The Hindu : Sport : Control is the key

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport

Control is the key

S. Dinakar

Chennai: Old-fashioned strangulation still works in Test cricket. Australias stirring comeback in the fourth Test at Leeds highlighted a crucial element in any successful attack control.

Stuart Clarks first innings performance of 10-4-18-3 was a wonderful example of a bowler choking the flow of runs from one end, striking himself and enabling others to be among the wickets.

Test cricket is much about creating pressure from both the ends, making the batsmen sweat. The stress increases with every delivery. A pace attack, even in helpful conditions, requires the right blend of aggression and precision.

Significant move

Contrast Australias display on the first morning at Headingley the inclusion of Clark as the fourth specialist paceman was a significant move with the opening session on day one at Lords where Mitchell Johnson struggled with the new ball. The English openers were up and running.

Interestingly, Australias recent history in Tests reveals that a four-pronged pace attack, with one of the bowlers performing a hold-up operation, has been more incisive as a pack.

Pace-bowling all-rounder Andrew McDonald donned a key role in Australias creditable 2-1 triumph over South Africa in an important away series last season. Ricky Pontings men had gone down to the same opponent only months earlier at home.

Accurate line

Some of McDonalds returns with his accurate stump-to-stump bowling and subtle movement were remarkable for their economy 22-8-31-1 in the second innings of the first Test at the Wanderers and 12-4-25-3 in the first innings of the second Test. Australia won both the Tests.

While Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle hunted for wickets from one end, McDonald provided the batsmen little relief from the other.

In fact, Australias resurgence against South Africa after defeats in the first two Tests at home began with the selection of McDonald for the third Test in Sydney.

Straightaway, there was discipline in the attack, which actually made strike bowlers such as Johnson and Siddle seem more threatening.

McDonalds figures in the Test were 22-8-41-1 and 13-6-32-2. Once again, when runs were curtailed from one end, Australia could make the inroads.

Economical

With his height, high-arm action, off-stump line and bounce, Clark is a greater danger than McDonald. In fact his 93 Test wickets have arrived in reasonable time 23 Tests. His economy rate of 2.59 underlines his value to the side.

It is true that Clark proved expensive in the England second innings at Headingley when a bunch of desperate English batsmen were taking a swipe at almost every ball. The Test had actually been decided on day one.

Whether the move led to the inclusion of McDonald or Siddle, Australia, boldly, opted to go in without a specialist spinner on these occasions.

Nathan Hauritz is an improving off-spinner but Australia chose to pick its four best bowlers, who were all, in this case, pacemen.

Quality is important

Former Indian coach John Wright, during a private conversation years back, said it was the quality of the bowlers and not conditions alone that should determine the bowling component of the eleven. Its a case of picking your four best bowlers, pacemen or spinners and backing them.

India defeated England in the Headingley Test of 2002 with spin duo Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh impacting the contest in a huge way at a venue considered to be a pacemans paradise.

This Australian side does not have spin legend Shane Warne and pace and aggression appear the best bet speed and movement with control.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport