INDIAN TEST CRICKET AND FAST BOWLING

There was a time when Indian cricket craved for genuine pace bowlers truth be told it had its share of quick bowlers the likes of Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Ajit Agarkar. But the fixation of selectors and cricket fans with a bowler with raw pace was so overwhelming that each and every upcoming bowler was put through the magnifying glass. The diligence paid off and with the emergence of Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami and Varun Arun for the first time India boasted of fast bowlers clocking 145+ kmps on regular basis. There was a sense of euphoria in India with the understanding that batsmen world over will hop on deliveries bowled by Indian bowlers and they can  for the first time give back what their batsmen have been getting all along.

The bubble of expectation bursts after India’s 2-0 loss in the 2014-2015 tour of Australia. The loss was more hurting as the young Indian batsmen matched up against the Australian pace battery and succeeded in posting respectable scores consistently but it was the Indian fast bowlers who failed miserably to exercise any sort of control. There is a cricket idiom, dot balls help in building pressure and pressure leads to wickets. It felt that the fast bowlers were trying to outdo one another by bowling fast and forgetting their primary job which was taking wickets. The embarrassing losses opened the old adage, tigers in home condition and pups outside.

Although there were many incidents where Australian batters who are born and brought up on a healthy staple diet of fast bowling looked ill at ease negotiating the pace and bounce generated by the Indian bowlers. But what the fast bowlers failed to achieve was consistent spells of sustained pressure from both the ends and identifying the moments when to go all out and when to hold back. So whom did the fault lie with?

It’s very easy to point finger at the likes of Yadav, Varun and Shami; and say that they weren’t up to the task. The fact that, fast bowling is a difficult art just like batting but the similarities end there as up and coming batsmen have the likes of Virat, Rohit and Rahane to look up to whereas India’s fast bowling battery have none to turn for guidance. Who are the Indian rookie fast bowlers look up to for guidance? Zaheer Khan’s absence has been a big loss. The only other fast bowler which India has used consistency is Ishant Sharma who sadly has flattered to deceive despite being given numerous chances.

All is still not lost for Varun and Yadav as selectors have kept faith with them by picking them in the Indian-A team that will play two four day games against the touring Australia-A side commencing from 22^nd July. It is up to them to perform in those games and stake their claim in the test side as a challenging summer awaits India cricket with a tour of Sri Lanka scheduled in August followed by a home series with the South African’s. Varun, Yadav and Shami who is still out injured since the world cup are the three of the fastest and the best among the current crop of fast bowlers who are plying their trade on the domestic scene. One thing is certain that these fast bowlers no doubt have talent but what they need is proper encouragement and assistance.