Overseas tests, pitches and batsmen ...

[Vk1]

When evenly matched teams meet..what kind of pitches do we encounter?  Basically three types.. low, medium and high scoring ones.

Virtually anyone can bat on highscoring flat beds and those who can bat with high strikerates like Dhawan can give us better chance of winning than the likes of Pujara. Most teams do not prepare such pitches these days other than Australia but they can afford that since they keep producing wolf pack kind of fast bowlers.  

 

Like always, medium pitches are the ones frequently encountered till some years ago but even they have been reduced. These pitches creates scores such as 350 to 420 all-out with low second innings scores. On these pitches you need batsmen who have hunger to do well and get 100s and not those who get satisfied with 50s or 60s. You can pick any batsmen here.. both Dhawan and Pujara.. one does well in first innings while other is reliable in second innings.. playing out the new ball is important. 

 

Low / semi low scoring ones.. you get these most as hifi teams are on revenge mode especially against India.  You should pick batsmen with good defence, have patience to play out good spells, ability to score against weaker bowlers. Dhawan is an absolute no no as opener and I actually think he could be tried at 5 or 6 since the ball doesn't swing as much by then. Che Pu is a must here or we should pick guys from domestic level who did well on such pitches and not merely go by statistics. Batsmen who just rely on hand eye coordination will rarely do well here. Pick the donkeys who do all the hardwork and not flamboyant batsmen.

 

 

Edited August 5, 2018 by Vk1