‘Time for bowlers to step up’

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Before the current series, it all looked rosy for India. On paper and recent form they appeared to have the edge — with bat and ball — over a struggling Australia.

Yet, no matter how difficult to swallow it may be, the current scoreline only implies that the ‘favourites’ are the ones who have been on the receiving end Down Under so far.

With Michael Clarke and Co. already leading 2-0 with two more Tests to go, all India can hope for is to level the series. But for that to happen, they must win in Perth and Adelaide.

The visitors certainly had their chances in both Tests. If poor batting was the main reason behind the two defeats, the bowlers too were equally to blame.

On the other hand, the rival pacers — barring James Pattinson — who were carted to all corners of the ground by England’s batsmen during last year’s Ashes have so far got most things right. So what exactly seems to be ailing India’s bowlers when their Australian counterparts are creating all sorts of problems?

“We do need to admit that these Aussie quicks have so for put up a spirited and inspired effort, reflecting the improvement they have undergone over the last 12 months,” explains former India pacer Subroto Banerjee, who had a reasonably long stint in Australia playing for New South Wales.

Added Banerjee, who played his only Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the 1992 series with three wickets in the first innings, “Now we need to accept the reality when talking about our bowlers, who are more suited in bowling at Indian or for that matter, sub-continental wickets.”

Banerjee feels India’s performance with the ball in Sydney had more to do with the flat deck than the pace trio and Ravichandran Ashwin’s inability to get batsmen out.

“The SCG wicket normally flattens out from the second day onwards. Having played at that ground for quite a few years, I’ve experienced that the pitch is more like one of those we see here in India.

Whatever little help bowlers get is only on the first day. At the same time, going almost wicketless throughout the day is part of the game.”

The country’s latest pace sensation, Umesh Yadav, too failed to come hard against the likes of Ricky Ponting, Clarke and Michael Hussey despite having impressed in Melbourne.

However, as a mentor to Yadav, Banerjee emphasises that the youngster should keep focusing on taking wickets no matter how many runs he concedes.

“Umesh should be allowed to go full throttle as he is a wicket-taking bowler. It won’t be of any use if he is asked to concentrate on checking the flow of runs.

“Of course, he is still inexperienced and needs to work a little on his length. But I do believe he will turn into an even better bowler at the end of this series,” Banerjee said.

Nevertheless, the current attack certainly possesses the ability to bounce back, feels former bowling coach of MRF Pace Foundation T.A. Sekar.

“It’s not easy to bowl with the Kookaburra ball. Once it gets heavy, getting it to reverse-swing becomes extremely difficult.

But all said and done, I’m pretty hopeful of these bowlers striking back at the Waca because I’m well aware of their capabilities,” he said.