15 March 2001 was one of the most memorable days in the history of Indian cricket. India defeated the mighty Australians led by Steven Waugh, stopping the Australian juggernaut from winning more Test matches. The most important thing about that Test was that it ended on the last session of the fifth day of the match, suggesting it was a very sound pitch that played true for the entire duration of the game. The pitch wasn’t a rank turner, and wickets also fell to the pace bowlers during the course of the match.
Almost a quarter of a century later, on 3 November 2024, Indian cricket saw one of its darkest days. Curators prepared a pitch at Wankhede stadium that was a rank-turner from day one and proved costly to the home team.
Except, this isn’t the first time that the strategy of preparing rank turners has boomeranged.
In March 2023, Australian left-arm orthodox spinner Matthew Kuhnemann took five wickets in the first innings to bundle out India for 109. Kuhnemann has become a forgotten figure in the cricketing world today but did enough in that Test in Indore to decimate the Indian batting in the first innings. Nathan Lyon did the rest in the second innings of the Test match, making Australia victorious on Indian soil.
Also read: Indian cricket did a great favour to England by puncturing Bazball. Stop indulging mediocrity
Rank turners only boomerang
India could win Test matches a quarter of a century ago without relying on rank turners. So why is the think tank now preparing rank turners that often backfire on the home team?
There is a remarkable similarity between Australia’s Matthew Kuhnemann and New Zealand’s Glen Phillips. With due respect to them, both are average spinners who would not find a place for themselves in the playing 11 in non-spin home conditions. Yet, both became destructive in India. The reason is rank turners like Indore (2023) and Mumbai (2024). These rank turners offer so much purchase of the pitch that one need not be an extraordinarily skilled bowler to get desired results from it.
The reliance on such pitches almost led to a defeat against Australia in 2023 and a 3-0 Test series loss against New Zealand this year.
It becomes interesting, then, to find out what brought about this modern strategy. The Indian think tank’s calculation was that visiting Test teams would never be able to bat exceedingly well on rank tuners and that Indian batters would get modest targets resulting in easy wins at home. This was a flawed assumption that was bound to fail.
The truth is that visiting Test teams needn’t bat exceedingly well on rank turners. Even scores of 250 are enough on tracks that are turning square from day one of a Test. Such tracks help even ordinary spinners become extraordinary bowlers because of the purchase they get from the wicket. Turning tracks also mean that even the most skilled batters can get the occasional unplayable delivery because of the nature of the wicket. This is what is happening to India in its recent Test series at home – what the Indian think tank sees as an advantage is actually turning out to be a disadvantage.
It is also not in the best interest of spectators to have Test matches finishing in two-and-a-half days. There is a reason why they are played over a five-day period. Test cricket is the most humane and fair form of cricket. It gives the contestants two chances to get all the disciplines of the game right. It allows players to make a comeback over five days. Rank turners and green tops take away the fairness element from the game. Luck becomes too much of a factor in the form of the toss. Teams batting last on a rank turner have to cope with an unplayable wicket.
The Indian think tank and the powers that be in Indian cricket have a lot to answer for after the 0-3 defeat in the recently concluded test series against New Zealand. Sometimes, it’s important to correct an inappropriate strategy. Pitches with less dramatic turns are not a bad idea. A five-day Test match is much more exciting than a Test match that wraps up on the third day. It was a privilege to be at the Eden Gardens on 15 March 2001.
Kush Singh @singhkb is founder, The Cricket Curry Tour Company. Views are personal.
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)
Hi
I am a 64 year old Australian although I was born in the UK. I’ve seen a lot of test cricket, and i played a little first grade cricket in my youth.
I agree with your main point in your article that the turning wickets prepared for New zealand backfired. I will add that india no-longer need these ‘Bunsen-burner turner’ wickets to win tests. They actually limit India displaying their world-class strengths in all areas now.
For example, india took absolutely no advantage of having Bumrah in their team. Think of how Australia recently dominated new zealand, in new zealand, with Cummins leading the way. I think Bumrah, Cummins and Rabada are the classiest fast bowlers in the world (probably adding Jofra Archer when fit). Any country should let these premier bowlers menace the opposition from day one. and give them some grass on the pitch on day one and two to use.
Also, your very classy batsmen are now used to playing on very flat tracks in the IPL. I would also give those batsmen the type of pitches they are now familiar with, where they can showcase their skills – and match or beat any other batting lineup going around.
Just some thoughts.
Best wishes
John D