A tail of woes

What's common between the 2013 Durban Test, 2014 Manchester Test, 2014 Oval Test and the just-concluded Brisbane Test?

Apart from the fact that India were at the wrong end of the result, there is one more link. In all these matches, India's bowlers had the opposition batsmen on the mat, until their lower-order came to the rescue and turned the tables around. In all these games, it was a case of 'so near yet so far' for the Indians.

Let's rewind to Day Three at the Gabba. The Indians had their tails up after removing overnight batsman Mitchell Marsh and Brad Haddin early in the morning session. Australia were 247/6 at that moment, still 161 runs behind India's first innings total of 408. The plan to remove Haddin with the short ball worked perfectly. A historic victory at Australia's den seemed more a reality than a dream.

But what followed after that left most viewers scratching their heads. MS Dhoni and his bowling unit decided to employ the short stuff to the No. 8 Mitchell Johnson (not to forget the verbal volleys). It was a plan alright, but one that went on for too long despite clearly not working. The bowlers refused to go back to the basics of bowling line and length, and letting a helpful pitch do the rest.

The result? A fired-up Johnson smacked the Indian bowlers all around the park, and put together a record 148-run partnership with skipper Steve Smith. When Johnson fell – looking to drive away from his body, mind you — the damage was done, with the hosts just 13 runs shy of matching India's score. The mayhem didn't stop there. Mitchell Starc, the No. 9, too notched up a fifty. The No. 10 Nathan Lyon added 23, and debutant Josh Hazlewood scored an unbeaten 32. Even their last-wicket partnership added 51, ensuring Australia ended up with a mammoth 505.

Dig deep into some statistics, and it shows India's problems in polishing off the opposition tail is becoming a bit of a trend (see box). Brisbane was the seventh time since 2010 that India have allowed their opposition to score 400-plus in an innings after having them five down for 250 or less. On an average, India have conceded 84 runs against the opposition's No. 8, 9, 10 and 11 outside Asia since 2011, which is the most by any team.
So what is the reason that India, despite having the upper hand, squander the advantage? Former India fast bowler Ajit Agarkar, who was one of the country's finest in the art of bowling yorkers, admitted that tailenders world over have improved, but added that the trend was a bit of a worry for India.

"We tried to blow the tail away in Brisbane, and that's where we went wrong. Ishant Sharma was bowling so well in the morning session, I don't know why they changed the plan (to bowl short). You should never change what is working for you. And a captain who has played 90 Tests (MS Dhoni) has to have a big say in that (tactics)," he said.

"Bowlers must bowl to a tailender like he bowls to a proper batsman, especially on a helpful wicket. Sometimes you have to be boring as a bowler, and just keep bowling on a consistent line and length and let the pitch do the rest," Agarkar added.

The Mumbaikar was astonished at the amount of runs India gave away to the likes of Johnson, Starc and Lyon.

"If you're not getting wickets, at least don't concede runs. Surely, the bowlers have to be smart enough to know how to stop runs against tailenders. To give away that many runs was ridiculous to me," Agarkar said.
Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar said India's objective changed from getting wickets to settling scores the moment Johnson walked out, and Dhoni let the game drift away for too long with that.

"A captain must make sure he doesn't let the game drift away in such situations. He might constantly talk to his bowlers, reassess his plans. It didn't happen, and that's where we lost the match by putting pressure on ourselves," he said.

Anshuman Gaekwad, former India batsman and coach, felt Indian players tend to relax after running through the top-order.

"It's surely one of the reasons. We relax after getting the top-order cheaply and let the tailenders come and harass us. It happens only with the Indian team," he said.

Yes, we've allowed the likes of Dale Steyn, Robin Peterson, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad and James Anderson score those vital 30s and 40s in our previous tours to South Africa and England, which has come back to haunt us.

"In India, the spinners get that job done for us. But the problem gets exposed when we go abroad," Agarkar said.

One thing's for sure, India cannot afford to gift away runs to Australia's lower-order again if they are to entertain any hopes to levelling the series. Is it too tough to ask?

"Look, it's all about assessing the situation. If Plan A is working, stick to it. Only if it's not, then start thinking. You must always evaluate situations as a captain and bowling unit. And lastly, at least don't leak runs," Agarkar said.

Vengsarkar had a long-term solution to offer, something that the Board of Control for Cricket in India can ponder upon.

"I strongly feel that all upcoming fast bowlers must play at least a couple of seasons of county cricket. You don't learn such things on Indian domestic pitches. Most fast bowlers around the world improve their skill levels by playing country cricket," he said.

Well, that's one for the future. But for the next two Tests, it must be back to the basics.

A WORRYING TREND
Here's a list of matches since 2011 in which India has allowed the opposition tail to flourish...
Score Eventual total Against Venue Year Result
130/6 341/10 South Africa Cape Town 2011 Draw
199/5 406/10 England Ahmedabad 2012 India won by 9 wickets
153/5 380/10 Australia Chennai 2013 India won by 8 wickets
244/5 408/10 Australia Chandigarh 2013 India won by 6 wickets
298/5 500/10 South Africa Durban 2013 SA won by 10 wickets
202/7 496/10 England Nottingham 2014 Match drawn
170/6 367/10 England Manchester 2014 England won by innings and 54 runs
229/5 486/10 England London (The Oval) 2014 England won by innings and 244 runs
247/6 505/10 Australia Brisbane 2014 Australia won by 4 wickets

NZONE
7
Number of times since 2010 that India have allowed their opposition to score 400-plus in an innings after having them five down for 250 or less

84
Number of runs India have conceded on an average against the opposition's No. 8, 9, 10 and 11 outside Asia since 2011, which is the most by any team