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The Kumble conundrum

It is always difficult to play 'catch-up' and that was always New Zealand's position after the early disasters of the first session. It was a relief to win the toss but in both innings the Kiwis failed to establish any sort of platform from which to build a winning position.

It was only their determination and commitment that managed to prolong the match through a full four days, for the pitch gave out a false impression that it would not last that long. It was misleading and surprising that such a remarkably moonscaped terrain should have provided such quality cricket. Quality that was largely on the side of India. They had the advantage of a sound start in the first innings, with an opening partnership that ultimately contributed almost half the total.

It was much to New Zealand's credit that India were restricted to a first innings of 330, with a remarkable third day first session that provided only 42 runs in apparently favourable batting conditions.

At this point the first innings edge of 74 seemed merely to equate the order of batting but that masterly slow/medium bowler Kumble had other ideas. In an eight-ball spell late on the third day he snared three quick wickets and New Zealand really played catch-up thenceforth.

The conjecture about how to play Kumble mounted as he completed another ten-wicket haul in this Test match. The advice proffered by Sanjay Manjrekar that you must "read him" is slightly complicating things, but the Kiwis that chose to treat his deliveries as though they would always come straight through fared best.

Parore was the pick of these in a compact and efficient innings that promised to allow the possibility of setting a realistic target, but when the young offspinner Harbhajan Singh bowled him, after trapping Fleming earlier, the New Zealand attempt at catching up floundered.

I suggested in an earlier article that Tiger O'Reilly would have enjoyed Kumble's bowling, so it is interesting to consider the batsmen who best played O'Reilly. In his words, they were both quite small men with very nimble footwork, namely Lindsay Hassett and Don Bradman. They used extremely quick movements to come down and negate the O'Reilly medium paced spin. It is hard to see how such batsmen would have been able to do the same with Kumble, but one feels that safety in playing him depends on getting well down the wicket or at least forward and negating his wicked back of the hand deliveries.

The New Zealand problem starts with the top order batting and will remain there with the present lineup. Bell looks plainly out of his depth and my solution would be to move Spearman up to open and promote Parore to first wicket down. The chances of McMillan playing the third Test with his broken finger are remote. His replacement Gary Stead is a useful and patient player of limited resources who may be used at number three in a sacrifice bid as an alternative, if he arrives in time to be ready for Ahmedabad.

On the credit side for the Kiwis is their determination and resolution in circumstances that are difficult for a touring team. The technical weaknesses need attention but the spirit in the side is high and they cannot be ruled out in calculating the odds of a drawn series.

India must start the next Test as favourites however, and have already established their enviable record of not losing a Test series at home for thirteen years.

(Gameplan)

Martin Crowe