Away series especially Tests have been a humbling ground rather than a hunting one for MS Dhoni’s men.
Away series especially Tests have been a humbling ground rather than a hunting one for MS Dhoni’s men.
In recent months, the Indian team have lost series after series, to the likes of New Zealand, South Africa and England and the gap between the top sides and this Indian lot is widening.
Though they look a formidable side in the ODIs and T20, India in Tests is a hapless bunch.
Batting crumbles, shambles in bowling, fielding goes for a toss etc. are one of the many reasons for their downfall.
Australian tour is just months away where India will play four Tests against a side that thrashed England 5-0 in an Ashes series last year. Moreover, the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle will be ready to unleash hell on the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli when the latter travel Down Under.
So what’s the remedy to this downfall for the young Indian lot?
Off late, Cheteshwar Pujara, who had a poor English summer, has signed on for County side, Derbyshire whereas speedster Varun Aaron is plying trade with Durham.
The English experience can help these Indian players in knowing the foreign conditions well and thus why, Team India should utilize the below 8 reasons as to why County cricket is good for them:
Helps know the pitch conditions
Over the years, Indian players have tried their hands in County cricket with the likes of Gautam Gambhir and Harbhajan Singh amongst the names. Besides them, none of the first team players have plied trade abroad. India lost in England because they couldn’t understand the conditions properly and that’s why MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli should go to England and play county season.
Play alongside the players and know their weak zones
If Cheteshwar Pujara happens to play alongside James Anderson, may be, the former might get to ‘gel’ well with the English pace spearhead. Furthermore, Pujara might even know the line and lengths of the English pacer and that might help the former in facing Jimmy next time around.
Learn to bat well on grassy pitches
England are known to produce bowling-friendly pitches which are grassy and conducive to seam bowling. If our Indian batsmen play in the county season and learn to adapt to these pitches, the English pace attack may have tougher times ahead.
Can help Indian spinners
Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja had an average series to say the least! None of the duo performed to the expectations and that’s why playing in County season becomes ever so important. If Ashwin and Jadeja agree to play county cricket, it may benefit the young spinners as to how to bowl on non-spinning pitches.
Learn a trick or two from England veterans
Be sure of it that when it’s county cricket, the likes of Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan are to around (commentating). In that spare time, our Indian hopefuls can catch up with the veterans and share tips about batting, bowling etc on these conditions.
County experience can come in handy
Just take a look at the Aussies! Some of their players like Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch ply their trade in the county cricket. Australia went onto demolish England 5-0 in the 2013 return Ashes series. India can learn from the Oz and may be, MS Dhoni’s men won’t repeat the mistakes.
All in all, with Cheteshwar Pujara and Varun Aaron in the county cricket mix; this might just open the door for other players to come and have a county experience.
