“Batsmen from sub-continent play spinners well” a trademark phrase by every commentator during team India’s any game, is rarely heard these days and this has a huge reason behind it. We are a generation grown up watching Indian batsmen coming down the track and hitting spinners over their heads for gigantic sixes. The sight which no 90’s kid can forget. But recent display of Indian batsmen against spinners show a completely different picture.

In past whenever team India used to visit foreign countries, what troubled them the most was the seam and swing bowling and the only moment of relief for them was when spinners were to bowl. But the things have reversed now. More than quickies its the spinners troubling the Indian batsmen. There is a reason to worry because there is hardly any big name like Murli and Warne. Its the tiny new comers with hardly any name in international cricket and they are posing threats for the batting lineup that once considered to be the best against the spin bowling.

For instance consider the ongoing series, a rather unknown name like Swepson is creating problems for the Indian batting lineup. Zampa is still a big puzzle to be solved. Even the left armer Agar who hardly plays for Australia at international level becomes unplayable for the Indian batters. The bigger challenge is waiting in form of Nathan Lyon for test matches whose bounce and line will be difficult to get away. And its not only Australia, spinners across the global have found the way to trouble Indian batsmen. Remember Rashid Khan, Moin Ali, Mitchel Santner, Imran Tahir and Ish Sodhi are some names across the globe which are testing Indian batting every time they are up against.

Contrary to the failure of Indian batsmen against spin, opposition players face no trouble in facing Indian spinners. They dominate Indian spinners whereas Indians find it difficult to score even at run-a-ball against the opposition spinners. Failure of Indian spinners and Indian batters against spinners go hand in hand.

Over the years teams have learnt the art of playing the spin bowling and the biggest weapon against it was/is “the sweep” which is hardly observed when Indian batters are on the crease. The Indian spinners also never look comfortable when sweep shots are played against them because they are not used to hit like this even in domestic cricket. Indian style of cricket never prepares them to tackle the sweep shot and eventually this shortcoming hurts at the biggest level.

And because we are unable to produce the world class spinners our batting is also not able to show enough fight against the best spin bowlers. Its hurting both ways.

Its sad to see the golden era of Indian spin bowling fading like this. You can see this difference in team selection as well. In late 90’s and early years of new century we have seen only one fast bowler making to test team accompanied by 3-4 spinners but these days even on Indian soil you see three fast bowlers playing in the side accompanied by one spinner most of the time and one part timer.

One day cricket and T20 may excite people with fast bowlers in the side but test cricket specially in India still attracts crowd because of Indian spinners taking wickets. The sights of Wicket-keeper going up for appeal on every delivery, short-leg and silly point fielder chit-chatting continuously, an alert slip fielder actively advising and shining the bowl for the frontline spinner of the side still gives goosebumps to every cricket fan like me. I still remember the lines from Harsha Bhogle “Nayan Mongia’s keeping to Anil Kumble’s bowling and shouting behind the wicket is one of the highlight of cricket in India.

I end this article with a question for the readers. What are your thoughts on the same, please let us know.