DTVHINDIWith one foot in WTC final, India thinking of simulating English conditions in Ahmedabad for fourth India-Australia Test – DTVHINDI
Representative image of groundsmen spraying water on the pitch of the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad. | Photo Credit: Vijay Soneji India are on course to reach their second straight World Test Championship final and if they end up winning here, a pace-friendly track could be laid out in the final game of the series in Ahmedabad to prepare for the summit clash in London in June. Before the start of the Border-Gavaskar trophy, India needed to beat Australia 3-0 or 3-1 to qualify for the WTC final and keep the destiny in their own hands. India skipper Rohit Sharma doesn’t want to jump the gun but, ahead of the third Test beginning at the Holkar Stadium on Wednesday, he said the team has already spoken about simulating English conditions in the fourth and final game against Australia. There is a strong possibility that India might end up facing Australia in the WTC final. “It will be a different ball game (facing Australia in England) for both teams, actually. There is definitely a possibility of that (Ahmedabad as preparatory game for WTC final). We have already spoken about it. We need to get the guys ready for it,” Rohit said in a media interaction. The WTC final will be played at The Oval in London from June 7-11, right after the IPL. Rohit Sharma said Shardul Thakur becomes an important member of the side in overseas conditions. “The important one is Shardul Thakur, because he comes into the planning for us. We don’t know how ready he is since he has just got married (laughs). We don’t know how many overs he has bowled. But that thought process is definitely there. “If we get the result we want here (Indore), we might think of doing something different in Ahmedabad for sure. “But we are not there yet. We have to win this game and then talk about it. That’ll be the right thing to do,” he said. ‘You are never in on these wickets’ India are well on their way to their 16th straight series win at home. Rohit feels reaching the WTC final will be a big achievement for his team, as winning even at home has not been easy. “Yes there are home conditions but they are challenging conditions; it is not easy for the batters to score runs consistently.” Australia have collapsed in the second innings of both the Tests and Rohit said it shows how hard it is to play in Indian conditions. “Yeah….that’s the beauty of this game and the pitches we are playing on. It can happen to us as well, not just them. I played 200 balls in Nagpur and never felt set. It just takes one ball to grip or keep low and you are out. On pitches like this, you are never in. “Yes, we have quality spinners who can change things around just like that but that does not give us the guarantee that we are going to win the Test or roll them over in one session. We…
India will look to drive home the advantage against an Australia plagued by self-doubt – DTVHINDI
Still in the air: Even though the team management is yet to take a call on his inclusion, Gill makes sure he is match-ready. | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy From the broad glass panes of the press box, the sight of Australian cricketers surrounding the pitch for a closer look when the covers were removed briefly, was all too familiar. In this edition of the Border-Gavaskar series, the Australians have been obsessed with the nature of the surface and veered off from their time-tested methods with disastrous consequences. The demon of self-doubt has been Australia’s biggest scourge. With the wily Steve Smith at the helm now, can the visitors turn the corner mentally? Dry pitch The predominantly dry, black-soil pitch with a smattering of red, should encourage spin when the third Test gets underway at the Holkar Stadium here on Wednesday. Leading 2-0 in the four Test series, India will go for the kill. The Indians left the choice of Rohit’s opening partner — either the out-of-form K.L. Rahul or the red hot Shubman Gill — up the air. The in-form Gill should play. Not surprisingly, much focus will be on R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Ashwin’s run-up and release have rhythm, with his hip drive and the manner in which he pivots being major factors. Although a finger spinner, Ashwin employs both his wrist and fingers to create a variety of deliveries. The one that goes through straight and the delivery that hangs in the air and then drifts away combine with deadly effect with his off-spinners. There is flight, deception and venom. On these surfaces, Jadeja’s quicker-through-the-air variety — he uses the crease capably — is potent. Vicious turn and bounce with the arm-ball slipped in between have fetched Jadeja a whopping 17 wickets so far. Ashwin has 14. And, India’s batting depth has provided the runs for the spin duo to attack. Reinforcement: Mitchell Starc’s addition to the team is good news for Australia as left-arm seamers have traditionally troubled Indian batters. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Good news For Australia, Mitchell Starc’s return is good news; left-arm seamers have traditionally troubled India. Starc will also create the rough for off-spinners Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy to exploit. Fit again, pace-bowling all-rounder Cameron Green gives Australia the option of playing an additional bowler or a batter. Whatever be the combination, Australia needs to display resilience. It is the lack of faith in their defensive skills on these pitches that has seen the Aussies going for fatal strokes. Unable to pick the length, their footwork has been impacted adversely. The Australians should explore the possibility of playing a lot more off the back-foot and meeting the ball late to frustrate the Indian spinners. The way to go The batters can crouch a little in their stance and shorten their backlift to counter the low bounce and give themselves a lot more time to negate the turning ball off their back-foot. This will open up more scoring areas too. Playing with soft hands in defence and not going…
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