Mishra and his struggles

[SecondSlip]

The curious case of Amit Mishra 

Spin bowling is a lot about confidence, more so leg-spin. It’s a delicate, ‘high risk’ craft.

In the start-stop-start Test career of Amit Mishra, a secure place in the side has been a rarity. There were times when he was treated harshly by the selectors; on other occasions, Mishra had only himself to blame.

Playing here only because of promising off-spinning all-rounder Jayant Yadav’s fitness concerns, Mishra largely struggled at Chepauk, appearing to fight the demons in his mind caused by self-doubts.

 

 

 

 

 

Dismissing last man Jake Ball with a googly was little consolation for Mishra who could never really settle into the sort of rhythm that enables a leg-spinner bring his repertoire into play.

The 34-year-old Mishra figured in the first Test in Rajkot, and by his own admission, was not at his best. Then, the team-management took the calculated gamble of opting for Jayant, an off-spinner in the classical mould, and also a solid batsman.

Many were sceptical about a ‘sameness in the attack’, but the move paid off since Jayant’s methods as an off-spinner were different from those of R. Ashwin’s.

It was only last year that Mishra worked with former India leg-spinner L. Sivaramakrishnan here. The two dwelt on bringing alterations in pace and trajectory, and pitching the ball up to the batsman and inviting him to drive.

Much focus was on the transfer of weight from back-leg to front-leg and into the delivery stride. The idea was to bring the whole body, not just the bowling arm, into play, enhancing the follow-through as well.

Mishra gets his leg-breaks to turn and has developed a handy wrong ‘un. The top-spinner has fetched him wickets as well, but he tends to pitch short while attempting flippers.

One criticism against Mishra — he had 74 wickets in 21 matches at 35.10 ahead of the ongoing Test — is that he lacks the natural fizz of a leg-spinner, and is not quick enough off the surface.

 

Lacking the hip drive

The turn and bounce normally associated with quality leg-spinners are, on occasions, missing in his bowling. Not imparting sufficient revolutions on the ball and lacking the ‘hip drive’ — so vital for leg-spinners — can be among the reasons.

It is intriguing that Mishra’s only five-wicket haul in Tests came on his debut, against Australia in Mohali in 2008. A leg-spinner is essentially an attacking option, but Mishra has largely donned a supporting role.

Some have argued that Mishra is a more potent bowler in T20 cricket, where the batsmen attempt to hit him out of the attack, than in the longer forms where they have the time to wait and just play him out.

A leg-spinner is an exciting bowler; he is not dependent on the pitch to turn the ball and employs his wrists to rip the sphere.

Mishra had inherent advantages over the other spinners at the sluggish Chepauk track, but seemed to be only clutching at straws. Does he enjoy the confidence of the skipper?

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Edited December 18, 2016 by laaloo

[tweaker]

Mishra 's time is up, should have been replaced by younger leg spinners by now 

[Soorma_Bhopali]

5 hours ago, tweaker said:

Mishra 's time is up, should have been replaced by younger leg spinners by now 

Yes- he is unsuited for test cricket. ODI & T20s are where he should be considered.

 

Selectors need to groom Kuldeep Yadav .

[tweaker]

3 minutes ago, Soorma_Bhopali said:

Yes- he is unsuited for test cricket. ODI & T20s are where he should be considered.

 

Selectors need to groom Kuldeep Yadav .

Kuldeep should have played in 5th test 

[The Realist]

Eng fans fearing Mishra's belly can flatten them on the final day:

 

"I am wary of Amit Mishra for some reason..I think England will counter Ashwin and Jadeja..did you see the footmarks..Mishra can cause havoc..."

[Bystander]

Should probably the last time he should bowl in test cricket unless he picks bagful of wickets today. Time to look into future