England vs India 2014: SWOT analysis of the Indian batting

Trial by rain and cloud: Can Dhoni’s boys prevail?

When the last of the Fab Four of Indian cricket walked off into the sunset in November 2013, a rather wry thought crossed my mind: Will the media still use the phrase “much-vaunted” to describe this lineup? I have used the same phrase many times in my articles, but I’m curious to see if it still holds true for the current squad.

Losses in South Africa and New Zealand haven’t done justice to the incredible amount of talent the new-look Indian Test squad possesses. The question of whether it can hold up to the rigours of the longer format is however, yet to be answered. Sure, some of them are still finding their feet in the tough environs of the oldest form of the game, but for how long will this continue?

I don’t have to remind anyone of India’s previous visit to England in 2011. So many had broken down – most of them vital to the think-tank’s scheme of things. And this was despite the fact that they had reached the No. 1 ranking in Test cricket, won the just-concluded World Cup for the second time, and still had three of the Fab Four in their ranks. Too much cricket? Perhaps.

Three years on, another side, brimming with hope, is returning to the birthplace of cricket. The signs are good for the moment – England have just been thrashed by Sri Lanka at home, surrendered the Ashes earlier in the year, and are still coming out of the sordid Pietersen saga, the Trott conundrum and Graeme Swann’s retirement. But it is highly injudicious to underestimate opponents in any arena, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be well aware of that fact.

India’s batting, for long their strength, their succor and the key to their success, still has plenty of improvement areas. A SWOT (Strength-Weakness-Opportunity-Threat) analysis follows:

Strengths

On paper, the batting looks fairly solid. With three established openers in the squad, anyone would take a guess on Dhoni’s preference. Shikhar Dhawan, though not in the best of form at the moment, can play an attacking innings at the top of the order if he hangs around long enough. He may not be as susceptible to the short ball as some of the others, but he needs to utilize his aggressive instincts carefully. Stroke-making on English pitches isn’t easy, and he will do well to remember that.

That is where a calmer, wiser head is required – someone who can shepherd the impetuous Delhi lad, hold up one end while keeping the scorecard ticking, and guide him through the innings. In such a case, I would bring in Gautam Gambhir as Dhawan’s partner. He has had a couple of stints in county cricket of late, and is raring to go. Adept against both spin and pace, the KKR skipper is the kind of player you need to play a big innings. The wisdom of having a left-left opening combination has been questioned before, but I’d prefer that as a welcome change. Bowlers would still struggle with their lines because both Dhawan and Gambhir have contrasting batting styles. The only thing they need is patience.

Cheteshwar Pujara, Saurashtra’s run-making machine, is an essential requirement in the lineup. He has excelled in this format, and can carry the mantle of the unflappable Rahul Dravid as well as VVS Laxman. Following him would be Indian cricket’s sensation Virat Kohli, who has learned to play with controlled aggression. The Mumbai duo of Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane have also blossomed of late, with the latter scoring his maiden Test century against New Zealand earlier this year. With a copybook technique and the famed ability to grind it out in tough conditions, both Rohit and Ajinkya can lend some solidity and flair to the middle order. I’d pick Rahane though.

All eyes would also be on the Indian captain, who has the not-so-envious task of shepherding the lower order, but also plot strategies to ensure England’s downfall. Graying around the edges, Dhoni will look to play his natural game – which he should, in any case – if India are to achieve substantial scores. Down the order, Stuart Binny could be more than a handful as he gives the option of an extra seamer. Ravindra Jadeja has also done well with the bat at times, so he and Ravichandran Ashwin can round up the lower order before the tail comes in.

Weaknesses

1. Conditions: Two practice matches are scheduled, but given their reputation as slow starters on overseas tours, the Indians will have to focus on getting used to the inclement weather as well as the pitches on offer. A full-strength squad for these matches may not be needed, but the so-called Big Guns need the workout. I would advise trying out the left-left combination against Leicestershire or Derbyshire. In addition, Wriddhiman Saha should get a chance in both games, in the dual role of wicket-keeper and batsman. The practice matches usually witness the Indian players taking things easy, but if they have to erase the memories of the previous tour, it is better to take these seriously too.
2. Temperament: This is a glaring weakness in the batting. Test cricket is all about guts and gumption – you must have the will to tough it out in the middle despite all odds. Patience, a tenet which is sorely lacking in the younger lot that has been fed on a steady diet of Twenty20, is the need of the hour here. Considering the fact that the likes of Chris Jordan, Stuart Broad, and Liam Plunkett can be more than a handful with their pace, the defence of Indian batsmen needs to be rock-solid while still moving the score along. An improvement area, for certain.
3. Swing, Seam and the Short Stuff: The struggles of the Indian batsmen against genuine pace, swing, and the short ball are well-documented. Although most of them have worked hard upon nullifying the effects of the latter, there is still a lot of improvement necessary. Also, the tendency to poke at deliveries swinging away from the off stump is beginning to reach alarming proportions. Coach Duncan Fletcher will have to ensure that his wards don’t fall prey to such teasing, tantalizing deliveries, and that is where the practice matches will come in handy.
4. Get the Basics Right: In every overseas tour, you’ll find that the star performers are those players who do the basics right. Be it batting or bowling, stick to your strengths. Play your natural game but be ready to defend when the going gets tough. Each of the 11 members of the team need to contribute with the bat in some way or the other, so if a collapse happens, there would at least be a sizeable amount of runs on the board. This will come only when the basics are in place. People like Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and even captain Dhoni will do well to remember this.

Shikhar Dhawan should be given freedom to play his natural game at the top of the order

Opportunities

Beating any team on their home turf is a tough proposition. It isn’t impossible, though. England are in the midst of what can, in the politest of terms, be called a re-building phase post the Ashes debacle. Many of the new crop of players are still finding their feet in the longer version.

Alastair Cook has gone on the defensive in his last couple of matches, and his tactics have been called into question multiple times. England’s spin attack, too, is nothing to write home about in terms of experience. These are the areas where the Indians can capitalize on.

With enough firepower in their arsenal, the former No. 1 Test team will look to batter the hapless English black and blue, and taking a leaf out of Sri Lanka’s book will be much handy. All it takes is a couple of solid partnerships out there in the middle, and if India can manage to get a score in excess of 500, they can certainly pressurize their rivals to the extent that they implode from within. After all, revenge is a dish best served cold, right?

Threats

Chris Jordan, the Barbados-born pace bowler, is likely to bowl at full throttle at the tourists. On seaming tracks, especially at Lord’s, and in overcast conditions, he can be more than a handful because none of the current Indian players have faced him before. Liam Plunkett, too, seems to have re-emerged from injury and relative obscurity to trouble the willow wielders. With the experience of James Anderson and Stuart Broad backing up the former two, and all-rounder Moeen Ali coming into his own with both bat and ball, the Indians have quite a fight on their hands.

Verdict

Too early to say anything at this juncture. Simply because England’s confidence is at an all-time low after the loss to Sri Lanka does not necessarily mean India get a walkover in the series. With the visitors’ penchant for enabling opposition players to come out of their slumps in form in grand style, the five-match series’ outcome might be difficult to predict even for Paul the Octopus (had he survived). Still, a fair chance is on the cards for the Men in Blue to set things to rights and exorcise the spectre of 2011.

And it remains to be seen if the media (and myself) would return to using the phrase much-vaunted after the series.