India v Australia: Ranchi’s Test might be a boon in disguise for Kohli and boys

The pitches in Pune and Bangalore have been in the news for the wrong reason. Many critics and analysts have scrutinised and called the strip in Pune as “pathetic”. Variable bounce, sharp turn and the spinners targeting the foot marks of the fast bowlers have been a common sight in the Indian summer.

The Indian pitches, typically are a spinner’s paradise and a test for the visiting nation. These surfaces are the ultimate test for the batsmen’s skill, for the examination of the batsmen to drive/play straight compared to the cross-batted swipes that are seen in limited overs format.

If at all there should be a slogan for Test Cricket in India it would be “Survival of the fittest”, with batsmen needing to survive under the difficult of conditions in grinding out a total. Further, the deterioration of these pitches might just make the opposition dread for runs.

The Ranchi pitch like the Pune and the Bangalore pitch is going to offer help for the spinners and aid them from ball one of the test. Ranchi’s pitch has always been known for its help to spinners in terms of providing grip and turn. Alongside that, Ranchi’s pitch is slightly larger to that of Bengaluru, and that makes it tough for the batsmen to clear the boundaries.

Although boundaries may come in thin and slow, the batsmen should not lose faith on their batting technique on this pitch which provides opportunities for more two’s and three’s. The JSCA stadium is relatively a late entree in contrast with Pune and Bengaluru. The uneven carry on this pitch alongside the slowness of the turf will attract more controversies.

It will be interesting to see what the Ranchi pitch has to offer for both the sides, with India’s momentum slightly better to that of the Aussies. It might not be resembling the pitch that was used in matches at Ranchi before this test. Further, it would not be surprising if a typical sub-continental pitch is dished out at the JSCA stadium.

The four factors that could influence the decision of the outcome on this pitch are:

#1) Toss

Just like the test in Bengaluru, winning the toss and electing to bat first would be a boon for the team. The pitch certainly is predicted to turn from ball one, and it will be interesting to see how the day 4 and five conditions of this pitch hold.

Australia would want to win the toss and elect to bat. It would give them loads of confidence going into the match. Batting fourth on this track would be a nightmare for a team of any calibre, let alone India. Smith would want his boys to have a replica test to that of Pune where the Australian team batted well in the first innings and followed it with some good bowling.

Warner has not been in the greatest of forms, and the Aussie opener would see this test as an opportunity to show his destructive self against the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

#2) Partnerships

The series has just witnessed one partnership above 100 from the first two tests. The lack of partnership has come to haunt both the sides, with India facing the wrath of it in the First Test and Australia in the second. On a wicket, as slow and uneven to that of this, the batsmen need to make runs in tandem to help the team from getting into pits.

It is also essential for the batsmen for have a solid application of the technique to spend time in the middle. Patience and steady build-up are two keywords to a solid partnership. India would take heart from the previous match where three of their top five have managed to build the innings, being K.L Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

The absence of Murali Vijay might come as a loss for the Indian team, with Vijay being capable of playing the long and dirty innings on such pitches. The only thing that would keep India worried is the form of their captain Virat Kohli and the lack of meaning partnerships right down the end of the line-up.

#3) Right combination

Australia would start the test as the underdogs following their crushing loss against the host in Bengaluru. The absence of Starc and Mitch Marsh might present opportunities to Glenn Maxwell and Jackson Bird. Bird’s initial seam movement might not be as impressive to the swing that Starc gets, but it would be as good as to claim a wicket or two.

Maxwell’s bowling might just be a boon for Smith to reduce the burden of the offie, Nathan Lyon. Lyon’s hands were slightly sore just before the second innings of the Bengaluru test. It would be essential for Smith to reduce his burden by handing over a few overs to Maxwell.

India, on the other hand, might just stay with the same eleven following their comeback win in Bengaluru. However, Kohli has at least made one change in the previous 19 games at home, and the trend might just stop with this test. Ishant Sharma’s performance might be the only worry for Kohli, excluding which his men stand at a better shot at the trophy.

#4) Who’s got the turn?

The pitch is guaranteed to turn square and create a ruckus. Both the teams would want their spinners to get settled into the match as quickly as possible. Steve Smith would love to see O’Keefe and Lyon bring their A game in the same match.

The Australian spinners have often performed well in each other’s company, and this pitch would assist them as well as the other pitches in India. Lyon’s pace variation and O’Keefe’s consistency outside the off-stump might be a key for their victory.

On the contrary, Indian spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja have different bowling strategies. Ashwin likes to loop the ball in the air to draw the batsmen to play a false shot and Jadeja would land the ball quicker with more revs on the ball. It would be interesting to see which duo would gain an uncanny advantage on the Ranchi pitch.