Kolkata : Former New Zealand Cricketer and commentator, Simon Doull has debunked the idea of Indian Cricketers as good players of spin bowling. This comes after India’s horror run with the Bat at Pune , in 2nd Test against New Zealand.
New Zealand posted a total of 259 runs in 1st innings. In reply, Indian Batters including veterans like Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Risabh Pant and the whole middle order fell prey to Kiwi spinners Mitchell Santner’s 7 wickets haul and Glenn Phillips’ 2-fer. The whole Indian Batting could only manage to score 156 runs.
Simon Doull, regarding this dismal outing of Indian Batters stated it’s a misconception that Indian players are good players of spin.
The prime days of good spin players like Sourav Ganguly, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman , Rahul Dravid are over and present Indian Batters are as average spin players as rest of the world.
He even mentioned that whenever players get rank turner Pitches in IPL, they complain.
Doull said, “I think it is a misconception around the world now that these modern Indian players are better playing spin than anyone else. They are not. They are the same as everyone else around the world. Gone are the days of Ganguly, Gambhir, Laxman and Dravid. Sachin was so, so good against spin, and the era before them. I think good quality spinners are just as good as getting India out on turning tracks as Indian spinners against good quality opposition batters. And the moment they see a turning track in IPL, they complain”.
India were also bundled out for 46 runs in 1st Test and lost it. Former Kiwi Cricketer and renowned commentator Ian Smith also pointed out that this performance at Pune was worse than the 46 all out in 1st Test. Smith also criticized poor Batting and short selections.
He said, “Well, this is worse that 46 all out if you ask me,” Ian Smith said while doing commentary on air.
“This is some poor batting and shot selection. I can understand the first Test, but instead of playing themselves in, batting for time, India for some reason, are going after the bowling.”
“They think they can just bash this New Zealand bowling line-up. This is only Day 2 of the Test match. There is ample time to go but the way India are playing, none of them are going to be here that long,” he added.
India are now on backfoot with New Zealand leading by 301 runs. The hosts Indian are on high risk of losing a home Test after 11 years.
