Cricketers from the past recall how the non-striker would hear the whirring sound of the ball, caused by extraordinary revolutions on the sphere, as it sliced through the air. For the batsman, it was often the hiss of death.
Those were the heady days when the Indian spinners ruled the game. Sadly, India is no more the ‘King in Spin'.
The message came through strongly during the country's disastrous Test series in England where spearhead Harbhajan Singh's two wickets came at a cost of 143.50 and Amit Mishra claimed three scalps at 106.66.
The reserve spin talent in the country does not inspire confidence either. Where is the next game-changer going to emerge from?
Bishan Singh Bedi, a prominent part of India's famous spin quartet, certainly spun matches in his time. The left-arm spinning wizard with flight and deception claimed 266 wickets in 67 Test matches at 28.71. He had a natural flowing action, sent down a mean arm ball and possessed a mind that ticked.
Mood of negativism
The former India captain is also known for his strong views. Bedi, now 64, said to The Hindu , “A mood of negativism is sweeping through spin and our approach to spin in the country.”
Providing a fascinating insight into the dynamics of spin, Bedi spoke about ‘above and below the eye level' bowling. “When you flight, the ball travels above the eye level of the batsman. You disturb the head of the batsman, force him to shake it.
“Like when using a camera, the moment you shake your head, the focus is disturbed. The picture will be far from perfect.”
Bedi elaborated. “This is why above-the-eye-level bowling and flight with loop is much more difficult for the batsman to handle than a flatter trajectory. When the ball is below his eye level, it is easier for the batsman to manage it.”
The dip or the loop on the ball that is caused by the spin imparted could only be learnt by bowling long spells, Bedi said. “A spinner will not get it by bowling four overs or 10 overs in a Twenty20 game or one-day cricket. Too much of these formats is hampering the development of our spinners.
Flat and predictable
“Their bowling is flat and predictable with the captain setting defensive fields meant to protect bad bowling. Even our stars are playing very little first class cricket outside Tests and virtually no domestic cricket. A spinner has to attack.”
Ask him about the wickets and Bedi responds, “I do not know why the pitches for the domestic matches are covered. Even if it rains on the odd day, so be it. Uncovered pitches will bring the dew factor, which is very important, into play.”
The spin legend said the Board awarding central contracts to cricketers made them lazy and the spinners were no exception.
“They get into a comfort zone. Pay the boys a lot more for playing but do not reward them for not playing.”
Bedi, then, tore into the National Cricket Academy (NCA). “The NCA has failed the country. It is simply not producing good cricketers for the longer version of the game.
Make NCA accountable
The NCA should be made accountable. I would not blame Anil Kumble because he has taken over a sick unit.
“This game is all about honesty, integrity, and uprightness. Cricket, a way of life, is directly linked to these values. Are our youngsters learning these things in the present scenario,” Bedi questioned.
The genial Kumble, now the chairman of NCA, denied spin bowling was going through a difficult phase. Asked for his response, Kumble replied, “We were the No. 1 side in Test cricket only a couple of months back and lost only one series. I do not see any crisis.”
(To be continued)
