- Zaheer Khan -- has not been fit enough for quite a while. I don't think Zaheer's fitness has been at its peak in the last two years that I've seen him. He has been on, and off.
It's a great shame, but this is a reality and we have to face it.
>> Praveen Kumar has stood out with his consistency
Our reserve strength has been extremely disappointing. The bowler who has toiled manfully is Praveen Kumar. He has stood out among the bowlers with consistency. In ideal conditions, he should be your third seamer, not your frontline bowler. He has become the front bowler and he is about five miles short in pace. If he bowled at 83mph or 84mph regularly with the odd ball at 87mph, he would have been a handful and a very good gain.
>> Too many runs conceded and too quickly...
WE have given runs away too quickly, leaving too much time for their bowlers to bowl our team out. It's as simple as that. These losses only underline the fact that we have to improve.
>> Where's the spin punch from India?
LOOK at the spin bowling... it has been barren. I don't want to be critical of anyone, but generally people have looked up to India for a quality spinner to at least tie up one end. A high quality spinner is expected to bowl reasonably tight. In a worse scenario, he will go for three runs an over and a good bowler will pick up a few wickets as well because you expect batsmen to take risks against you. Now, Iu00a0 always lament this: Before you bowl the first ball, you have a deep point and fielders who are not in attacking positions.
That position (deep point) is for a short, bad ball to save the boundary. So, you are immediately telling the batsman, 'hey, I'm not in a position to bowl tight' I have been noticing this for a long time.
>> Pull yourselves together and win at the Oval
THE Oval is viewed as a good batting pitch. In England, everything depends on the weather conditions on the day. The ball always moves here. But England have a strong enough bowling attack to probe and attack all the time. We will have to pull ourselves together and will have to make one huge performance. We should go all out to win and not draw the game.
"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels 
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
