Bowling, As A Unit [Overseas]

[SLICKR392]

So I was watching the SA-Aus highlights and Siddle was running in at early and mid 130s, but yet so effective. Perks of bowling as a unit- you have one guy bowling on the other end at mid 130s and 140s and swinging it both ways and an other guy banging in at 150 KPH and literally toying with the batsmen's mind. Having Johnson is an other thing, a massive asset. Nearly most teams have a partnership; Anderson-Broad, Siddle-Harris + Johnson, Styen-Morkel, Boult-Southee etc. Not including Pakistan as they are yet to find an unit that stick in the side for at least few months. Waqar-Wasim was something special. These guys aid each other and bolsters up one another's bowling from each ends. Take our spineless attack for the last couple of years. We basically had no in England who bowled well decently enough throughout the series, a few good performance in patches. Praveen's fifer, Sreeshanth and Ishant rarely good spells. Australia- it was solely Yadav who performed decently enough throughout the series. Zaheer was infrequent with his bowling. Two 4fers, IIRC and nothing Zaheer thereafter. Had Yadav bowling with a Shami or better bowler from the other end, we would got wickets more regularly rather than in rare intervals. There was that brief period in MCG where Zaheer and Umesh were bowling well in tandem and the Australian wickets were falling without any long gaps at the other end in both innings. Our lot are more interested in bowling individually rather than in a sole outfit. The last time we bowled in such manner was in during our outing the 2nd innings of the 1st Test against NZ. Zaheer had acknowledged it himself after that performance and also made it clear how significant it was to bowl as a unit. I quote him- "Definitely one of the top spells we have bowled as a unit," Zaheer said. "Brilliant performance by the bowlers. As a bowling unit we clicked. It was a collective effort. That is what is crucial when we get teams out for low totals. Last time I remember was in Trinidad in 2001, (when) we had a similar kind of innings where all the bowlers chipped with three wickets. That was a collective effort. You can't do this with just any bowler. NO, not with the current wobbly seam, 126 KPH Ishant Sharma or a struggling 35 year old Zaheer Khan. Ishant's latest back to back 6 wickets bluff is going to and WILL disrupt our bowling attack in England. Zaheer should not be in the side but is very much required around it to pilot our young attack in Yadav, Shami, Bhuvi and Pandey. Pankaj's addition would jolt the attack's stability with his height, bounce, viz. as of now, is superior to that of Ishant. Anyhow, regardless of the fact that bowling as a unit have the odds of us fetching more wicket and success, it would be better off with a definite & determined plan and a distinct & fresh one against each batting line up. This is where the head coach, captain and most importantly the bowling coach comes into play. As of yet, since the appointment of Fletcher, there hasn't been any such talks of a certain ploy against each side overseas. Maybe the management wouldn't want to expose their ideas but have we seen any fresh or determined plans/ideas on the field? None! The attack should consist of, Shami, Yadav, Bhuvi/Pandey and an all rounder in Rishi Dhawan. Binny's a fat hack with a (very) hot wife. He needs to omitted from our cricket team's future. Open with Bhuvneshwar/Pandey and Shami, and have them attack with the new ball with a good field set, and also depending on the wicket. Get in Yadav before the new balls wears out with either of the opening bowlers on the other end. Here, Yadav should go all out on attack with the other bowler having a balanced mindset and field set. A plan that Aussies were sticking to today, with Siddle keeping it tight and Harris bowling an aggressively from the other end and vice versa. We run out of ideas when one of these guys starts going way ward when the other is tired with one bowling well. That's where R.Dhawan or any other ideal seaming all rounder comes in. Going in with an young attack could be a gamble but with Zaheer to guide them through these perils, we wouldn't have a lot to worry. Zaheer was the catalyst to the recent bowling performance (NZ 105 a.o). He is needed around this young side. We might not be able to pull off a Mitchell Johnson out of Umesh Yadav's hat but with that pace, he could very well be our X-Factor! Bhuvan's banana swing, Shami's skillful swing and handy pace + fiery Yadav could turn out be a force with our already dominant batting line up, 'if' they are to be groomed well in the right hands and under the right people who gives a hoot about Indian cricket. Going in with an young attack could be a gamble but with Zaheer to guide them through these perils, we wouldn't have a lot to worry. Zaheer was the catalyst to the recent bowling performance (NZ 105 a.o). He is needed around this young side. Above all, Dhoni and his ideas have gone stale in Test cricket. A new beginning, a new leader is much required for the good old classy format. Bottom line- having a new fiery ingredient wouldn't make a gargantuan difference unless there is a recipe to the meal.

Begin today. Declare out loud to the universe that you are willing to let go of struggle and eager to learn through joy. ...........................................................................................................-Sarah Ban Breathnach

[Detonator]

Nice write up dood!! :hatsoff: Why this isn't article section?

[SLICKR392]

Nice write up dood!! :hatsoff: Why this isn't article section?

I had mentioned Binny's wife in the article. Removed it now. :cantstop:

[Yoda-esque]

I had mentioned Binny's wife in the article. Removed it now. :cantstop:

I actually liked that touch

[express bowling]

But we do have bowling partnerships. Ishant Sharma and old Zak's combo , bowling 125 k sizzlers, are making players shiver. It is pure bad luck that the shivering players are from the Indian camp.

[CG]

Good write up slick. but few points Indian team has always done well overseas when all our bowlers bowled as a unit,The best example is the english tour of 2007 and australia tour.For that u need roles to be specified,planning and hard work. Which is missing in the current management. Also U need variety in the attack for diff pitches ,bowlers like b.k can be good in conditions where as on indian pitches u need pace for utilising reverse swing.There has to be rotation and management of workload .These are basics which we do not follow ,unless we do u will never have a bowling attack.

[Sean Bradley]

Mahendra Singh Dhobi says Hi to you Slick, hes just itching to bring Jadu & Ashwin into the attack.

[SLICKR392]

^ Yeah, I had that in before editing. A new bowling attack needs new idea, which means a new leader in Test cricket.

Good write up slick. but few points Indian team has always done well overseas when all our bowlers bowled as a unit,The best example is the english tour of 2007 and australia tour.For that u need roles to be specified,planning and hard work. Which is missing in the current management. Also U need variety in the attack for diff pitches ,bowlers like b.k can be good in conditions where as on indian pitches u need pace for utilising reverse swing.There has to be rotation and management of workload .These are basics which we do not follow ,unless we do u will never have a bowling attack.

With the current management, we are never going to have that. Don't think we would with a different one either. Someone like BK could have been very handy on these NZ conditions. Aus and SA don't need to have a rotation policy as they have bowlers who could perform in all conditions, unlike our attack. Shami and Yadav could be an automatic choice in any deck but the likes of BK should be used only on wickets that suit him. The 2nd Test pitch was ideal for him.

[saneindian]

Point me to a team that has dropped/missed 45-46 catches/stumpings in 15-odd tests. Keeps happening test after test. Makes an average bowling unit look even worse. The time when our attack looked consistently better overseas -2002-08- was when Kumble, after over a decade of experience, finally started taking wickets (though at a higher average/strike rate) and towards the later part Zaheer rediscovered his mojo and most importantly our catching was its best. Can't remember us missing slip catches at all. Irrespective of the new pacer we pick, if we don't catch well, we will continue to struggle. intensity levels go down the moment a partnership develops and with a young team thats so surprising. Points to perhaps a lack of rigour in the practice sessions. Players need to be pushed slightly more without giving them easier options. What worked with Kirsten and the experienced players will not with this younger set. A lot of this boils down to the leadership group which has to be a lot better.

[ThePhenomenal1]

bowling in a pack is what we are supposed to do but dhoni believes in taking the situation as it comes, and being "flexible" lets see the asia cup and how kohli does. got a feeling he'll use them better.

[Lord]

:omg:

[Sidhoni]

Point me to a team that has dropped/missed 45-46 catches/stumpings in 15-odd tests. Keeps happening test after test. Makes an average bowling unit look even worse. The time when our attack looked consistently better overseas -2002-08- was when Kumble, after over a decade of experience, finally started taking wickets (though at a higher average/strike rate) and towards the later part Zaheer rediscovered his mojo and most importantly our catching was its best. Can't remember us missing slip catches at all. Irrespective of the new pacer we pick, if we don't catch well, we will continue to struggle. intensity levels go down the moment a partnership develops and with a young team thats so surprising. Points to perhaps a lack of rigour in the practice sessions. Players need to be pushed slightly more without giving them easier options. What worked with Kirsten and the experienced players will not with this younger set. A lot of this boils down to the leadership group which has to be a lot better.

True, we had Dravid and Laxman standing there most of the time, probably the safest pair though towards the end Dravid did drop a few.