Ind vs Aus Test: The Indian cricket team continues to dominate the Test cricket scene at home, with their latest victory over Australia in the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy being no exception. The triumph was achieved through the brilliance of Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Their success is a testament to the quality, variety, and depth of India’s spin attack.
Ind vs Aus Test: Quality Spin Bowlers
India is one of the toughest places to bowl spin, according to former Australian opener Matthew Hayden. This is because bowlers need to have a comprehensive understanding of the appropriate lines, lengths, and pace to be successful. However, India boasts some of the best spinners in the world. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have taken over 700 wickets combined, with Ashwin being a student of the game, always willing to adapt and improve, and Jadeja being an accurate spinner who gives nothing away. The addition of Axar Patel to the spin attack, who has picked up 48 wickets in just nine Test matches, has only added to India’s strength.
Ind vs Aus Test: Variety in Spin Bowling
India’s spin attack is unique in that it comprises of a right-arm off-spinner, a left-arm orthodox spinner who bowls quicker, and another left-arm orthodox spinner with an extremely high release point. This variety makes it challenging for opposition batters to settle during an innings, as they are constantly tested. The spin-friendly pitches in India only add to the difficulty for visiting teams.
Ind vs Aus Test: Depth in Batting
India’s spinners are not just exceptional bowlers, but also contribute to the batting order. Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Axar Patel form the lower order for home Tests, and all three are skilled batsmen. Jadeja has been the most improved Test batter in the world over the past five years, scoring 1527 runs in 50 innings. Ashwin has not only taken over 450 wickets, but also has five Test centuries to his name. Axar Patel, batting predominantly at number 9, has a decent Test record with 333 runs in 14 innings.
Conclusion
India’s spin attack is a major reason for their unbeaten run at home since 2013. The quality, variety, and depth of the spinners make it difficult for visiting teams to adjust and succeed. With the addition of Axar Patel to the spin attack, India’s dominance in home Tests is only expected to continue. The Australian team learned this the hard way in the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India defeated them by an innings and 132 runs.