Contemporary Versus History: A Spin Debate
Sportstar|October 21, 2017

After a detailed analysis, V. RAMNARAYAN concludes that it is too early yet to acknowledge the superiority of our current crop of spin bowlers over their predecessors.

V. Ramnarayan
Contemporary Versus History: A Spin Debate

Not too long ago, Ravichandran Ashwin became the bowler to reach 250 Test wickets soonest in cricket history. Last year, he won the ICC Cricketer of the Year award, the only Indian after Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar to do so. In the 2016-17 season, he achieved a record haul of 79 wickets, besides being jointly ranked with Ravindra Jadeja as ICC’s No. 1 bowler. Jadeja and he routed New Zealand, England and Australia during the season.

AMAZINGLY, the ODI and T20I future of these two champion bowlers seems to hang in the balance. The reason has been the impressive strides made by two wrist spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. And who knows, at least one of them could well be challenging the finger spinners for a slot in the Test XI in the foreseeable future. Depending on the conditions, particularly abroad, only one slow bowler will probably make it to the playing XI, especially in Test matches. The resultant competition promises to be the topsy-turviest situation in Indian cricket in a long while, with a bowling problem of plenty staring the selectors in their face.

The irony of it all is that the inclusion of chinaman specialist Kuldeep Yadav in the team for the Dharamsala Test match (in the absence of the injured skipper Virat Kohli) against the touring Australians last year is rumoured to have been partially responsible for a rift between Kohli (said to have been against it) and coach Kumble (who pushed it through) leading to the coach’s resignation. Happily, the team management has obviously realised the advantages of including wrist spin in the bowling menu, even — or especially — in ODI cricket, targeting the Australians with a double-barrelled attack from the right- arm Chahal and left-arm Kuldeep Yadav, brilliantly supported by the pacemen, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah, besides all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

Denne historien er fra October 21, 2017-utgaven av Sportstar.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra October 21, 2017-utgaven av Sportstar.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA SPORTSTARSe alt
Tokyo Marathon Cancelled For Amateurs On Coronavirus Fears
Sportstar

Tokyo Marathon Cancelled For Amateurs On Coronavirus Fears

Organisers in Japan cancelled the amateur portion of the Tokyo marathon, affecting around 38,000 runners, on fears about the spread of the new coronavirus in Japan.

time-read
1 min  |
March 21, 2020
Right Criteria To Pick The Tennis GOAT
Sportstar

Right Criteria To Pick The Tennis GOAT

What should the criteria be? What weight should be attached to each criterion? And what should not be considered as valid criteria?

time-read
10+ mins  |
February 8, 2020
The making of a batting behemoth
Sportstar

The making of a batting behemoth

If Steve Smith dominated the Ashes in England in a dramatic, blockbuster fashion then his like for like a replacement, Marnus Labuschagne, is the Next Big Thing after an exciting summer of run-glut.

time-read
4 mins  |
February 8, 2020
WHEN ACES WERE REWARDED...
Sportstar

WHEN ACES WERE REWARDED...

It was an evening of nostalgia and celebration when the Sportstar Aces awards were given away in Mumbai.

time-read
6 mins  |
February 8, 2020
A question of recognition
Sportstar

A question of recognition

After a week of awards, one wonders if it’s only a departed player that one will be named after.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 8, 2020
Thinking straight, thinking right!
Sportstar

Thinking straight, thinking right!

“A lot depends on when I am bowling and what is required from me. That’s something I do when I play for India and I try to follow the same thing in the domestic circuit,” says Yuzvendra Chahal.

time-read
7 mins  |
December 14, 2019
The Big Three and the Next Gen
Sportstar

The Big Three and the Next Gen

Though the Big Three are very unlikely to retire during the same year, Judy Murray, mother of Andy, echoed the sentiments of many fans worried about the impact of their departures.

time-read
9 mins  |
December 14, 2019
WAKING UP TO MENTAL HEALTH
Sportstar

WAKING UP TO MENTAL HEALTH

Sport at large and cricket specifically has taken an inordinately long time to address the elephant in the room — the dark abyss of depression.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 14, 2019
Like sunshine in a gloomy dressing room
Sportstar

Like sunshine in a gloomy dressing room

Bangladesh quick Abu Jayed Rahi is new in the red-ball arena, but his swing brings back old memories — of James Anderson on green tops.

time-read
6 mins  |
December 14, 2019
The league of the masses
Sportstar

The league of the masses

With traditional clubs locking horns with the hard-working nurseries of the game, the I-League will continue to keep the beating heart of Indian football alive despite official apathy.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 14, 2019