Same old same old...

[Ultimate_Game]

Well I can't say I'm surprised at the bowling performance as this has been a common theme for our so called phaaast bowlers over the last few years. Granted the pitch was batsman friendly but the fact of the matter is we don't really have bowlers who can bowl consistent line & length over a period of time. Hell forget a "period of time" I suspect barring one or two bowlers, our pace bowlers can't bowl in the same area even for a couple of overs. Again I'm not asking for McGrath kind of metronomic performance where the bowler hits the same spot throughout the day - though you would suspect that should be a given at intl level. What I'm asking, nay expecting, is for bowlers to at the very least bowl in a half foot by half foot square around off on a good length (6-8 m from the stumps). Surely that has to be a pre-requisite for a Test bowler? It's all well and good packing the squad with "phaaaast" bowlers like Aaron but what's the point when they can't even manage to hit the same area of the pitch more than twice an over? In Tests you get wkts by building pressure and the pressure is built by bowling consistently on good line & length on or around off stump. If you can't do that you have no chance to succeed at Test level. Sad part is that Virat Kohli is the future captain for India and he risks being scarred by such performances. A 0-4 hammering will not bode well for him and he could well end up becoming more defensive given the bowlers he has been given. I would prefer an attack of B Kumar (if fit), Praveen Kumar and Sandeep Sharma if they can land the ball consistently on the same spot albeit without much pace. There's a reason why Praveen Kumar averages 25 when all around him averaged twice that much. It was due to the fact he could land the ball where it should be on a consistent basis. Likes of Aarons and Umeshs look good on paper but alas matches are not won on paper or via speed guns.

[rkt.india]

Agree SOS PK, Sandeep and Basant Mohanty.

[The Realist]

163 runs conceded in 30 overs – are we playing the ODI series first? So many of the bowlers picked in recent years seem to lack the basics of bowling that it is embarrassing. The inability to bowl to fields, keep a tight line, restrict runs, set up a batsman etc. are common problems that are endlessly repeated on every overseas tour. Change the captain (Dhoni is admittedly awful overseas), change the coaching staff, change the diet – nothing seems to improve the basics. This to all extents and purposes are the best bowlers that could be picked. And that is not a promising scenario for the future.

[FischerTal]

tony lovers padhare. we go from one extreme to another.

[FischerTal]

Agree SOS PK' date=' Sandeep and Basant Mohanty.[/quote'] rajat patia will succeed well in oz because he bowls good line and length according to OP

[BeautifulGame]

The lack of match practice is the bigger issue .We hardly had a match practice before we went into the first test .So bowlers struggle to find the right length and went they are hammered lose any confidence for the reminder of the series .The problem exemplify even more when the bowlers are inexperienced like our lot. And the problem is not exclusive to us either.Australia and Nzl had single 4 day match before playing the test series vs Pak.Aus got hammered and NZl needed 3rd till they find their feet.SA did similar before touring Srl earlier this year. If u look at the last decade only SA who have very experienced test cricketers have put quality performances away from home consistently. Most other away wins have been becoz the home team under performed like Eng tour of India or Srl win in Eng this year . If we really want to win these tours to SA or Eng or Aus we need to properly prepare or hope we very lucky Blaming Kohli or Dhoni or chopping the players or coach won't change much

[Lord]

The lack of match practice is the bigger issue .We hardly had a match practice before we went into the first test .So bowlers struggle to find the right length and went they are hammered lose any confidence for the reminder of the series .The problem exemplify even more when the bowlers are inexperienced like our lot. And the problem is not exclusive to us either.Australia and Nzl had single 4 day match before playing the test series vs Pak.Aus got hammered and NZl needed 3rd till they find their feet.SA did similar before touring Srl earlier this year. If u look at the last decade only SA who have very experienced test cricketers have put quality performances away from home consistently. Most other away wins have been becoz the home team under performed like Eng tour of India or Srl win in Eng this year . If we really want to win these tours to SA or Eng or Aus we need to properly prepare or hope we very lucky Blaming Kohli or Dhoni or chopping the players or coach won't change much

++

[Marut]

The lack of match practice is the bigger issue .We hardly had a match practice before we went into the first test .So bowlers struggle to find the right length and went they are hammered lose any confidence for the reminder of the series .The problem exemplify even more when the bowlers are inexperienced like our lot. And the problem is not exclusive to us either.Australia and Nzl had single 4 day match before playing the test series vs Pak.Aus got hammered and NZl needed 3rd till they find their feet.SA did similar before touring Srl earlier this year. If u look at the last decade only SA who have very experienced test cricketers have put quality performances away from home consistently. Most other away wins have been becoz the home team under performed like Eng tour of India or Srl win in Eng this year . If we really want to win these tours to SA or Eng or Aus we need to properly prepare or hope we very lucky Blaming Kohli or Dhoni or chopping the players or coach won't change much

Players like Warner and Clarke are home bullies, the Aussies are a formidable team at home right now. Not only India, even teams like SA have been battered by players like Warner who are simply unstoppable on their day. India have to pay back in kind, by out batting them, that is where our usual strength is. Expecting the Indian bowling to be world class is easier said than done, it has not happened since 1932.

[bharat297]

The lack of match practice is the bigger issue .We hardly had a match practice before we went into the first test .So bowlers struggle to find the right length and went they are hammered lose any confidence for the reminder of the series .The problem exemplify even more when the bowlers are inexperienced like our lot. And the problem is not exclusive to us either.Australia and Nzl had single 4 day match before playing the test series vs Pak.Aus got hammered and NZl needed 3rd till they find their feet.SA did similar before touring Srl earlier this year. If u look at the last decade only SA who have very experienced test cricketers have put quality performances away from home consistently. Most other away wins have been becoz the home team under performed like Eng tour of India or Srl win in Eng this year . If we really want to win these tours to SA or Eng or Aus we need to properly prepare or hope we very lucky Blaming Kohli or Dhoni or chopping the players or coach won't change much

We had two warm up matches. The usual excuse about lack of match practice does not apply here. Two warm up matches is more than we usually have. It's standard nowadays amongst touring teams.

[Old guy]

2 day warm up against two mediocre sides ...

[Straight Drive]

Same story really, another loss as we move out of subcontinent for a test series. Looks like another 0-4.