Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh said that India should let go of the habit of preparing rank turners in home Tests, saying that the bowlers can only evolve if they bowl on good pitches. The playing surface was the main narrative coming out of the India vs South Africa Test series, especially after the 1st Test in Kolkata where the players had to contend with the erratic nature of the Eden Gardens pitch.
“The kind of pitches we have been playing on, there is no requirement of making a bowler out of anyone because every delivery spins or some straightens. A bowler can (only) be considered good when he takes wickets on good pitches,” Harbhajan said.
“We should play on good cricket pitches — it is high time. It has been more than a decade playing on those pitches where there has not been overall growth of (Indian) cricket. If you look at it, we are stuck at that one place and when we play on good wickets, it becomes a case of being required to look into the mirror,” he added.
He also cited the example of the England series where the battle between bat and ball was more balanced.
“We did well in England. When we go outside of India, our batters get the opportunity to score runs (But) if you don’t give chance to your batters, then how will it be possible for them to win matches (at home)? It is high time India start playing on good tracks,” the spinner said.
Harbhajan felt India cannot talk about promoting Test cricket if they dish out wickets like the one in Kolkata where the Test ended inside three days on a dry, turning pitch.
“We keep on talking about saving and promoting Test cricket, but this is not the way to save Test cricket. If you want to save Test cricket then we need to start playing on good tracks, which allow your bowlers and batters and everyone to be in the game,” said Harbhajan.
(With agency inputs)
Contact to : xlf550402@gmail.com
Copyright © boyuanhulian 2020 - 2023. All Right Reserved.