By V.N. Prasad

Many feats achieved. Many congratulations due. Many brows rose. Many questions that arose, ironies and maladies galore at Ahmedabad. Ultimately, congratulations to our boys on mesmerising the Englishmen. Congratulations to Ashwin on going past 400 Test wickets. And congratulations to Axar on getting three 5ers in 4innings of his merely 2 Test appearances. And, congratulations to Joe Root on that magical spell in the second innings of 5 for 8. Well, my raised brows are stuck since last evening — wondering what all went on over the 5 odd sessions over the two days of hellish cricket. Surely, cricket lovers around the globe would have cherished similar result on the 5th day with                                                                       more assuring cricket in all departments of the game. Alas, it was not to be.

134 years of Test cricket. 2,412 Tests played. Only 21 times has a game ended in 2 days. The 22 yards of virtual graveyard at Ahmedabad Test could well add to the list.

Sad that the batsmen of both the sides looked like hypnotised bunches with fear writ large on their faces more to protect their wickets and preserve their rating as batsmen at international levels rather than playing cautious innings of any brilliance. Barring Zak and Rohit in the 1st inning, none looked comfortable   against spinners of both the sides — with 28 of the 30 wickets in the Test going to the spinners. I am unable to use an appropriate term — ‘malady’ or ‘irony’ — looking back at the ways the batsmen got out. Imagine Joe Root’s figure of 6.3-3-8-5; an occasional spinner with fair amount of success. All his wickets were   to beautiful off-spinners   though.

Would it turn at 30-45 degrees? Would it straighten? Would it keep low? Would it bump off the track?; were the questions on every batsman’s mind with resultant fear of getting out. While Axar’s straighter ones got him most of his 11 match haul, Ashwin bowled intelligently. Especially, dismissals of Pope caught my imagination; in the two innings. The world knows that batsman Ollie Pope is no ‘Lolly Pop’ with his willow. A compact batsman beaten through the air and bowled neck and crop to Ashwin’s wrong ones were a treat to the discerning eyes. Ironically, a regular spinner in Leach was left behind in the scenario.

Finally, the track loosening up at the landing foot of the bowler at both the ends was never a pleasant scene to witness. Firmness of the track was inconsistent between a driving length and just short of good length — that too on the 1st and 2nd days.  Dust puffing up every   now and then was uncomfortable to see.

Being close to several cricketing legends at Bengaluru, I spoke to a few. Sad to learn that the curators get weird instructions and orders from influential quarters to confuse them no ends. Harassed curators thereby are unable to use their skills in the preparation of tracks to a well laid down specifications. These kinds of tracks largely reflect the truth behind such suspicions/ allegations.

We pray for a good track and lively cricket during the final Test and best to both  the teams.