India vs South Africa 2015, 3rd Test at Nagpur: What should India’s bowling attack look like?

India must play three spinners in Nagpur considering the Jamtha track has been assisting spinners more for last couple of years.

World’s top-ranked Test side South Africa arrived on the Indian shores with the reputation of being an invincible team, as they did not lose a single series away from home since suffering a 0-2 defeat in Sri Lanka in 2006. Though India were always going to be a difficult frontier to conquer, their splendid record and assertive performances in the limited-overs series promised a tough fight in the Tests. However, the first two Tests have not gone their way. They lost the first one in Mohali while the second one could not go beyond first day and was called-off. The performance of spinners has been the hallmark of the two Tests that have been completely dominated by bowlers. Chinmay Jawalekar expects the third Test in Nagpur to be a similar affair and looks at India’s possible bowling attack considering the same. Also Read: India vs South Africa 2015, 3rd Test at Nagpur: Likely changes for both sides in crucial tie.

India are currently leading the four-match Test series 1-0, thanks to the superlative performance by their spinners. The first Test in Mohali was won inside three days as the spinners scalped 19 of the total 20 wickets. While Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja picked up eight wickets each in the match, Amit Mishra took three — including the most prized wicket of AB de Villiers twice in the match. This performance set the tone for the series and sent a warning to the South Africans of the dangers that would beset them in the days to come.

The second Test in Bengaluru was to be played amidst persistent rains and keeping the overcast conditions in mind, Mishra was dropped to accommodate all-rounder Stuart Binny, who bowls gentle medium pace gives the ball a decent swing. India started the match on a terrific note, bundling South Africa for 214 on Day One. Once again both Ashwin and Jadeja shone with the ball, sharing eight of the ten wickets to fall between them. Unfortunately, the match could not be played any further as the rain played spoilsport. But Indian spinners scored once again over their opposition batsmen and gained psychological advantage. Also Read: Amit Mishra should be included in the third Test against South Africa at Nagpur.

With the third Test set to start in Nagpur on November 25, the focus will once again be back on the playing track and going by the current trend, the pitch is in all-likelihood going to assist spinners. Though traditionally the Nagpur-wicket is known to be batsmen-friendly, we may well get to see a spinners’ paradise for the Test. In the four Tests that have been played so far at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur, it has been an even-stevens affair as just about 51 percent of the wickets have been taken by spinners.

India and South Africa have played on this ground before, with India going down by an innings’ margin in 2010. The home side will not have happy memories from the game that was dominated by pacers, with Dale Steyn led-pace attack taking 16 out of the 20 wickets in that match. India certainly will not want a repetition of that match. Also, the last time India played a Test here against England in December 2012, the match ended in a draw with India playing as many as four spinners and yet not being able to win it. Also Read: Shikhar Dhawan: Second lifeline in Tests.

But this time, the pitch is expected to favour the spinners. It is pretty much an established fact by now that the only way India can beat South Africa on home soil is by playing on rank turners. So, it is most likely that the curator will come up with a spin-friendly track. Also if we go by the trends of last couple of years, the Jamtha track doesn’t provide much bounce and assists the spinners more. So, it is anyways going to test the skills of South African batsmen, who are still figuring out ways to counter the spin-threat posed by the Indian trio. Also Read: Indian pacers need to step up alongside spinners to stop AB de Villiers.

Considering the conditions, the only change India would make is drop Binny and get Mishra back into the playing XI. In Gurkeerat Singh — who is a spin-bowling all-rounder — they do have the extra option in the spin department. But it is highly unlikely they would disturb the winning momentum with too many changes. Ishant Sharma and Varun Aaron are expected to complete the five-bowler attack. However, Umesh Yadav — who recently picked up a hat-trick in domestic cricket — might get a look in instead of Aaron. Unless their batsmen come up with something special, South Africa must brace themselves for another vicious spin-attack.

 (A self-confessed cricket freak, Chinmay Jawalekar is a senior writer with CricLife and CricketCountry. When not writing or following cricket, he loves to read, eat and sleep. He can be followed here @CricfreakTweets)

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