India’s crushing five-wicket defeat in the first Test against England has triggered massive questions over team selection, and all eyes are now on Ravindra Jadeja. Despite bowling 47 overs across both innings, Ravindra Jadeja returned with just one wicket for 172 runs that exposed India’s lack of a threatening spin option on the final day at Headingley.
The left-arm spinner was expected to exploit the rough patches created in the left-handers’ zone, but he remained ineffective for most of the five-match Test series opener against England. It was only in the final session that Jadeja managed to dismiss Ben Stokes.
Greg Chappell blames India’s all-rounder obsession for the Headingley defeat
But by then, the damage had been done, as England opener Ben Duckett had already taken the game away from India. To make things worse, Jasprit Bumrah had an off day and went wicketless, leaving the Indian bowling attack toothless on the crucial final day when the hosts were chasing 350 runs.
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Well, ahead of the second Test in Birmingham, starting on July 2, legendary Australian cricketer Greg Chappell has blamed India’s obsession with all-rounders. The former Indian head coach warned that their habit of picking bowlers who can bat a little is backfiring in English conditions.
Ravindra Jadeja is not a front-line spinner in English conditions: Greg Chappell
Chappell has stressed that if Ravindra Jadeja is in the team mainly for his batting, he should play as a support spinner, not the lead. He believes that India must stop compromising bowling firepower for depth in batting and instead back specialists to do their job if they want to stay alive in the Test series.
Greg Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo, “Jadeja is not a front-line spinner in English conditions. If his batting is considered good enough, he can be a support spinner; otherwise, a rethink is necessary. If India is to reverse their fortunes in this series, then a better-balanced team is required.”
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Greg Chappell slams India’s ‘Insurance’ Strategy, urges bold selection calls
Furthermore, the former Indian coach has criticized the team’s approach of picking part-time bowlers just to strengthen the batting. Chappell said that this “insurance” policy doesn’t help when the team needs 20 wickets to win a Test match, especially in England.
The Aussie great has pointed to Shardul Thakur’s selection in the first Test, where he bowled only 16 overs in total and picked two wickets in a single over. He suggested India pick the top six batters who can score runs, and the bowling attack should be picked purely on ability, not batting depth.
Are Indian selectors under pressure now?
Chappell explained, “I don’t agree that an extra batter who bowls should be selected as insurance against top-order collapses. The top six must be trusted to deliver the runs and that the best combination to secure the requisite 20 wickets is available to the captain.”
He also urged the national selectors to show courage in picking bold combinations, just like players take risks on the field. Chappell signed off by saying, “The selectors are the ones under pressure now. If batters and bowlers have to be prepared to take risks to score runs and take wickets, they too have to have the courage to take bold decisions.”
