India panned for fielding no spinner

Perth, December 14

Virat Kohli’s team selection for the second Test has come under the scanner. India opted for a four-pronged pace attack, without a specialist spinner, at the new Perth Stadium, hosting a Test match for the first time. Glenn McGrath, the legendary Australian pacer, was quick to see the ‘mistake’ India made. “They have got caught up in the hype and felt this pitch was going to do everything, bounce, pace, carry, seam,” McGrath told Channel Seven.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan was even more direct in his criticism of India’s playing XI. “India has got the team wrong. I just thought at Adelaide Oval, I know it’s a different pitch, but the balance of the attack was spot on. The three quicks are outstanding and I do think over the course of the next few days Virat will be looking over his shoulder and thinking ‘why didn’t I play a specialist spinner’?” Vaughan told Fox Cricket. “Jadeja is quality as well, so I would have gone with a spinner. Jadeja has also got that buzz of energy. He’s a fire cracker in the field, bowls his left-arm spin ... he’s very similar to Ravi actually, a very similar kind of bowler.”

Former Australia skipper Allan Border, too, was surprised.  “I do think it’s good to have that variety in attack, and the India pacers were tremendous in Adelaide. They got through the heat and the conditions of all five days, they kept running in, so I don’t think they need another one,” Border said.  “A spinner would have been ideal later on in the game in particular. One of Australia’s weaknesses in the past few years has been left-arm spin.” 

If Nathan Lyon manages to find assistance from the wicket and bowls well, the criticism is going to get a lot shriller. — Agencies