Australia vs India 2014: Exciting examination for Indian batsmen

Shouldering responsibility: Indian batsmen’s form will decide if they can avoid a repetition of 2011-12

Test cricket in 2014 has been a tough ride for the Indian team, both in terms of results and the quality of contests. Although only one win has been registered in the 7 matches on 2 away tours, there have been a few opportunities where India could have changed their success percentage a bit.

Yes, it was the lack of penetrative bowling on such days which let us down, but being a batting strong side the chances themselves were created by the big totals on the board. In 14 innings the team managed to notch up 290-plus totals on 7 occasions, and when that happened in the same match, India didn’t lose.

The direct correlation of underperformance with the bat to the 0-8 score-line in 2011-12 is well established and so is the one about sturdy batting efforts aiding you in drawing matches. While away success is the ultimate objective of any Test side, drawing is probably the next best result for a team in the transitional phase. The 3rd away Test tour of the year is about to commence, and like its preceding ones, the batting output will invariably dictate the end performance of the team.

The biggest challenge on away tours is stringing big partnerships and doing so with consistency. The ideal way to achieve this is when one of the top-order batsmen functions as the pivot. Individual brilliances sometimes galvanize a group, but on most other occasions such knocks are rendered as pieces of isolated glisters.

True to its description, success in Test cricket is often a product of accumulation of formative contribution which is harder to execute when individual skills are out of their comfort zones. The partnership averages for the first 6 wickets in 2014 - 19.14, 36.21, 27.71, 31.76, 37.69 and 12.84, concur with the above thought and would require a major overhaul to end up with better results in Australia.

In Dhawan, Vijay, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane and Dhoni the Indian batting now bears a settled look but is yet far from being a successful collective assembly in terms of results. The Australian trip will probably be the real test of fortitude for each player and presents an equal opportunity for heroic ordeals. Rohit and Raina will vie for that number 6 slot or Jadeja at 7 if the team goes in for the all-rounder in pursuit of 5 front-line bowlers.

The squad has two spare wicket-keepers (Saha and Ojha) and an opener (KL Rahul). The batting pool in the overall frame bears flair and flamboyance, but the result will rest on the rigidity in the execution.

Top order – A mixed bag

The 4th/5th stump line has been a nemesis for Dhawan and till the warm-up games in Adelaide, it hasn’t been plugged. The feature of the Australian attack during the 2011-12 series was diligent lines and with likes of Johnson and Siddle in their pomp, the fear of this weakness assuming greater proportions is not unjustified.

Virat Kohli returns to Adelaide, this time as a skipper

At the other end would be somebody who has had a reasonably good year and given the kind of short of length bowling on Australian tracks, Murali Vijay might taste success on this tour as well. His Laxman-esque batting methodology could earn him big knocks, just as like VVS enjoyed his Australian tours. The repetitive failures of the opening pair are further amplified if your number 3 is struggling for form. Pujara’s struggles with the bat have brought as much frustration to him as it has to the team’s fortunes. The true bounce and carry in Australia, coupled with lesser lateral movement might assist him to find his touch.

At 4, Virat hasn’t delivered up to potential and hype in the current year. The tour starts from the very place he recorded his first Test ton and there appears no reason why he would not perform over the next few weeks. Yes, the off-stump line got the better of him in England, but lack of swing in Australia could prevent the home side from exploiting this apparent crack in Virat’s armoury.

Rahane has exhibited glimpses of grit, tenacity and ability to shift gears seamlessly and the upcoming series might just be that opportunity for his ascent to the next level. Rohit/Raina/Jadeja have visible shortcomings, albeit each of a diverse nature, and unless the top 5 dominate, the flaws will surface as and when each of them play. This could be Dhoni’s last Test series Down Under and if one may suggest so boldly, even his last as Test skipper on away soil. He would like to use this series to mend a few things including his woeful batting average of 18.69 and a 0-4 (4) track record as captain.

The larger picture presents the opportunity for each batsman in the squad to get tagged alongside Tendulkar (1991-92, 1999-00, 2007-08), Dravid (2003-04) and Kohli (2011-12). Not only does a good performance on this tour command respect but also sharpens a player’s skills.

India tends to lose matches within 3 days on foreign soil; a concerted effort to take matches to the 4th or 5th day could seek withdrawal of available potential from an exciting pool of players. The absence of baggage is a big plus along with the opportunity to excel in testing surroundings.

Here’s hoping that there are a couple of memorable batting knocks over the 4 Tests, if not match winning ones!