Unfavourable conditions notwithstanding, experts believe Harbhajan & Co can still play an important role in New Zealand if they attack the Kiwi batsmen with clever variations
Unfavourable conditions notwithstanding, experts believe Harbhajan & Co can still play an important role in New Zealand if they attack the Kiwi batsmen with clever variations
India's pace combination of Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma is touted as the best new-ball pair by many former internationals. The batting line-up, though it didn't come good during India's last tour six years ago, is in as good a nick as it could ever be.
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As a combination of both these factors and more importantly due to the seamer-friendly conditions in the Kiwiland, India's spinners are unlikely to hog the limelight in the coming six weeks that are considered by some as the toughest test during the so-far-so-good sojourn for skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Gary Kirsten.
But if the past is an indication, then Harbhajan and Co should not be disheartened at all. All of India's four Test wins have seen major contributions from the spinners, be it Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna and Bapu Nadkarni in 1967-68 or the combination of Prasanna and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar that helped India register their last Test win in 1975-76.
Moreover, barring India's last two tours in 1998-99 and 2002-03, the Indian spinners have had more success than their pace counterparts on each of the previous four tours.
However, Venkatapathy Raju, who tasted little success during his two tours to New Zealand, believes past should not be taken into consideration.
"Traditionally, spinners have always dominated India's overseas wins," Raju says. "Even in England, most of our victories in the earlier years have come courtesy some great spin bowling."u00a0
Even Nadkarni, who picked 14 wickets during India's maiden tour 41 years ago and was the team manager when Ravi Shastri made a sensational debut in New Zealand in 1980-81, says it's difficult to judge wickets in comparison with his playing days.
Slow turners
Does that mean spinners don't have any part to play?
"That's not the case," Nadkarni says. "The wickets in New Zealand have always been slow turners. Besides, the windy conditions make it difficult to control the line for spinners. So, I think it's a 50-50 situation for spinners."
Raju, however, disagrees with his senior left-arm spinner on the point of turn offered.
"There has never been much help for spinners from the wickets in New Zealand. You can't expect any spinner to turn the ball over there," he says.
Variation
But the former national selector, just like Nadkarni, doesn't write off the spinners' role. "The chilly conditions make it difficult to grip the ball just like in England," he says.
"So it depends on a spinner's line and length. (Daniel) Vettori has been their most successful spinner but he has never been a huge turner of the ball. He varies his length well, which helps him pick wickets. If the Indian spinners are able to do that, they will surely make their presence felt."
In the first week of April, as the team plays the last Test, we will know whether Bhajji and Co coped with the challenge or found the going too tough.
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