Hyderabad: Former India cricketer Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has said the current Indian team has the best "fast bowling combination" but it would be unfair to compare the attack with any of their predecessors.
The former leg-spinner also explained the difference between a best bowling attack, which is more rounded and has variety of spinners, swing bowlers and fast bowlers, and a fast bowling group, conceding that the Virat Kohli-led side definitely falls in the latter category.
At a virtual press conference, when Etv Bharat asked if the current squad has the best fast bowling attack, the commentator deemed it "unfair" to make comparisons.
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"It's unfair to compare this attack with any of the attack. Because this attack is all fast bowling, and one left-arm spinner who can keep it tight. Best bowling attack would consist of variety. It would consist of fast bowler, spinner, swing bowler. And a lot of variety of these bowlers. Left-arm spinner, leg-spinner and an off-spinner. Once you have variety, that becomes very difficult for a batsman. And you can use different kind of bowlers to different kind of batsmen.
"But if you ask if this is the best fast bowling combination, one would have to say a definite yes. If this is a best fast bowling combination with four of them bowling together, it definitely is. But a best bowling combination will have a variety in the attack," he told Etv Bharat.
India bowled their heart out to win the second Test match against England at Lord's Cricket Ground. The fiery fast bowling led by Jasprit Bumrah especially in the second innings saw England suffer moral-crushing defeat.
If Mohammed Shami was outright with his line and length, placing the ball in the corridor of uncertainty regularly, senior paceman Ishant Sharma too chipped in with his experience. But what has stood out amid all the exhibition of fast bowling is Mohammed Siraj's aggression, control and his desire to give his best for the Indian team.
Laxman believes it's Siraj's desire to play for his country that makes him so fearsome and credited bowling coach Bharat Arun for identifying and tapping the right talent during his stint as Hyderabad coach.
"He stayed back in Australia even when his father passed away. He didn't come back to Hyderabad. The ambition to play for the country, I think he has put it above all. He has given a lot of respect to Test cricket and wants desperately to be a part of the red ball team and do really well.
"Siraj’s success also has a lot to do with Arun. When he was the coach for Hyderabad for a year or so, he identified Siraj. And to Siraj’s credit, he had the hunger and desire to learn. Arun imparted a lot of knowledge," he said.
Siraj picked eight England batters, four in each innings, helping India beat England by 151 runs in the second Test match.
Asked if India should go with the same bowling combination in the third Test at Headingley and if this should be the template going forward in overseas conditions, he said the team management and the skipper seems to have decided to go with four-pronged pace attack. And if their performances are anything to go by, the have delivered for the team and it's difficult to leave any of them out.
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"You can't leave someone like a Siraj because he is absolutely brilliant. He bowls the right length in the UK. Maybe in the second Test, Ashwin could have got an opportunity instead of Ishant. But Ishant Sharma, with his experience, struck vital blows in both the innings. I think Virat Kohli and the team management have decided to go with four fast bowlers," he said.
Despite performances in overseas conditions especially the historic series in Australia where Ashwin shone with both bat and bowl and even went on saving a Test match, his sidelining has not gone well with many. Although, the conditions in England suits fast bowlers and hence India decided to go with four fast bowlers in the series.
On the other hand, what makes Ravindra Jadeja an automatic selection is his all round abilities especially his batting where he can pitch in with a few runs and has been reliable in the recent times. But the former cricketer does feel bad for the 34-year-old bowler who is the highest wicket taker (413 wickets) for India in the current team.
"I feel really sorry for Ashwin because being in that position and being left out of the side is a hard thing to digest. But I think he’s taking it pretty well, and also in a way he’s not being played in England and over bowled," he said.
But believed that Ashwin is someone who always finds his way.
"I’m sure Ashwin with his intelligence will understand what he needs to do to get into the team," he signed off.
India will play the third Test against England in Headingley on August 25.
When and where to watch: Watch England vs India - 3rd Test - LIVE from 3.30 pm IST on SONY SIX (English), SONY TEN 4 (Tamil & Telugu) channels from August 25, 2021
-- By Ayushmaan Pandey
