Back to spinning ways?

With Jamtha pitch expected to provide turn,India could go with leggie Amit Mishra

So far in the ODI series,the Indian fast bowlers have given away 650 runs at an economy of 6.54. Australia have averaged 89 runs in their last 10 overs,with 122 the highest. The lowest they have managed is 57 runs,which came at Ranchi,despite having been seven wickets down at the end of the 40th over.

Only two of Indias main bowlersof those whove bowled more than 10 overshave an economy lower than run-a-ball. Bhuvneshwar Kumars economy rate for the series is close to one-and-a-half runs more than his career record. Same is the case with Ravichandran Ashwin. While Vinay Kumar can lay claim to be the highest wicket-taker for India with seven scalps,hes been expensive economy of 7.04 and has more often than not let the Australians out of jail. And enoughs already been written on Ishant Sharmas travails.

In cricket,numbers rarely lie. And in no uncertain terms,Indias bowling has been an unrelenting headache for Mahendra Singh Dhoni over the last couple of weeks. Its now-or-never time for the world champions as they face off against George Baileys Australians at Jamthas VCA Stadium on Wednesday. The unplanned break that has come the two teams way might have been accepted with glee but its unlikely that Dhoni will breathe easy with regards to his teams tribulations with the ball.

spin friendly track

But there might be some respite for the Indian skipper in Nagpur. The pitch is expected to be an old Indian favouritea slow turner,which would mean two things. One that it might not be as brazenly conducive to stroke-play as the wickets on view so far. Secondly,and more importantly,it could well bring the Indian spinners into the game a lot more. And the nature of the pitch is expected to open the door for Amit Mishra with the hosts contemplating a three-prong spin attack to thwart the Australians.

The Haryana leg-spinner probably would already be considering himself unlucky to have spent the series so far on the bench,especially when you consider his last outing in Indian colours18 wickets in the five-match ODI series in Zimbabwe,a world record. But Mishra will not come in as a run-blocker and instead his attacking style of leg-spin could end up as a gamble. Except Philip Hughes,however,the Australian top-order is flooded with right-handers and if anything that fact alone could bring Mishra into the game a lot more than the out-of-form Ashwin.

And Mishra the wicket-taker could be the right antidote India require to pose a challenge to the likes of Bailey,Adam Voges and Brad Haddin.

Playing three spinners would entail dropping one of the three seamers who played at Ranchi. With Mohammad Shami having made a massive impression in Dhonis home town he will certainly be one of the two playing in Nagpur. The tricky one will be who will partner him with the likes of Vinay Kumar,Jaydev Unadkat and Bhuvneshwar Kumar vying for that second spot.

Focusing on skills

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Tuesdays practice session saw the Indian bowlers divided into two groups. Vinay Kumar,Shami and Ashwin were involved in a target bowling session targeting one stump on the centre wicket under the watchful eyes of bowling coach Joe Dawes. Ishant,Bhuvneshwar and Unadkat,meanwhile,sweat it out in the nets.

If the pitch does live up to its reputation,it should also nullify the Australian bowlers major weapon throughout the series. Now a team that has conceded 360 to lose a match wouldnt ideally hold the bragging rights in a series. But led by Mitchell Johnson in particular,the visitors have focused their energies on bouncing the Indians out with considerable success. They havent been overtly miserly either. But they have kept the hosts powerful top-order in check with their short-pitched strategy. A lack of bounce in Nagpur will certainly favour the Indian batsmen,the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina in particular who havent been among the runs.

Australian left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty too sounded optimistic about the role of the slower bowlers in Nagpur. The last game in Ranchi,it was spinning a little bit. It looks like this wicket might take spin as well. I think the spinners might play a role here, he said. The likes of Ashwin and Jadeja too will hope that their counterparts words ring true.

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