The Five Bowler Theory

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Through out history we have mostly dominated teams at home.No latter who the opposition was and how weak our team was.We did this by notching up big scores and then putting the opposition under pressure by spin bowling.

We have hardly ever played 5 bowlers and only 5 specialist batsman at home.And this has worked for us for decades.

Now suddenly comes the Kitchen sink like a tracer bullet and starts this untested 5 bowler theory at home and that also againist SA.We have already lost the ODI series due to this and are under pressure after session one of 1st test.

This doesnt work in India and we need to go back to our old ways.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

4 down.And instead of Rohit Sharma or KL Rahul out comes Wriddhiman Saha.

[moniker]

Throughout history we also had good part time bowling options like Sachin, Sehwag, Ganguly etc who could be relied upon enough to make sure that the strike bowlers got enough rest. Now all we have is the crappy dibble-dobble of Kohli and the laughable off spin of Vijay.

Throughout history we had decent options to fill the fifth bowler's slot to back up the four specialist bowlers. Now what we have is Jadeja being played as a specialist bowler and an erratic but promising fast bowler in Yadav.

When both the bowling and batting cupboards are bare, it makes a lot more sense in test cricket to beef up the bowling and compromise on the batting. It would be ideal to have a proper all rounder, but we have to make do with what we have now.

[Ankit_sharma03]

We really don't need 5 bowlers on scrubby spinning pitches, much less when your #6 is Saha.

 

However, when you're other options are the useless Rohit Sharma, it's kind of a tough call

 

What I have always called for is a medium pace bowler who can bat at #6 and bowl a few overs. Someone like Vijay Shankar or Pandya although the latter hasn't done enough in the long form of the game

agreed if ur options r rohit sharma i doubt he wud hve even made 38

Yup shankar, pandya ill include shreyas gopal as well in that list is needed

N this problem of batsman at 6 will give us more trouble in overseas as we wud need 5 bowlers there 

but our batting cudnt be compromised there. 

 

This is were i srsly feel Someone shud give a earful to Irfan pathan

A bowler who cud pick wkts wid new ball, left armer variety, did started bowling round the wkt as well in last few matches i saw of him

His batting was way better than any of our all rounder. 

Even if today he was in side he cud hve been played as one fast bowler n our batting wud hve been a lil stronger

But all He himself is to be blamed more than anyone

He is injured almost every domestic season, Turns up for Ipl n Jhalak dikhlaja 

[diga]

Need a good batsman-wkt keeper if we are to play five bowlers.... Lets give saha this series or atleast two tests before making the call

[sscomp32]

Need a good batsman-wkt keeper if we are to play five bowlers.... Lets give saha this series or atleast two tests before making the call

We dont have one currently fit for international level. We are back to the era between mongia and MSD where we tried uncountable no of WKs till the time someone like MSD or even mongia is ready.  

[zubinpepsi]

so on a dustbowl where 3 spinners are running havoc, our new insightful captain goes with 5 bowler strategy with 2 fast bowler..

5 bowler strategy in india doesnt make any sense at all.. we could have used an extra batsman here.

[zen]

Considering that we don't have great all-rounders, on sporting or flat surfaces, the 5 bowler theory is acceptable esp. when the team is seeking to pick up 20 wkts 

Playing 5 batsmen is not the problem. The questions are 1. Are in-form batsmen being played?, 2. Do the key batsmen understand the additional responsibilities?

Having said that, if the pitch is expected to behave in a particular way, certain adjustments to suit the conditions can be made 

 

 

[sensible-indian]

Actually 4 bowlers are enough on tracks like this.

Rohit or Vijay bowling off spin is better than an extra pacer.

Overseas is where 5 bowlers are needed. Flat indian tracks is where 5 bowlers are needed.

So I won't mind 4 bowlers in the next game ASSUMING the pitch has life.

For the last 2 tests (squad yet to be announced) I would say bring Jayant Yadav (played tour game against Saffers and did well) and let's play 4 spinners (if needed) and Ishant.

Jayant Yadav can bat too. Bowling AR.

Edited November 6, 2015 by sensible-indian

[gakgupta]

It was working wonderful for india. Why change now?? 

 

We might loose one odd test match but it's gives a chance to win more matches rather than lame draws. I know, we haven't lost this match and neither it was a draw but there were situations in the this match, it could have went either way.

 

Jadeja can be treated as a complete all- rounder in Indian conditions. He can certainly bat better than ROHIT.

 

Ashwin & Saha are no mug with the bats either.

 

I know MISHRA is not in good form but still adds some value....Ideally, KULDEEP would have done better job then MISHRA, but mishra is not really bad in these conditions....(He can bat as well) 

 

[G_B_]

hmm i dont know. Umesh bowled like 23 overs in the match. Not sure we need another bowler.

[rkt.india]

Don't need 5 bowlers on these pitches.

[velu]

we have rohit sharma to fill the 5th bowler quota if needed..   @maniac

[urbestfriend]

Spinning pitches dont need 5 bowlers , whereas you need 5 bowlers in SC phattas ( 3 spinners ) or overseas phattas ( 3 pace bowlers )

[Lord]

5 hours ago, rkt.india said:

Don't need 5 bowlers on these pitches.

Why not?5th bowler was crucial in our wins vs SA,Aus and missed one against England 2012.Ashwin's form is hiding that for now

 

Don't remember when extra batsman made a telling contribution to the win.Rohit's innings here was surplus when we were already in good position

 

Ashwin,Saha,Jadeja and Mishra/Bhuvi are good enough to cover up for the extra batsman.

[Trichromatic]

More than 5 bowlers, I think it's time that our pacers are told to contribute more with their bowling. Apart from the strategy of keeping it tight they can plan and practice for reverse swing. Captain should tell them they will be given short spells of 4 overs regularly and they have to plan for that instead of keep bowling spinners for 20 overs.

[gakgupta]

51 minutes ago, Lord said:

Why not?5th bowler was crucial in our wins vs SA,Aus and missed one against England 2012.Ashwin's form is hiding that for now

 

Don't remember when extra batsman made a telling contribution to the win.Rohit's innings here was surplus when we were already in good position

 

Ashwin,Saha,Jadeja and Mishra/Bhuvi are good enough to cover up for the extra batsman.

Spot on...

We started winning consistently after going with 5 bowlers strategy.....

There were multiple times mishhy came and got that all important wicket.....

Moreover, it's a long season and we cant risk ashwin being worn out. (or much worse).

Jaddu's looks very capable batsmen in these conditions

[Ankit_sharma03]

A bowler friendly pitches mostly needs extra cushion in batting and Batting roads needs that 5th bowling option.

What was the need of 5th bowler here when we won by 197 runs. 

 

Strategy should be flexible not stubborn 

[rkt.india]

11 hours ago, Trichromatic said:

More than 5 bowlers, I think it's time that our pacers are told to contribute more with their bowling. Apart from the strategy of keeping it tight they can plan and practice for reverse swing. Captain should tell them they will be given short spells of 4 overs regularly and they have to plan for that instead of keep bowling spinners for 20 overs.

they have certainly done their bits.

[rkt.india]

12 hours ago, Lord said:

Why not?5th bowler was crucial in our wins vs SA,Aus and missed one against England 2012.Ashwin's form is hiding that for now

 

Don't remember when extra batsman made a telling contribution to the win.Rohit's innings here was surplus when we were already in good position

 

Ashwin,Saha,Jadeja and Mishra/Bhuvi are good enough to cover up for the extra batsman.

Not really, we only played 5 bowlers against at Mohali against SA. We played 4 bowlers in Delhi and Nagpur. Even against Aus, we would have won those matches by playing just 4 bowlers because one of the 5 bowlers will always be under-bowled. Also, apart from Delhi test, none of those pitches against Aus were rank turners and we did see some big scores. On low scoring pitches, you dont need extra bowler where you are barely bowling 90 overs per innings.