Date:04/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/04/stories/2006030405731900.htm

Sport

England has adopted the right strategy

Balanced attacks are the apple of every captain's eye

PETER ROEBUCK

England has learnt from its mistakes. Accordingly India has a fight on its hands. The touring think-tank has recognised the folly of employing modest spin bowling in this land of tweak and twirl. Two spinners appeared in Pakistan and neither troubled the home batsman. Together they averaged about 80 runs a wicket. Michael Vaughan might as well have ignored the heat and pitches and played four fast bowlers.

Balanced attacks are the apple of every captain's eye because they offer variety and control. Every tactician worth his salt knows that changes of bowling can upset concentration as well as any drinks break. But its no use choosing bowlers merely because they send the ball down slower or faster.

Bowlers must take wickets. In their pomp the West Indies relied entirely on speed. Not so long ago India used to roll the new ball in the dust so that the spinners could grip it. Now England is playing a powerful pace attack and a young and attacking spinner. It did not take long for the strategy to be rewarded. Helped by dew, mist and unconvincing batting, Matthew Hoggard has been taking wickets.

A Yorkshireman apparently better suited to black puddings than masala dosa, to damp English mornings as opposed to hot sub-continental days, Hoggard can swing the ball, send down a cutter and keep a length. In short, he's a much better bowler than the ageing tweakers seen late last year.

Breaking through

England must have been just as pleased with their slow man's contribution. Although Sachin Tendulkar is not the force of yore, his wicket is highly prized. His conqueror was also significant. Over the years, expatriate Indians have not contributed as much as expected. They have tended to remain in their own areas, building their lives and minding their own business.

Not that he's a trail blazer, but Monty Panesar is the first English spinner to emerge from his community. Meanwhile, Haseem Amla is scoring plenty of runs in Natal. Confidence is rising. Every religion, every community has many faces.

England has played a well-chosen team. Considering the injuries, the tourists deserve credit for their performance. As others could testify, it is not easy to recover from losing important players on tour.

The only reservations about the visiting team concern the consistency of the middle-order and the skill of the stumper. Kevin Pietersen is finding it hard to leave cloud nine and there are more unanswered question marks about Geraint Jones than on a dim student's exam paper.

Getting it right

India has also put out a properly constructed side. After a long and distracting debate about extraneous matters, a second well qualified opener was chosen. Happily, Wasim Jaffer put his best foot forward despite the team's faltering reply. The collapse was hardly his fault.

It is clearly sensible to develop a specialist opening pair and let Rahul Dravid and company occupy their best positions. Previously Jaffer had been omitted because it was an easy option. He's from a poor background and no stink arises when he is rejected. It is not much of a way to choose a cricket team.

Likewise, the pace attack has been reinvigorated. From a distance it was hard to comprehend the faith shown in Ashish Nehra and the delightful Ajit Agarkar. Now India can concentrate on the real issue.

The problem lies not with the selection of this side but with the performances of the senior players. Neither the spin attack nor the batting is cutting the mustard. Ganguly's may not be the only head to fall in 2006.