India's batting woes..

The year 2011 began with a chance to create history in South Africa and has ended with déjà vu kind of scenario; a loss in the first test of an away series! As experts, analysts, fans and others associated with the Indian side look forward to India trying and levelling the series in Sydney; it becomes imperative to look for answers to India’s batting woes abroad. For starters this year has been a one to forget as far as the test format is concerned. 3 wins (all against West Indies) and 5 losses don’t do justice to the prospect that the side arose with its performances over the couple of seasons preceding this year. India had probably the toughest challenge up its sleeve: to tour South Africa, West Indies, England & Australia, a tough World Cup at home and all this in a space of about 12 months. Tours to South Africa and West Indies were satisfactory, not good; the World Cup was very good while the trip to England was a disaster and the tour Down Under has begun on a sour note. It almost appears that India had reached its peak during the WC and has been on the slide thereafter.

Batting is the focus when the team does well and also when it doesn’t! Only a few would disagree that batting indeed has been India’s weak link this year, especially in the white clothes. Only one batsman has averaged over 50 - Rahul Dravid. Out of 23 innings this year, the team has managed to stack up 300 or more only on 5 occasions; thrice against West Indies and once against England and South Africa. Gambhir, Sehwag and Dhoni have averaged 31.33, 29.53 and 26.89 respectively in the last 12 months with only one ton amongst the three. Laxman has recorded 1 hundred and 6 fifties; the ton and 4 fifties have come against West Indies and the other two in England; these stats are startling as much worrying. India was always going to face a stern test against the bounce and swing in South Africa, movement in England and bounce and seam down under; many believed India had the pedigree to counter these conditions. The experienced batting line-up was expected to hold fort, but has struggled with a fragile opening pair not providing the consistent starts. If you go back and recollect India’s famous ‘away’ wins, you will realise that most of them have been built upon solid foundations laid down by the openers.

While most of us are worried about Tendulkar’s wait for that coveted hundred, we have managed to overlook the poor form the others in the line-up are going through. Even those who have been tried or who have come in as replacements, likes of Raina, Mukund, Kohli & Yuvraj, haven’t impressed. 8 fifties among the combined 38 outings for the four suggest that they haven’t enjoyed themselves. While India has found new bowling talents likes of Aaron, Yadav, Ashwin who have displayed glimpses of potential successful bowlers, the batting resources appear thin when those in the playing eleven are struggling. Look at their performances in coloured clothes and there is a sharp distinction in terms of numbers. 7 Indian batsmen have scored more 500 in the ODI’s with as many as 6 averaging more than 45 this year. It is said that batsmen win you ODI’s & T20’s, while bowlers win you test matches, but that shouldn’t imply that while the one aspect continues to do well, the other can be on a sabbatical. When the good form of the batsmen was backed by tight, if not good, bowling the outcome was a memorable day of 2nd April. Similarly India batsmen need to back its new found bowling resources if the team intents to win matches away.

A couple of reviews for the year are suggesting that 2011 has been a year for the bowlers. So are we getting too critical of our batsmen, and what does the global scenario look like? Of all the batsmen who have played atleast 10 innings (i.e. about 5 tests) this year, only 9 have had an average beyond 50. No South African features in that list (Kallis has an average of 51.28, but has played 9 innings), no Australian, one Indian (Dravid), 4 Englishmen, 2 West Indian and 2 Pakistanis complete that list. This stat indeed explains something; the batsmen all over have struggled in the last 12 months. The average team score this year has been 324.7, while India’s average total has been 309 (slightly exaggerated courtesy a 600+ total against WI). But this doesn’t present the complete picture. Only England and Pakistan have had average totals greater than 324.7. Australia’s average has been 293.8 while South Africa’s 300; by this logic you can say that India’s batting efforts haven’t been too bad or atleast not bad as compared to the rest. 

Do we associate Indian batting to being just an average line-up? No, we don’t! Hence the growing criticism of the batting isn’t unjustified. India has traditionally looked upto it’s batting to deliver even in conditions where the bowlers in the side are expected to take the initiative. With the repute, experience, talent that exists between no. 1 to 7, the last 12 months have indeed been below par and unfortunately the slide has been collective. If the batting has to click, you need atleast 3 off your 7 to fire consistently; look down the line-up and you will find that it has been absent with India. Gambhir has had a flat year, Sehwag has provided those merry starts without converting them, Dravid has anchored on most occasions, Tendulkar has been hot and cold, Laxman has struggled away, the number six spot isn’t secure, and Dhoni has done no good to his credentials as a batsman. I know there is immense capacity in those listed above, but a collective effort is the need of the hour. If India wants to entertain thoughts of winning the series down under, the batting has to fire right from the first innings at Sydney. Hopefully the turn of the calendar has better things in store for the Indian fans!