The Offside
For a bowler with 318 Test wickets, Anil Kumble's away record is
dismal. In 33 Tests abroad, he has only claimed 108 Test wickets at an
undeniably high bowling average of 40.5. A strike-rate of 95.6 also
does his cause no good. True, in six matches against the West Indies
in the West Indies, his record reads relatively better - 21 wickets in
six Tests at 34.33. But no one would disagree with the fact that that
these aren't confidence-inspiring figures from a bowler touted as
India's greatest match-winner in recent times.
Kumble's successes, in fact, have mostly come on Indian pitches
deliberately left under-prepared to suit his brand of leg-spin. The
variable bounce that comes into play as a result is what transforms
Kumble into a deadly match-winner.
But on the hard and true pitches abroad, Kumble has been known to
struggle. He has also not been helped by batsmen around the world
cottoning onto the fact that he loses his potency once they treat him
as a medium-pacer who hurries on to them on occasions.
Being imperative that India play three medium-pacers, Harbhajan Singh
naturally seems the better bet as a spinner. The young man has been
gaining in confidence even as Kumble has struggled to regain his
rhythm after a return from injury. The fact that at least two of the
top West Indies batsmen - Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chaderpaul - are
left-handers is also an eloquent reason for Harbhajan to be preferred
over Kumble.
The off-spinner, with his excellent arm-ball, is a good enough bowler
against the right-handers too. All said, it then makes very good
cricket sense to rest Kumble.
The Onside
Kumble is without a doubt India's most experienced cricketer. There is
no denying the fact that his away record is abysmal. But then
Harbhajan Singh, who has been preferred over him, too does not have
all that great a record abroad. Compared to Kumble's bowling average
of 40.5 abroad, Harbhajan sports an average of 41.58.
A major factor in Kumble's favour is his record in the West Indies. He
has twice claimed five wickets in an innings in the Caribbean - once
at Kingston and once in Port of Spain, in the only series he played
there in 1997. In contrast, Harbhajan has a best of three for 87.
As a bowler who relentlessly pegs away at batsmen, Kumble seems better
placed to keep the West Indies batsmen on a tight leash. Harbhajan, in
the two Tests he has played, has been rather wayward while also
failing to attack the batsmen. This is where the experience of Kumble
could prove significant. He can be relied to bowl according to the
situation, unlike Harbhajan, whose youthful impetuosity makes him
prone to bouts of inconsistency.
Kumble's inclusion could also lend greater solidity to the fragile
Indian lower-order. He might not be the most attractive and talented
batsman, but the team can depend on him to stick around and contribute
his mite. As the ultimate team-man and India's most experienced and
successful bowler, it should be Kumble who should be the first-choice
spinner always.
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