India's Pacers Need To Step Up Their Game

[hawkeye]

How good would India be outside of the subcontinent if they had a good pace attack?

The problem has been the same for years. Even as India climbed tothe top of the ICC test rankings in November 2009, and even as theymanaged to stay there for the next 21 months before being dethronedby England, it was there, hovering, like a dark cloud. Quite a numberof experts mentioned it, and it was clear to distant observers -- andto homebound ones not blinded by patriotism -- that as good as theother parts worked, the malfunctioning part would eventuallycompromise the whole.

India's Fast Bowler's Must Step Up Their Game

 

[sifter132]

Just to kill some time during the boring middle overs of the ODI... Let's have a look at India's recent efforts with their pacemen

Here's a list of Indian fast bowlers who have taken 10+ wickets in a series, at an average of less than 30 OUTSIDE Asia since 1990 ie. these are the amount of good series a bowler has produced outside subcontinent:
3 - Zaheer Khan (NZ 2002/03, Eng 2007, SA 2010/11)
3 - Javagal Srinath (SA 1992/93, SA 1996/97, SA 2001/02 - he loves SA Mr Srinath)
2 - Praveen Kumar (WI 2011, Eng 2011)
2 - Venkatesh Prasad (Eng 1996, SA 1996/97)
1 - Ishant Sharma (WI 2011)
1 - RP Singh (Eng 2007)
1 - S Sreesanth (SA 2006/07)
1 - Irfan Pathan (Zim 2005)
1 - Ashish Nehra (Zim 2001)
1 - Kapil Dev (Aus 1991/92)

There's only 16 series there, from 10 different fast bowlers (4 of which are gone Srinath, Prasad, Kapil, Sreesanth).

Whatever happened to Praveen Kumar??


If we look at the same challenge but for series INSIDE Asia, 13 different series qualify:
4 - Javagal Srinath (vs SA 1996/97 Asia Champs 1998/99, vs NZ 1999/00, vs Zim 2000/01)
2 - Zaheer Khan (vs Ban 2009/10, vs Aus 2010/11)
2 - Irfan Pathan (vs Pak 2003/04, vs Ban 2004/05)
1 - Mohammad Shami (vs WI 2013/14)
1 - Ishant Sharma (vs Aus 2008/09)
1 - Munaf Patel (vs Eng 2005/06)
1 - Venkatesh Prasad (vs SL 2001)
1 - Manoj Prabhakar (vs SL 1993)

Isn't Javagal Srinath an underrated guy these days? Fans babble on about Zaheer Khan, but Srinath was an excellent bowler.


Just by comparison to the 29 total series I've listed here for India...in that same time the other countries have:
Australia 110, SA 102, England 90, WI 79, Pak 58, NZ 45 & SL 20

Digging a bit deeper for Aus...of those 110 series: 66 were in Australia, 8 in Asia (not far off India's 13 despite India playing there all the time)

OK Powerplay's on, that'll do for now

 

[surendar]

Srinath & Zaheer are the only quality pacers since 1995 in Indian cricket, there is nothing to dig into stats or discuss.

 

[playkid12]

Whatever happened to Praveen Kumar??

Behavioral problems
India Cricket Features: Whose problem is Praveen Kumar? | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[asprin]

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if India managed to get at least 1 high quality fast bowler. Just on the might of their batting, India have been hanging onto the top 3 team rankings every year. It's actually admirable as well as sad.

Add to the current setup a bowler who can be a threat in any conditions and I would really love to see the results.

 

[Samuels]

Very valid question. So, what is the problem with the Indian 'fast' bowlers? Is it the pitches? I do not think so; Pakistan never had too many lush green tracks, did they?

Is it the ball they use in the domestic competition? Again a negative because the SG ball that they use in the domestic competition has bit more seam on it which actually helps the bowlers way more than a Kookaburra.

Is it the great quality of batsmen that let them down? Nah, they get smashed regularly by even rookies from world over.

Then is it the lack of skill? Of course not, they have enough skill, may be not as much as the bowlers used to playing on fast pitches have but certainly good enough to represent the country.

Then what is it? If you ask me, the Indian bowlers lack the attitude, the ruthlessness, the aggressiveness that fast bowlers have to have. One India bowler I can think of such attitude was Anil Kumble but shame, he turned to a spinner after initially starting off as a part time medium pacer back when he played as a special batsman. Jumbo aside, I have not seen one bowler in the 21st century or for that matter after Kapil Dev and Srinath, that turns to the batsman after being hit, look into his eyes and say, "You showed me what you can do, now it is my turn" and try bowl his best ball under the situation. One such event comes to my mind involving Venkatesh Prasad and Aamir Sohail in the 1996 World Cup. It was such a great sight if you are a fast bowler. The Indians really need to get that attitude of giving it right back to the batsman to succeed for long periods.

 

[scratch978]

How good would India be outside of the subcontinent if they had a good pace attack?

Lack of fast bowling tracks in India/Asia.

Very valid question. So, what is the problem with the Indian 'fast' bowlers? Is it the pitches? I do not think so; Pakistan never had too many lush green tracks, did they?

Pakistan are swing masters. Remember, Wasim Akram ?, the reverse bowling specialist. All Pakistan cricketers follow him like Indians, who follow SRT.

 

[asprin]

f you ask me, the Indian bowlers lack the attitude, the ruthlessness, the aggressiveness that fast bowlers have to have.

Although the traits that you mentioned do play a part to some extent, I do not completely agree with you when you say that it is the only reason.

In India, batsman are immensely glorified by the public and hence everyone wants to follow that path. If you give the spectators a choice between watching someone bat v/s someone bowling, I'll bet they will ask for a batting exhibition.

 

[Samuels]

Pakistan are swing masters. Remember, Wasim Akram ?, the reverse bowling specialist. All Pakistan cricketers follow him like Indians, who follow SRT.

Wasim was one of the best in the game and we cannot compare him with nobody on this topic but I get your point you are trying to convey. The fact that Pakistan has got role models in bowling is one big reason the people of Pakistan are very interested in bowling and same is the case with India in batting.

Although the traits that you mentioned do play a part to some extent, I do not completely agree with you when you say that it is the only reason.

In India, batsman are immensely glorified by the public and hence everyone wants to follow that path. If you give the spectators a choice between watching someone bat v/s someone bowling, I'll bet they will ask for a batting exhibition.

Obviously what I pointed out is not the only but certainly a major reason why Indian bowlers lag behind in terms of quality. One of many other reason as aptly mentioned by scratch978 is that India has always lacked a role model in bowling and thus the young boys do not get attracted to take up the bowler's role. Btw, if anyone thinks it is because of being vegetarian, it is a big joke. Just saying.

 

[karolkarol]

Behavioral problems
India Cricket Features: Whose problem is Praveen Kumar? | ESPN Cricinfo

Shame, Praveen Kumar looked really promising on that 2011 England tour.

 

[Riyan]

I thhink we need fast bowelers, but we have only medium pacers.

 

[aditya123]

I thhink we need fast bowelers, but we have only medium pacers.

No, we do have fast bowlers but we insist on picking medium pacers consistently due to reasons other than cricket.

 

[shravi]

I don't understand the obsession with pace. Umesh Yadav has pace and I was really excited about him, but he just sprays it all over the place. I think there is a tendency and a temptation to get carried away by someone who can bowl fast. However, bowlers still have to bowl balls of substance, because otherwise, it's just easier to pick them off for boundaries.

 

[asprin]

I don't understand the obsession with pace

We don't have different categories based on speeds (fast medium/medium fast/fast) for nothing. It is something every captain wishes and hopes to have in his arsenal. I'm not sure if you're underestimating it or not, but it is a very big bonus.

Umesh Yadav has pace and I was really excited about him, but he just sprays it all over the place

And what if he learns not to? How much of a difference will that make then. Though Umesh is not blazing fast, it would still be good.

I think there is a tendency and a temptation to get carried away by someone who can bowl fast.

And why do you think there is that temptation? Knowing that the opposition batsman will be wary of the bowler is a huge plus. How exciting was it to see Mitchell Johnson have a go at the batsman? Add to that it was test cricket and that feeling doubled up.

In short, pace is something to be obsessed about. And rightly so.

 

[shravi]

Where did I discount that it is a bonus? I'm merely saying that in a country with a historical dearth of good pace bowlers, Indian fans get carried away when they see someone who bowls fast, even if he does little else. It's very easy to point to bowlers like Lee/Akhtar/Bond/etc, but it is equally easy to forget that these bowlers are in the top echelon of seriously quick bowlers. For every Brett Lee there are 10 Mohammad Samis.