SPORTS ANALYSES AND RECORDS with BRIJ PARASNATH
WHILE many spinners have enjoyed some measure of success in One-Day Internationals and Twenty20 formats of the game, top quality spinners have now become an endangered species in Test cricket. Since the retirement of Australia’s Shane Warne, the greatest leg-spinner the world has seen; and Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharran, the world’s greatest unorthodox spinner of all-time; from international cricket, the quality of spinners coming through the system has not made the impact nor have they captured the imagination of the real connoisseurs of the game.
Warne not only mesmerised his opponents with cunning variations but had plotted and executed his game plan’s almost perfectly, except when bowling to the likes of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, Carl Llewellyn Hooper, Brian Charles Lara or Shivnarine Chanderpaul who were masters of reading and playing the spinning variety with complete ease, composure and supreme confidence.
Murali’s questionable bowling action has always stirred much debate but once legitimised with new regulations passed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to give him and those of similar ilk to ply their trade without protestations, the amiable Sri Lankan wreaked havoc and finished atop the ladder with a phenomenal highest aggregate Test record of 800 wickets, which will probably not be surpassed.
Murali’s quest for the highest place of the bowling ladder found influential sympathisers who successfully lobbied for him to be granted immunity from the umpire’s fraternity in their no-ball observations and rulings.
The cricket rule states very clearly that the ball must be delivered from a round-arm action. But he bowls from a front arm action and those who are close to him or are his sympathisers claim that he possesses a double wrist which prevents normal bowling delivery action. That prognosis has not been bought wholesale by many knowledgeable specialists, close watchers of the game and even the diehard sceptics.
Yet Murali was allowed to parade his skills successfully and devastatingly, much to the chagrin of many from the umpiring fraternity and former players who openly questioned his methods of deception on the international cricket fraternity.
The unorthodox right-arm spinner spun web of mystery and instilled fear and circumspection among batsmen for almost two decades during his 133-match Test career.
Warne was a legitimate leg-spinner whose subtle variations coupled with tantalising loop and vicious spin made it difficult for batsmen whose footwork and technique were suspect and caused an element of doubt as to how best to cope and dominate such a high quality spinner.
The wily Australian got himself in trouble just before the 2003 ICC World Cup when he returned a positive test for prohibited substances found within his system.
He finished his 145-Test career as second best to Murali with 708 wickets.
Apart from Warne and Murali; India’s Anil Kumble (619 wickets from 132 Tests) and Harbhajan Singh (406 wickets from 98 Tests), New Zealand left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori (359 wickets from 111 Tests) are the three other spinners who carved a niche and made a big impact on the international scene and in all three formats of the game during the last three decades.
There were many others who found themselves in and out of their respective teams but soon faded away from the game for different reasons. They were not penetrative and consistent performers on a regular basis and were unable to hold down a regular spot in their team’s starting eleven for a considerable period.
Some West Indian spinners got the breaks at the Test level but were either unconvincing or were not consistent enough to hold down regular places and were subsequently discarded for reasons best known to the selectors or the players whose careers were not inspiring and productive as some of their early predecessors.
Off-spinners Roger Harper (Guyana), Clyde Butts (Guyana), Nehemiah Perry (Jamaica), Omari Banks (Leewards), Amit Jaggernauth (Trinidad and Tobago);  leg-spinners Rajendra Dhanraj (Trinidad and Tobago), Dinanath Ramnarine (Trinidad and Tobago), Mahendra Nagamootoo (Guyana) and Rawl Lewis (Windwards); left-arm spinners Neil McGarrell (Guyana), Nikita Miller (Jamaica), Dave Mohammed (T&T), Sulieman Benn (Barbados) and Anthony Martin got chances but did not live up to expectations or were not consistent enough to maintain their places for a protracted period to establish themselves as truly world class spinners.
Some of the players mentioned would probably reveal stories of being treated unfairly by selectors and/or even their captains who were concentrating only on the fast bowlers to do the demolition job and secure elusive victory. They may have a strong case of defence based on the philosophy and policies witnessed over those years.
However, Guyana’s leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo made an instant impact at the highest level with the West Indies team during the 2012 season but after a dismal showing in the First Test against Australia at the Kensington Oval earlier this year, he has now found himself relegated to the West Indies A team.
His place was taken by Windwards’ off-spinner Shane Shillingford who had modest returns against Australia in the second Test at the Queen’s Park Oval but impressed in the third and final Test at the Windsor Park, Dominica where he claimed a ten-wicket haul on a pitch that offered generous bounce and turn. Even his brilliance, before his adoring home fans; could not save West Indies from tasting another Test and series defeat at the newest Test venue in the Caribbean region.
During the current tour against England, the lanky Shillingford was surprisingly overlooked for the First Test at Lord’s where West Indies subsequently lost by five wickets.
Following injury to new-ball bowler Shannon Gabriel, he regained a place in the starting eleven for the second Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham but England’s batsmen, especially captain Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen; treated him with disdain and stroked him around with complete assurance and confidence.
His returns were unflattering and it was not surprising that West Indies surrendered the Wisden Trophy once again with a nine-wicket defeat.
His place is up for grabs with the inclusion of Sunil Narine, the latest addition of spinners to be called up for Test match cricket.
Narine has made a tremendous impact in the limited-overs variety matches for Trinidad and Tobago. During the 2011 Caribbean Twenty20 (held in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados) and the 50-Overs tournament held in Guyana.
The right-arm spinner emerged as T&T’s most outstanding bowler and also made a very strong impression during the 2011 Nokia Champions League in India where he was subsequently contracted by Kolkata Knight Riders for US$700 000 during the 2012 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction.
His valued price by KKR was quite astonishing for a newcomer but Narine repaid the faith of the franchise owner Shah Rukh Khan, his battery of advisers and millions of new admirers in the Indian Sub- Continent and beyond.
During the just-concluded IPL5 season, he mesmerised some of the world’s best, including the greatest of the modern generation – Sachin Tendulkar; whom he bowled comprehensively with a real beauty that skidded through between bat and pad. The Mumbai Indians iconic star was bamboozled and left dismayed to see his stumps shattered.
It will be the special sight and moment that 24-year-old Trinidadian will cherish for the rest of his life and it will always be a moment that will stir discussion whenever the IPL season comes around.
The player was not expected to arrive before the start of the third Test at Edgbaston but with shocking injury to speed ace Kemar Roach, Narine was immediately summoned to join the squad two days after he returned from India where KKR celebrated an historic first-time triumph in the IPL5.
With his overall total of 24 wickets, a new record aggregate for a newcomer which was one less than Delhi Daredevils’ South African fast bowler Morne Morkel’s tally; Narine was voted IPL “Golden Player-of-the-IPL5”.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Caribbean T20 back-to-back titles and KKR’s crowning glory has placed Narine at the top of cricket lovers’ spinners’ list on whom they are keeping a close watch on how these tweakers evolve during the demanding era of three international formats of the game.
Narine’s style is unique and he has developed and mastered the mystery ‘knuckle ball’, which has become his trump card to bamboozle and dislodge the best of the batsmen in the game.
Having enjoyed a very successful 2012 regional First Class season for the Trinidad and Tobago senior team and had it not been for the very lucrative IPL contract which he could not forego to fulfil his Test aspirations, Narine would have made his Test debut against the touring Australians during the recent Caribbean sojourn.
All young cricketers throughout the Test-playing nations dream of playing Test cricket for their country. And Narine is no exception to this cherished goal of all dedicated players who have excelled for the respective national, state or county teams.
However, he now faces the biggest challenge and stern examination of his budding international career. He will be under the microscope and will quickly have to transfer the acquired skills and tactical acumen he has gathered in the limited-over formats and First Class level to the Test match arena should he be selected for the third Test at Edgbaston which starts today.
While coach Ottis Gibson has signalled his intention to utilise Narine’s services to bolster the bowling stocks during the rhird Test, many followers of the game are of the opinion that Narine should not be exposed to the Englishmen before the One-Day Internationals since the West Indies team have already lost the series and can only salvage some marginal pride by playing for victory or a draw.
The IPL5 was a high intensity campaign for top honours and Narine was under severe pressure and tremendous grind to come up trumps in each and every match that he played. Thankfully, he came through successfully and enjoyed the honour of being crowned the best player of the tournament.
During the IPL5, he would have had to bowl four overs only, but not consecutively. And it was a straight case of opposing batsmen being forced to be play attacking shots in the search for quick runs.
In those demanding and dicey situations, batsmen become more vulnerable and allow bowlers the opportunity and freedom to exploit any perceived weaknesses and hesitancy.
However, in Test cricket, most of the experienced batsmen would play the waiting game rather than try to dominate opposing bowlers.
They would adopt defensive tactics and methodology coupled with calculated aggression as they seek to dominate during the battle for supremacy. This evolving scenario will also test the bowlers’ character and mind power as well as his captain’s game plan in employing varying tactics and strategies to restrict the batting team to the lowest possible total.
The English players, especially daring strokeplayer Kevin Pietersen; always relish the challenge of taking on the so-called big names or even newcomers as they attempt to stamp their class and authority on the proceedings.
Unquestionably, Narine will definitely face the flashing blade of Pietersen who destroyed Shillingford’s confidence at Nottingham and helped his team gain the upper hand.
In addition, Narine will have to be prepared to bowl long spells and strive to become the main wicket-taker now that fast bowler Roach, who was the chief tormentor; has been sidelined with injury because of the enormous burden and herculean efforts of bowling on the flat decks he has had to endure during the series against Australia and the two Tests against England.
It is the extra burden of high expectations, easy-paced tracks, prolonged spells and aggressive batsmanship that can render Narine’s magical spells less effective and make him predisposed to injuries during his budding career.
Undoubtedly, Narine will be excited to play and to establish his credentials at the Test level. But the West Indies coach and the selectors must assess all the various parameters at their disposal and then make the wisest possible decision whether to play him in the Test match or to reserve him for his guile, mystery and effectiveness in the shorter formats.
He will be the major trump card for successes against the Englishmen in the ODIs and T20s series.
It’s not an easy decision but the whole cricketing world is waiting and will be watching to see how the WI coach and selectors manage and nurture the game’s newest rising star.
Having proved his class and prowess in the two shorter formats of the game, Narine will be striving to excel at the highest level in the two-innings format. It’s another interesting and challenging chapter in his exciting cricket journey.