Alien conditions and reality Test

"These were coach Ravi Shastri’s comments about Team India in recent times. India’s debacle in New Zealand proved that Virat Kohli’s No 1 Test team has not still reached a stage where it can confidently say it can conquer opposition anywhere and everywhere. From a position when it won Tests in India and the sub-continent with the help of spinners, the team grew in stature when it had the luxury of top-class pace bowlers who could bowl at speeds in excess of 140 km/hour. All of a sudden, spin was a forgotten art and with that came the confidence that its pace bowling was good enough to rip teams apart beyond the Indian sub-continent.

“Well, I believe our pace bowling is still good,” said M Senthil Nathan, MRF Pace Foundation head, reacting to the series sweep in New Zealand. “If we had a total of 300 in any of the two Tests, the story would have been different,” he added. He was quick to bring in the element of toss into the equation, saying it was unfortunate the coin deserted India in both the Tests.

India is still leading the World Test rankings, but a reality check will reveal that India is back to square one when it comes to batting in alien conditions such as England, South Africa and New Zealand. “In New Zealand, the wickets are totally different. The ball will stop and swing and therefore it is unpredictable for the batsmen, unlike in Australia,” noted Senthil. “A lot similar to early summer in England in April May and June.”

India is scheduled to meet England next year in the World Test Championship, but that is in home conditions and there is no South Africa too in alien conditions in this cycle. Maybe, Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli will not feel the pinch until India meets Australia later this year.