If one leaves the play of the last day in both Adelaide and Sydney, this series has been all about flat pitches and the two batting machines leading the sides. Overall, more than 5800 runs were scored, which has already become a world record in a four-Test series. Also, it proved to be a very difficult mission on both sides for the bowlers, who conceded 100-plus runs in an innings more than 23 times.
The inconsistency of the Indian seamers has been quite visible through series as they have never been able to bag 20 wickets – not even once. However, the Indian batsmen were able to display their splendid batting skills, Virat Kohli is just one glorious example.
Amply annoyed, new captain Virat Kohli on Saturday suggested India should start scouting for new bowling talent as well as ensure fitness level of existing bowlers who lack lethal edge in their second and third spell.
He said, “The main criteria now will be to scout guys who we feel have potential to play in the future, and groom them and nurture them and monitor their fitness, consistency and skills. That’s how we want to develop our Test team. To win Test matches you need 20 wickets. The reason we do well at home is because we take those wickets. The spinners have bowled really well. The fast bowlers know how to bowl in home conditions with reverse swing. “Here, they get too excited with the bounce. We need to figure out which are the best areas to bowl to each batsman. Their consistency is something we really need to work on. You need to run up and pitch six balls on the same spot.”
Ishant Sharma, the most experienced of bowlers has not fallen below his standards, but his wicket-taking capabilities are certainly questionable. Others like Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami and Varun Aaron could not prove their capabilities of bowling to their fields and leaked runs.
Out of sheer frustration of non performing bowlers, both the captains – Kohli and Dhoni – have reacted by setting constantly shifting, left-of-centre fields which haven’t helped the cause and rather invited unnecessary criticism.
Kohli, pointing towards fitness levels, said, “We’ve generally done well in ODI cricket because we know how to bowl within a time span and you know how many overs to bowl. In Tests you need more composure. Even if you bowl five overs poorly, it changes the game. You get tired in Test cricket.”
However, Kohli while imposing faith in their skills, concluded, “The skill is there (in Indian bowlers), or they wouldn’t be playing here. You need to say to yourself, ‘I’m tired, but I need to take two wickets for my team, so I need to bowl at the same pace as my first spell.’ That’s something we’ve not been able to do. At Lord’s Ishant did it for us.”