Looking for a quick-fix

The BCCI might not publish a notice similar to the aforementioned one to fill the vacancy caused by seamer Praveen Kumar’s injury. But the situation is rather alarming. News from the Ranji Trophy circuit indicates that Zaheer Khan is still bowling gingerly,while Ishant Sharma needs long bouts of rest after each game to help the soreness in his ankle subside.

This means the two most experienced Indian seamers are unsure of lasting the grind during the Australian summer. The two supporting pacers — Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav — have played one and two Tests respectively. Moreover,PK’s absence means the attack will lack variety,which the seamer owns with his innate skill and guile,leaving the Australia-bound squad looking distinctly monotonous.

In the last couple of years,16 fast bowlers of various shapes and sizes have been tried out,and eventually rejected. Of the regulars,S Sreesanth has stress fractures in his big toe and Munaf Patel is yet to recover from an ankle injury. RP Singh and Irfan Pathan are not obvious picks anymore,while Ashish Nehra,despite his recent Ranji exploits,remains a one-day specialist.

Selectors have previously thrown Test caps to relative rookies (Jaidev Unadkat),or recalled unfit stars based on their past reputations (RP Singh). Suddenly,finding that one seamer,essentially a replacement who can step in up,has become a challenge.

PK’s elbow injury has added uncertainity and given the selectors a headache when it comes to picking the fifth medium-pacer (assuming that Zaheer Khan,provisionally selected is declared fit).

Could it be Abhimanyu Mithun? Or Vinay Kumar. RP or Irfan even. But the chosen one will undoubtedly carry with him the pressure of expectation during the tour Down Under.

Skill to the fore

The situation,in terms of bench strength,is exactly opposite to that of the Australians. Even with Mitchell Johnson out,they have Patrick Cummins,Mitch Starc,Ryan Harris,Peter Siddle,Doug Bollinger,Ben Cutting and Ben Hilfenhaus,who can all scorch the speed-guns and exploit home conditions.

When touring Australia,pacers are advised to be at their incisive and back-bending best. And though India might have three of their fastest men on board,their recent show against the West Indies was no acid test of their skill. Venkatesh Prasad,former speedster and India’s fast bowling coach on the 2008 tour,says that skill is a pre-requisite to excel in Australia.

“What one needs most to do well in Australia is skill. As a bowler,you need to implement whatever you are good at,as well as possible. If you are a tearaway quick,you also need to be accurate in your line and length. And even if you are bowling at just 130 and get the ball to swing,you’d still need hit the right length. Yes,there will be some help from conditions but unless you are skillfull enough,you can’t take advantage of it,” adds Prasad.

Skills come to the fore because bowlers don’t get much help from conditions. The weather is mostly dry and the red kookaburra ball with a flattish seam doesn’t hold much promise for seamers either. That roughly translates into a lot of physical effort.

Nehra,meanwhile,believes that even if all the Indian pacers were fully fit and available,the Australian batting line-up still has an experienced middle order to deal with them. “To do well in Australia,you need bowlers who can hit the deck,bowl with a straight seam and manage to extract that little bit of movement. As a bowler,you don’t have much of a chance if you just release the ball. There you have to earn your wickets with ability. You need to be able to bowl with the new ball as well as work on the old ball,” Nehra says.

Chetan Chauhan,who has played many years in Australia and was manager on the last tour Down Under recalls how he had then prevented the ‘England episode’ and sent back an injured Zaheer after the Melbourne Test because he couldn’t have made an impact.

“In England,any bowler can get swing,but not in Australia. There isn’t much lateral movement off the wicket as well because pitches are generally drier,so a bowler will have to be special to make an impact there. I remember,the Indian team management wanted to hold Zaheer back to see if he could get fit but I refused because I knew that in Australia,to do well you need to be extremely fit and put in a lot of physical load. I did the same with RP Singh,because a half-fit bowler,no matter how experienced,cannot help,” says Chauhan.

The importance of being Zaheer is well documented recently,so much so that with his injury,India’s chances of winning in England too had virtually disappeared. Once again,there’s a lot expected from Zaheer’s fragile body and every ball he bowls in domestic cricket is seen to be bolstering India’s chances Down Under. However,Zaheer,interestingly,has never gone beyond the Melbourne Test on previous two occasions,and the only time he touched Sydney was to announce his disappointment of missing out on the rest of the tour.

Playing mentor

“Once again,I am not holding out too many hopes from Zaheer on this tour,” Chauhan says wryly,adding,“To play the mentor role is different but to lead the attack is a different proposition altogether. Don’t forget,we had Anil Kumble,Harbhajan Singh,even RP… they were all experienced and Zaheer’s absence wasn’t felt so much. This time,he has to run through a side,because others around him are all rookies. Between him and Ishant,they have to share a whole lot of burden,” warns Chauhan.

Prasad also feels that Zaheer has a lot riding on him to ease the pressure off youngsters.

“A lot will depend on Zaheer Khan,and what role he plays — whether he leads the attack from the front or plays a holding role. But with the kind of batting line-up that we have,it’s important that they score a minimum of 350-400. That way,you are easing the pressure on the bowlers. There’s no point in blaming bowlers as they don’t have the experience. So it’s imperative that the batsmen really do well and provide that cushion for the bowlers. How well our bowlers bowl in Australia will depend on how much confidence and protection their batting can give them,” says Prasad.

AUSSIE TECHNIQUE

Apart from sending down a lot of overs,there are several technical adjustments that a pacer has to make while bowling in Australia. One reason why only few Indian seamers have done well outside the subcontinent is because most bowlers,bred on slow and low wickets,get carried away by the bounce on foreign pitches.

Subroto Banerjee,who played in the 1992 World Cup in Australia and later worked as a coach there for several years,says the back-of-length concept is the same for all bouncy wickets,but the pertinent point is to lure batsmen forward.

“Wherever there’s bounce,it’s important to hit the back of length,but the idea is still to get the batsman to come forward and nick. On these kind of pitches,you don’t bowl too full because you expect the batters to hit on the rise,” says the former fast bowler.

“I’ve had long chats with Umesh on this,and told him clearly that he should not get carried away by the bounce on the wicket and start banging it short. It’s about how you can use that bounce to trouble the batsman. Aussies are known to cut and pull the ball with ease,so it’s important to get them to play forward,” Banerjee adds.

Banerjee,though,says that pitches this time would be a lot different from what was on offer last time around. He believes that Australians are preparing a special welcome — of the vicious variety — for the Indians.

“Over the years,the pitches there had slowed down,and that’s why last time the tracks weren’t as quick as they used to be. But they relaid a lot of those wickets,and from what I have gathered,a lot of planning is going into extracting maximum home advantage. I expect the present pitches to have plenty of pace and bounce. India has a good pace attack but still pace is Australia’s strength. A lot of those guys bowl at 90 miles plus and given India’s problems with short-pitched deliveries,Australia will have their plans in place,” warns Banerjee.

Over the years,India has toured Australia defensively with the intent of saving a Test series,nagged by plenty of doubt in their batsmen’s ability. Things did change in 2003 (draw) and in 2007 (lost) to a considerable extent when India won a Test match on both tours. India is travelling to Australia with the unprecedented expectations of winning a series there — accentuated by the vulnerability of the Aussie teams in recent years.

Indian bowlers have thus,never before been under such scrutiny or intense pressure on an overseas tour.

The ‘Wanted’ chants for eligible blokes are not just a call to fill up a single pacer’s slot. With rising expectations,Indian pacers are expected to satisfy the hankering voices of fans who believe a series win in Australia is there for the taking.

‘I would love to repeat the Ponting moment’

Ishant Sharma bowled his dream spell — one that made him feel like he belonged to international cricket — to the Australian captain on the last tour Down Under. Ahead of his departure later this week,the fast bowler speaks to The Sunday Express about the challenges of playing in Australia.

What are your memories from the last tour to Australia?

I am what I am because of that 2008 tour to Australia. I can never forget it. I enhanced my reputation after that spell to Ponting at Perth. I also had a great ODI series there. That tour gave me immense confidence and it helped me realise that I belong.

What is your objective this time around?

I would love to repeat that Ponting moment. I know everybody will talk about it and I want that to happen all over again. I want to bowl as quick as I can and have been doing. I am working hard on my fitness and I am bowling long spells in the nets.

You were a rookie in ’08,this time you are a lot more experienced. How will it change your approach?

Going in with a reputation means you have added responsibility. It is much easier when there isn’t a buzz,and people aren’t talking about you. When you are an established bowler,batsmen are better prepared to face you. But I will take it as a challenge. The Aussies may be better prepared for me but I still have the skill.

Talking of preparations,how are you shaping up?

I don’t like to plan too far ahead because if I do I tend to put pressure on myself. Usually I plan with Zaheer bhai and with bowling coach Eric Simons just ahead of a game.

Young fast bowlers Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav are in a similar position as you were in 2008. What have you told them?

If you look at a brief history of fast bowlers; Irfan did well in 2003,I did well in 2008,so new fast bowlers are bound to do well this time too. I have told them to just enjoy their game and don’t put any pressure on themselves.

The Aussies will put pressure by targeting you. But they are better at playing mind games than they are at playing the game. And if you start to enjoy your game and not worry about anything else,you tend to bowl a lot better. That’s what I expect Umesh and Aaron to do this time.