Harbhajan Singh (bowling) under the scanner: a.k.a The Spin Crisis

[King Tendulkar]

Slamming a spinner based on what he does on a day 1 pitch. The lack of knowledge is shocking.

For the posters who lack cricket acumen! Please note and learn and do NOT REPEAT the mistake again please. Thanks much appreciated

[Sachinism]

Bhaji bowled much better in the 2nd innings, came around the wicket to left handers, gave the ball more air But even in the 2nd innings when McCullum and O'Brien were batting, McCullum batted 4 balls and gave Iain 2 balls, what did Bhaji do as soon as O'Brien came on strike? Dart one on leg stump, when he finally decided to give air he got him out I hope he learns from this, giving the odd ball air will bring you wickets

[The Outsider]

I've been one of his harshest critics but he seems to have copped way too much flak for his first innings performance. It's just a limitation of using a finger spinner in the first innings on pitches like in NZ, Australia, and England. There is hardly anything on offer from the surface in these conditions and the best you can expect your finger spinner to do is keep it tight and hope he comes through in the second innings when there is a bit of assistance available.

[Ram]

One good performance should not overshadow the many glaring deficiencies of Bhajji, but the point is, this is a really hard time for spinners. Everywhere around the world spinners are getting carted, whether it be in seamer friendly tracks of Australia or South Africa, or the low slow tracks of Asia. Therefore, its unfair to pass judgments on a spinners at this moment. And to just prove this, here's a look at the official ICC top test bowlers' rankings; 1 855 M. Muralidaran SL 2 811 M.G. Johnson AUS 2 811 D.W. Steyn SA 4 767 S.R. Clark AUS 5 758 M. Ntini SA 6 686 Harbhajan Singh IND 7 670 J.E. Taylor WI 8 664 W.P.U.J.C. Vaas SL 9 660 B. Lee AUS 10 654 R.J. Sidebottom ENG Just TWO spinners in the top 10, just two, thats it.

[The Outsider]

Just TWO spinners in the top 10, just two, thats it.

That's hardly surprising considering fast bowlers out number spinners around 3-4:1 in world cricket. I don't think there would have been more than 3 spinners in the top 10 for any consistent period of time.

[Ram]

That's hardly surprising considering fast bowlers out number spinners around 3-4:1 in world cricket. I don't think there would have been more than 3 spinners in the top 10 for any consistent period of time.

And that happens for a good reason, which is that the conditions all over the world have been getting less conducive to spin bowling. Even the traditional spin-friendly tracks of the subcontinent have painfully slowed down. If the spinners took more wickets, why would the team not pick them?

[The Outsider]

And that happens for a good reason, which is that the conditions all over the world have been getting less conducive to spin bowling. Even the traditional spin-friendly tracks of the subcontinent have painfully slowed down. If the spinners took more wickets, why would the team not pick them?

That ratio has stayed fairly consistent over cricket history. Reason being spinners usually come into play only during/after the 3rd day of a test while fast bowlers remain in the game throughout the match though not probably not as effective as spinners on some tracks on the last couple of days. It has nothing to do with modern times but just the way cricket has been played for decades.

[Ram]

That ratio has stayed fairly consistent over cricket history. Reason being spinners usually come into play only during/after the 3rd day of a test while fast bowlers remain in the game throughout the match though not probably not as effective as spinners on some tracks on the last couple of days. It has nothing to do with modern times but just the way cricket has been played for decades.

Except that, pretty soon even in the subcontinent, you will begin to see more and more teams playing the 3 seamers- 1 spinners combos frequently. Quite a climbdown from the days when we into test matches with Saurav Ganguly as one of our opening bowlers I'd say. Think about it, its been the pacers who have been making the winning difference even in Asia recently. When was the last a spinner demolished a batting line-up in Pakistan? Their tracks are horribly slow and if there is any assistance at all, its there for the swing bowlers.

[cochise]

http://content.cricinfo.com/nzvind2009/content/current/story/396202.html

New Zealand v India, 1st Test, Hamilton, 4th day Turning it on, Harbhajan style Sidharth Monga at Seddon Park March 21, 2009 Harbhajan Singh is pumped up after dismissing James Franklin, New Zealand v India, 1st Test, Hamilton, 4th day, March 21, 2009 With 22 wickets in four Tests since Anil Kumble's retirement, and a match-winning five-for in Hamilton, Harbhajan Singh seems to be on the right track © Getty Images One of the criticisms that Harbhajan Singh has had to live with is his performance overseas. After all, how many times had he won India a Test outside the subcontinent? One has to strain the mind to think of such instances. Harbhajan's 10-for at Galle last year was perhaps his only genuine match-winning performance outside India. A difference of about 12 points in his average at home and overseas is well documented. Before the Hamilton Test, Harbhajan had taken 17 five-fors at home, which didn't compare well with five away, in 10 fewer games. For the most successful offspinner of a country that has a proud spin tradition, it didn't make for good reading. Harbhajan's remarkable figures of 6 for 63 today have come against a New Zealand side lacking in classy batsmen who can face up to spin. The batsmen allowed Harbhajan to settle into a groove, hardly using their feet against him, allowing him to bowl where he wanted to. Nontheless, it is an important performance for him - his first five-for against New Zealand and one that has resulted in a famous win. He talked about that missing five-for last night with his team-mates. It is missing no longer. "Though there wasn't much help for the spinner, they didn't go after him," Dhoni said. "Once you allow a bowler of his calibre to get on top of you, more often than not he will get wickets or contain you, which is as good. "It will be important to see him through throughout the Test series, because he is the kind of bowler if he starts getting wickets, game after game, he will continue to do so." Another criticism Harbhajan has lived with is that he is one of those spinners who look lethal when they are doing really well, and lacklustre when things are not going their way. The longer he takes to get a first wicket, the faster and flatter he starts to bowl. That persistence, that willingness to purchase wickets, is sometimes missing. But in New Zealand's second innings, Harbhajan remained persistent, varying his pace as opposed to quickening it, and utilised the minimal rough that was available to him. The pitch at the Seddon Park wasn't entirely to Harbhajan's liking. There was not much pace off the track, and hardly any assistance in terms of break. Daniel Vettori toiled for 35.4 overs for two wickets, albeit against much better batsmen. And since the pitches in New Zealand don't deteriorate fast there wasn't much rough to work with. When Harbhajan came on to bowl for the first time yesterday, New Zealand had a partnership going. Martin Guptill looked really good in the way he attacked the medium-pacers, and though he got most of the criticism for the shot he played, a lob-drive to mid-off, the fact was that the ball turned out to be shorter than he had expected. It was these small nuances that Harbhajan had to rely on, rather than the big-spinning, spitting offbreaks or the bigger-than-legbreak doosras. Jesse Ryder was caught plumb to a ball that straightened just enough from round the stumps, and Franklin scooped a flighted delivery that drew him into the shot. That he wasn't up against a famed batting line-up does takes some gloss off his figures, but the flat track perhaps restores it again. Another aspect that shone through for Harbhajan in the second innings, was that he looked to be the leader of the attack, coming from the knowledge that he is the No. 1 spinner in the team. The feisty character that he is, he has invariably risen to the occasion whenever he has had to lead the spin attack. In the 21 Tests that he has played without Anil Kumble, he averages 26.19 as opposed to a career average of 30.58. There is no doubt that playing alongside Kumble helped Harbhajan grow as a spinner, but towards the end of Kumble's career, the time had perhaps come when he needed that extra responsibility. It perhaps showed in that he had become a much better bowler in one-day cricket than in Tests. All through the final stages of Kumble's career, there were fears over whether Harbhajan could take over the mantle of being India's No. 1 spinner. Much of it had to do with his overseas performances. With 22 wickets in four Tests since Kumble's retirement, and a match-winning five-for in New Zealand, Harbhajan seems to be on the right track.

[punjabi_khota]

Oh hai, fineleg. First innings. Overseas tour. 3 wickets again. After taking a 6 fer in the first test.

[Anakin]

Bhajji has been very successful ever since he started bowling aggressively and trying to spin the ball.

[DomainK]

Well done Bhajji today. I am sure he will be quite a handful for NZ in the second innings. If rain does not interfere, this is our match.

[graphic23]

He got the ball to drift like crazy today. Very good bowling.

[cochise]

Thought you guys would be interested...this from cricinfo:

33.6 Franklin to Gambhir, no run, full in length and outside off, left alone Ross Taylor dismissal: Ian Smith said he spoke to Taylor who said he had nicked it down leg. There was a edge. That's why he walked off without showing any signs of disappointment yesterday. Glad, that's cleared up. 33.5 Franklin to Gambhir, no run, short in length and outside off, left alone 33.4 Franklin to Gambhir, no run, leans forward to shoulder arms 33.3 Franklin to Gambhir, no run, on a length, just outside off, Gambhir plants his back leg back and across and allows it to pass through to the keeper 33.2 Franklin to Gambhir, no run, fuller, outside off, driven to cover 33.1 Franklin to Gambhir, FOUR, cutting in from short of length from outside off, Gambhir stays adjacent to the line and punches it through backward point. Very nicely played.

[graphic23]

Yeah that was awesome by Taylor. Really good stuff. Awesome talent too.

[cochise]

That is being a real sport.

[graphic23]

Yup. He looked like he was batting on a different surface yesterday. Some of the shots were just awesome. And he's always smiling on the field too - batting/bowling, etc.

[cochise]

Yeah...the aussies could do worse than learn from this Kiwi side as to how to behave on the field...

[Mr. Wicket]

Ross Taylor is a gentleman and a class act. Meanwhile, Bhajji's really bowled well this series. Hats off to the man for the best overseas performance I've seen from him in a good while.

[cochise]

Bhajji is a fighter...he may not be the best you've ever seen but he will fight.