The build-up to this three Test series against New Zealand was one of typical confidence. India, playing at home, with an aggressive batting line-up and the world’s best spinner in their ranks, is nearly an unbeatable equation.
Talking about how spin will play a major role at every possible opportunity, the visitors helped form the impression that they are worried about raging turners, like the ones doled out for South Africa last year. Certainly, this summed up Wednesday’s proceedings in Kanpur as Kane Williamson spoke his mind.
On Thursday then, the narrative started shifting goal posts. First, the pitch turned out to be quite docile, and good for batting even with slow turn visible for the spinners. And yet, the Indian line-up went on an over-eager drive to score runs, ending up at 291/9 at stumps.
“We should have been more patient on this slow wicket. But it will be difficult for them too with the quality of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in our side,” Vijay had said, underlining the confidence placed in the two spinners by the team management when they chose to go in four bowlers.
Smothering the turn
Never mind that the hosts were bowled out early in the morning session for 318, the foremost thought on this second day’s play was how soon would spin, and Ashwin to be precise, take over proceedings. And the raucous crowd at the Green Park Stadium did not have to wait long. Ravindra Jadeja bowled the third over of the New Zealand innings, yes third! Even they had waited until the ninth over before introducing their first spinner.
Almost immediately it was apparent that Jadeja was not getting much out of the pitch as expected. Martin Guptill just plonked his feet forward and smacked the ball across the line for his first four. He then stepped out, hitting Jadeja over the top for a second boundary, and outlined his aggressive intent. To his credit though, the left-arm spinner did not err in line or length, continuously probing on and around the off-stump.
However, Jadeja is not a spinner with too many tricks up his sleeve. He relies more on change of pace than flight, following the same trajectory again and again. The magic happens off the surface, when a quick turning wicket brings his natural variation into play – the one that goes straight on when the batsmen are expecting it to turn away. On a slow turning wicket, like the one at Kanpur, this aspect is negated.
This is how you play spin in India
Then, it becomes a matter of watching the ball and anticipating its line. South African batsmen did not do it too well last year, getting bowled repeatedly off straight deliveries. The New Zealand top-order though had done its homework well enough.
After Guptill’s departure, Latham and Williamson made sure they did not allow Jadeja to gain an upper hand on them. They played straight, holding their cut shots at times, brought out the sweep when the bowler attempted flight and used the depth of the crease to good effect. In scoring grinding fifties, they showcased every bit the same patience that was missing in the latter half of India’s batting display.
“These are all good method to play spin in India. Some batsmen are more comfortable with the sweep shots, some will use their feet more or even the crease. The key is to pick the length early and doing that you can come forward or go back easily. We have prepared well and we had a good practice outing in Delhi too. We did well today,” said New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan.
But NZ got lucky as well
Movement off the crease helps against flight, which is an aspect that differentiates Ashwin from Jadeja. The off-spinner was a bit circumspect in the first session, for the wicket was still good to bat on. But post lunch, he raised the temperature. The off-spinner gave more loop to the ball, bowling quicker through the air, and beat both batsmen on a number of occasions. You would want to wonder how Ashwin went wicket-less in that second session. Latham was beaten twice in one over, and Williamson just managed to play a leg glance on time.
But then consider these two moments: first, when Latham hit the ball into his boot off Jadeja and it ricocheted to KL Rahul at short leg, only for the fielder to fumble and the ball to hit his helmet grille.
And second, when Ashwin got the better of Williamson with flight as the batsman could not reach the pitch of the delivery. The ball bounced a bit too much and hit Williamson on the back of his helmet, with one of the flaps coming loose and hitting the stumps. Yet the bails didn’t come off. Maybe luck was on their side on Friday.
“We bowled quite well in the second session when our spinners put a lot of pressure, even the pacers. It is a matter of one wicket and we have to keep bowling with patience,” said India’s assistant coach Sanjay Bangar.
While both coaches looked to claim advantage on this rain-curtailed day, they readily agreed that it is too early to consider what might play out in this Test, especially on days four and five.
With only 47 overs bowled, it is tough to say that the hosts did not do well today. Yet, placed at 152/1, trailing only by 166, and winning four out of five sessions thus far, it is tempting say that the Kiwis are marginally ahead.
Day 3, then, assumes great significance. New Zealand have thrown down the gauntlet, with the ball on Thursday and the bat on Friday. It is now for India to respond.
Brief scores
New Zealand 152/1 (Kane Williamson 66 not out, Tom Latham 56 not out; Umesh Yadav 1/22) trail India 318 (Murali Vijay 65, Cheteshwar Pujara 62; Trent Boult 3/67, Mitchell Santner 3/94) by 166 runs.