Cricket, much like any other form of sport, has its pulse beating only through facts. So, let us consider one of each regarding the five-match Test series that kicks off on Thursday.
England, under Ben Stokes’ command, can replace India as the second-best Test team in the world by the end of this long tour. A fact. Purely because England has a good chance of doing so. This may have been backed up by no evidence whatsoever, but cricket can spring up an abundance of surprises in no time.
This is not at all. India, the hosts, have not lost a home series since their stinging 1-2 defeat at the hands of England 12 years ago. Most recently, Stokes’ side fell prey to an agonising 3-1 loss during their last visit to Indian shores. The first Test was satisfactory, but players required a substantial amount of time to bounce back from the heavy defeats that followed. Precisely, they have managed to win only one Test out of nine matches played in Indian conditions so far.
Perhaps, what remains certain is that skipper Rohit Sharma, opening partner Shubman Gill, R Ashwin, and whichever other spinners India chooses to play, will test England’s batsmen every bit as sternly as the ones before. The last time England won a Test series in India was in 2012 when the then captain Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen led the way with the willow, while spinners Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar employed a combination of flight, turn, and subtle variations in pace to outfox Indian batsmen in their backyard.
A decade and two years later, a very different England will try their luck.
As for India, they will be wary of something more. It has fondly come to be known as ‘Bazball’ in cricketing terms. After using ‘bazball’ to somewhat success against Australia in the Ashes last year, the temporary nature of the approach now threatens to run its course in India.
In Indian pitches, where the spin-friendly tracks and variable bounce demand a confluence of technique and strategy, ‘bazball’ is more than likely to emerge as a distinctive force. English spinners’ ability to decode the cryptic language of the pitches can set the stage for a spectacle transcending all boundaries of conventional cricket.
In the realm of Indian cricket, where spinners often dictate terms, ‘bazball`s proponents could exhibit a repertoire of strokes designed not only to counter but also to dominate spin-friendly conditions. The ability to sweep, cut, and drive with precision becomes a testament to the adaptability of England’s aggressive approach.
Moreover, the impressive bounce on Indian pitches, often considered a stumbling block for conventional cricket, can become a canvas for its mastery. The players` swift footwork and quick decision-making can allow them to adjust seamlessly to deliveries that deviate unpredictably, turning what might be a challenge for the hosts into an opportunity to showcase their technical prowess.
If at all ‘bazball’ prevails on Indian pitches in this series, it will, simultaneously, catalyse a shift in the cricketing narrative.
The traditional dichotomy of ‘pace-dominated’ vs ‘spin-dominated’ cricket could undergo a transformation, with ‘bazball’ offering a hybrid style that might as well integrate both elements of the game.
