Line & Length
R Mohan
Oval bounce will decide India's fate
August 09, 2007
There will be no sweets on the pitch at The Oval showdown. Jellygate will be a distant memory as England and India go into a battle that could define the future course of both cricket teams in the computerised international game of snakes and ladders called the ratings.
India have not savoured an away win against the world's (currently) second best Test side in over 20 years, while the bigger blot on their record remains that they have never won a series Down Under. England have not lost a home series since Australia walked all over them in 2001.
About a month ago, when the teams were warming up for this series, it was freely predicted that neither side had the bowling firepower to take 20 wickets. How wrong everyone was would have come home with the first Test drawn only because of the wet weather, with India nine wickets down, and the second ending before lunch on the final day.
Conditions mean everything in England. If the ball is swinging, as it has all summer whether due to the damp atmosphere or the Duke brand of red cherry or a combination of both, then the batsmen tend to take a back seat. If the Met men are right about the glorious, virtually autumnal weather they are promising for The Oval, then there could even be a high scoring draw. That is, if India cope with the early steep bounce.
The bounce is what the Indians may have to fear since the weather might make pronounced movement a thing of the past. There were enough signs of vulnerability in India's batting against bounce when the last few runs remained for the Test win at Trent Bridge.
After Tremlett showed up the cracks, the English quicks will be aiming to pitch that much shorter soon as the shine is off and Sidebottom has probed with swing. England have eschewed the temptation to bring in Stuart Broad who is another in the six foot six inch category.
The hosts could not possibly have gone in with five bowlers. The batting is already too shallow with little to come behind Vaughan and Petersen.
Bell is yet to ring true this series and Prior, who may win contests in sledging every time but not always in a fight of character in a crisis. The talkative wicket-keeper is still in his first season and is already feeling the pressures of propping up the late middle order.
Both teams are well equipped in the spin department as India have the stalwart Anil Kumble who can exploit bounce as well as a wearing pitch and England possess a class act in Panesar. And The Oval has been known to settle to offer spinners their due. In many ways, this is the ideal London venue for these showdowns at high noon.
India's two left arm seamers have picked up 25 of 40 wickets in two Tests. Their new angle from wide of the crease when bowling around the wicket with the swinging ball has posed myriad questions. How effective they will be if there is not that much swing may determine India's ambitions. Dravid, who is due a big one in a series he has not stamped with his batting authority, will be the one drawing up the tactics. Having been the top performer in many of India's biggest overseas wins, he is under some pressure, too while his counterpart, Vaughan, has been in great form. A fascinating decider is on the cards after India's bittersweet win at Trent Bridge.
Republished with permission from The Asian Age
India have not savoured an away win against the world's (currently) second best Test side in over 20 years, while the bigger blot on their record remains that they have never won a series Down Under. England have not lost a home series since Australia walked all over them in 2001.
About a month ago, when the teams were warming up for this series, it was freely predicted that neither side had the bowling firepower to take 20 wickets. How wrong everyone was would have come home with the first Test drawn only because of the wet weather, with India nine wickets down, and the second ending before lunch on the final day.
Conditions mean everything in England. If the ball is swinging, as it has all summer whether due to the damp atmosphere or the Duke brand of red cherry or a combination of both, then the batsmen tend to take a back seat. If the Met men are right about the glorious, virtually autumnal weather they are promising for The Oval, then there could even be a high scoring draw. That is, if India cope with the early steep bounce.
The bounce is what the Indians may have to fear since the weather might make pronounced movement a thing of the past. There were enough signs of vulnerability in India's batting against bounce when the last few runs remained for the Test win at Trent Bridge.
After Tremlett showed up the cracks, the English quicks will be aiming to pitch that much shorter soon as the shine is off and Sidebottom has probed with swing. England have eschewed the temptation to bring in Stuart Broad who is another in the six foot six inch category.
The hosts could not possibly have gone in with five bowlers. The batting is already too shallow with little to come behind Vaughan and Petersen.
Bell is yet to ring true this series and Prior, who may win contests in sledging every time but not always in a fight of character in a crisis. The talkative wicket-keeper is still in his first season and is already feeling the pressures of propping up the late middle order.
Both teams are well equipped in the spin department as India have the stalwart Anil Kumble who can exploit bounce as well as a wearing pitch and England possess a class act in Panesar. And The Oval has been known to settle to offer spinners their due. In many ways, this is the ideal London venue for these showdowns at high noon.
India's two left arm seamers have picked up 25 of 40 wickets in two Tests. Their new angle from wide of the crease when bowling around the wicket with the swinging ball has posed myriad questions. How effective they will be if there is not that much swing may determine India's ambitions. Dravid, who is due a big one in a series he has not stamped with his batting authority, will be the one drawing up the tactics. Having been the top performer in many of India's biggest overseas wins, he is under some pressure, too while his counterpart, Vaughan, has been in great form. A fascinating decider is on the cards after India's bittersweet win at Trent Bridge.
Republished with permission from The Asian Age
