Former Australia batter Greg Chappell said that the lack of variety in India’s bowling attack was one of the main reasons for the Shubman Gill side conceding the 1st Test match against England at Leeds. To counter that, Chappell opines that India should bring in Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav for the second Test at Birmingham.
“As disappointing as the fielding in Headingley was, it was not the main reason India lost the Test. Most of India’s problems were self-inflicted. Perhaps the most expensive error was the no-ball that gave Harry Brook an early life in the second innings,” Chappell wrote in his column for ‘ESPNCricinfo’.
“More concerning to me, though, is the lack of variety in the bowling attack. Apart from Jasprit Bumrah, India’s seamers are too similar – all right-arm, medium-fast, operating at comparable angles. There is a reason why wickets often fall after a change of bowling. It forces the batter to recalibrate. That variability isn’t available to Shubman Gill with his current crop. Without Bumrah, I’d like to see left-armer Arshdeep Singh added to the mix and Kuldeep Yadav, possibly the best wrist spinner since Shane Warne, included in the attack,” he wrote further.
Bumrah, India’s most potent attacking force, is expected to sit out the next match against England.
“Even with Bumrah in the mix, the rest of the attack has to be more disciplined. I didn’t see two consecutive balls land in a dangerous place. They were either too full, too short or too wide. Bowlers have to work in partnerships as much as batters. All England have to do at present is to see off Bumrah and they know the pressure will go with him,” Chappell wrote.
The former India coach also criticised the Indian team management’s preference for batting depth over a balanced bowling attack.
“I don’t agree that an extra batter who bowls should be selected as insurance against top-order collapses. The top six must be trusted to deliver the runs and that the best combination to secure the requisite 20 wickets is available to the captain,” he said.
