Cheat sheet for Indian batsmen

Daniel Laidlaw

Bowling has been Australia's strength throughout the past decade. In the latter half of the 1990s, it was the Warne-McGrath combination, with quality backup, that who provided the driving force behind Australia's success. The batting line-up was prone to occasional collapse, but the bowling almost always came through. How India negotiates Australia’s rampant bowling attack will dictate the outcome of the forthcoming three-Test series.

The following is an examination of Australia’s bowling attack, its objectives, and how India’s batsmen can counteract them.

Aussie objectives

Despite the absence of Brett Lee, Australia is intent on winning the series with pace, in the belief that India is vulnerable to fast bowling. Previously, the thinking was that you had to play two spinners in India. Now, the Aussies realise they were taking the wrong approach. While the pitches turned, spin bowling was not an Australian strength while India played it better than anyone else. Yet the theory prevailed that spinners must play in India, despite the fact that tactic played into India’s hands.

Not anymore.

With fast bowling being Australia’s strength and India’s perceived weakness, the policy of playing little-known spinners (Peter McIntyre ’96, Gavin Roberston ’98) has been discarded. It is only logical to play to your strengths, rather than adjusting your game plan to suit the opposition purely because of conditions. The advantage, of course, is that this time around the Aussies are equally strong in the spin department. But it will not serve as the main line of attack.

India’s openers, whoever they may be, will have a vital role because the Aussies are aiming to get Sachin Tendulkar and the middle order facing the new ball as soon as possible. Glenn McGrath will be looking to intimidate and exploit the inexperienced openers with early breakthroughs, ensuring that India’s star batsmen come to the crease under pressure rather than with the game set up for them. The way is then paved for Shane Warne or Colin Miller to come on from a position of authority, rather than being relied upon to make the breakthrough.

The opening batsmen have the responsibility of setting the tone for the way the innings is to be played. If they bat with a defensive mindset, the Aussies will jump all over them and very likely achieve their goal of exposing the middle order early. It is important for them not to be intimidated, because failure is virtually assured in that state of mind against McGrath, Fleming and Gillespie bowling to attacking fields. On the other hand, if they are to play positively in an attempt to dictate terms, it opens the way for the rest to dominate. Even if they fail playing shots, it at least sends a strong message of self-belief to the opposition. Navjot Sidhu executed this brilliantly on the last tour.

One thing India must not do is bat negatively. Time and again, negative batting against Australia has simply expedited defeat. By contrast, batting with positive intent has consistently been the best method to get on top of the Australian bowling. It sounds simplistic, but makes a significant difference.

The key is the intent.

With West Indies down 4-0 in the recent Test series against Australia, Jimmy Adams told his troops to bat with freedom and leave everything out on the field, since the series was already gone. What happened? Sherwin Campbell had easily his best match of the series with 79 and 54 and the rest of the order followed suit in putting up competitive totals. The only condition that had changed was attitude. By being so burdened by the responsibility of not failing, Campbell perished anyway. Given a license to bat as he pleased brought the West Indies opening partnerships of 147 and 98, by far their highest of the series.

On India’s most recent tour of Australia, batting negatively brought them undone. It disappointed a lot of people who expected a spirited contest, because it wasn’t how they thrashed the Aussies at home in ’98 [prem] - - Tendulkar and co. took them on and won convincingly. That same level of confidence is required.

The Aussies are believers in not just batting partnerships, but bowling partnerships too. With two bowlers operating well in tandem, pressure builds on the batsmen as there is no escape. If one end is loose, it relieves the pressure and is detrimental to the bowler at the other end. The Indians must ensure they are not suffocated from both ends by managing at least singles against one bowler.

Because the Australians are so aggressive in their bowling and in the field, there are two ways events can unfold - either they will dominate completely, or the batsmen will go on the counter-offensive and score a lot of runs quickly. It is rare indeed to see a batting line-up slowly grind down the Australian attack over the course of a day or more. Whatever damage is done is done quickly. There is no middle ground, so you have to attack.

Also, because Australia is so used to dominating, to have the rug swept from underneath them with an adventurous display of batsmanship would be quite a shock, probably reviving memories of the last tour and bringing more runs as a result. They are not used to being pushed around lately, and so may lose their cool sooner than usual. Obvious resistance should prove highly unsettling.

The bowlers and how to play them

Glenn McGrath: Mainly relies on movement off the seam. Does not generate swing, and so can be driven through the line when he pitches up on wickets with little bounce or seam. Consistently places the ball on a most awkward line and length. Prime method of dismissal is moving the ball away for an outside edge or cutting it back for the lbw. Rotate strike to prevent him working on one batsman for an entire over. Bowls loosely when upset, so niggle him as much as possible.

Damien Fleming: Has a dangerous outswinger and will generate reverse in-swing with the old ball. Humidity may help his swing. Drive with caution. Isn’t that fast, and can be played with confidence once the shine has gone from the ball. Will be aiming for outside edge. Can be put away with ease when he strays to leg. Enjoys bowling on the subcontinent.

Jason Gillespie: Has a history of injuries and may break down at any stage. Easily the fastest of the tourists, but not always accurate. Can be lethal once he settles into rhythm, so don’t let him bowl maiden overs. Has a high strike rate and will take wickets, but also can be expensive and should concede more runs than the other quicks. Ensure this happens by exercising patience and scoring productively from the loose balls that come along. Expect him to bowl first-change. Cuts the ball sharply.

Shane Warne: More bluster than bamboozle these days, but remains a high quality bowler. Bowls the googly a lot more but tends to drops it short and flipper is off line as often as not. Not as accurate as he once was, so punish him fully when he errs. Gets his lbws with top-spinners when batsmen play for spin. Varying degree of turn makes him unpredictable. At his best bowling consistent leg-breaks at leg stump with subtle variations in line, flight and turn. Take him on again.

Colin Miller: Mainly bowls a flat trajectory, relying on turn and bounce rather than flight. Though not always threatening, can be quite accurate and difficult to score from. Beware of faster ball bowled like a medium pace in-swinger. Bowls fairly straight so can be flicked through the leg-side with wristy strokes. Gets majority of wickets caught at bat-pad or lbw on the back foot. May open the bowling with off-spin at some point.

Michael Kasprowicz: Will play only if one of the other quicks breaks down. Somewhat similar to Fleming and will have learnt greatly from previous tour. Can swing and seam the ball, but does not have unsettling pace or consistent accuracy. Go after him on flat pitches.

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