New Delhi [India], November 17 : Former Australian cricketer Brad Haddin has
criticized the Indian team, which lost their first Test at Eden Gardens in 13 years
following a loss to South Africa by 31 runs, saying that they are “leaving too much on
chance” by using excessively spin-friendly surfaces and not allowing themselves to
play their best cricket.
India’s Test woes at home continued as they failed yet another test against quality
spin. Simon Harmer haunted India with his sharp turn and bamboozling ways,
securing eight wickets in the match and leaving India 31-run short of a modest target of 124 runs. This marked India’s fourth successive loss to SENA nations at home in
Tests, after a humiliating 0-3 whitewash to New Zealand last year, which marked their
first series loss at home in 12 years.
Speaking on the Willow Talk Podcast, Haddin said, “I just think they are leaving too
much to chance. India play their best cricket when they put a big total on the board,
and then they make the opposition claustrophobic with their fields. Their spinners are
better than anyone else on those surfaces, but their batters are not that good players
of spin on surfaces like that.”
He pointed out that under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, Team India used to put up “big
scoreboard pressure” with big totals and made their opponents feel “claustrophobic”
with aggressive field settings.
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“When Virat Kohli took over as captain back then, they batted long and put big
scoreboard pressure and left opponents claustrophobic with their fields. They are
leaving too much to chance. It brings ordinary spinners into the game. They have
taken their world-class batters out of the game. Your skill and the craft of um using
your drift, using the different angles of the crease go out of it,” he added.
Following the match in the presser, head coach Gautam Gambhir had defended the
pitch, saying that there were “no demons on it”.
“There was no demon in this wicket. It was not an unplayable one. This was not a
typical turning track. The majority of the wickets were claimed by the seamers. It was
more of a test of your technique and mental toughness… Those who defended well
scored runs. This is exactly what we wanted, but when you do not play well, this is
what happens,” he had said.
Haddin said he heard that Gambhir came out and said that they are happy with the
surface they are playing on. “This cost them against New Zealand as well,” he said.
India are 1-0 down in the series and will put their best foot forward in the second Test
in Guwahati from November 22