This might well be the case, as the fourth Test plays out with India 2-1 up, but, if you think about it, the widening of mindsets, based on perceived cracks, is elsewhere. India’s lead in this series is well-earned, but had it not been for England’s win-at-all-cost mindset, it would have likely been 3-0 in favour of the home side by now.
Extraordinary innings from Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett have kept England’s dreams afloat. We live in the age of BazBall, which ensures that the opposition have to adapt to England’s approach in every session, in every innings, if they are to be competitive.
India floundered early on and were unable to counter the barrage of sweeps and reverse sweeps. India’s spinners, the best in the world, especially at home, bowled wide of the stumps on off and leg and were picked off. But, they learnt quickly and ensured that England’s batsmen paid the highest price when they played high-risk shots and made the slightest mistake.
The question that is in front of us ahead of the fourth Test, is if England’s batsmen have picked up similar learnings. Does the BazBall approach — being positive and playing high-risk shots all the time — absolve them of all responsibility?
The results have gone their way, but does this mean none of the batsmen should look in the mirror and see if they could have done things differently? Joe Root has 77 runs from six innings at an average of 12.83. Jonny Bairstow has 102 runs at an average of 17. A case can be built for one or both of them to hold back on the reverse-ramp shots till they have got some runs on the board.But the flip side of BazBall seems to be allowing batsmen to play ridiculous shots all the time and face no downside when they don’t come off.India will not be complaining.
They’ve been without Virat Kohli all series, have had to do without KL Rahul, and are now resting Jasprit Bumrah and yet are 2-1 up. R Ashwin was missing in action for key times in the last Test and yet India registered their biggest win in terms of runs.
In Ranchi, the designer pitch may bring England’s spinners into play. But, this Indian batting line-up is not the same as the one that began the series. Rajat Patidar, who will get one more chance, will want to cash in and he has the skills and wherewithal.
Sarfaraz Khan has already shown that he plays spin on Indian tracks as it should be. He works the good balls into the gaps, goes after anything mildly off length or line and is a traditional punisher. England have shown their hand a touch by announcing that Ollie Robinson will be bowling quick, alongside James Anderson. They’ve also brought back the tall off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in place of the effervescent, if ineffective, leg spinner Rehan Ahmad.
As usual, India play their cards close to their chest when it comes to their playing eleven. Yet, it seems likely that they too will play two seamers to back up their three spinners in Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.
With Bumrah resting and no replacement available for his kind worldwide, Mohammad Siraj will have to step up. He will likely have the steady Mukesh Kumar for company.
For India, this Test is another opportunity to stamp their strength. To show that they can win with any combination, based on what’s available. For England, this is a chance to show that BazBall is not mindless hitting, where there is no price on your wicket.
Good sense generally prevails, but not in red-hot sport when glory is the ultimate objective.
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
