Sunil Gavaskar: Baffling that Indian bowlers hardly used the bouncer against Travis Head

What a Headache this Travis is turning out to be for India.

Every time he comes out to bat against India, the situation is a bit tricky for Australia. He then simply takes the attack by the scruff of its neck and squeezes the life out of it so much so that the shoulders and heads drop visibly.

When Steven Smith was scoring all those hundreds, every bowling unit in the world was trying to find a way to stop him. His exaggerated back and across movement, just as the bowler was about to release the ball, made some people believe he will be vulnerable to the one that nips back in.

Some thought he could be bowled around his legs, some felt a leg-slip could get him out glancing because of that across the crease movement. Nothing worked. Yes, he did get out leg-before-wicket or caught down the leg-side, but more often after he had got a big score and he was a bit late with the bat coming down, perhaps due to weariness of the long hours spent at the crease.

The Kiwi fast bowler Neil Wagner tried the bouncer trap and it worked to some extent. The thing is that bowlers tried and there were some successes.

Against Travis Head, despite even the former Aussie players suggesting that the bouncer at the start of his innings was a vulnerable area, the Indian bowlers have just not employed the tactic. There was video evidence of it too being played before the Gabba Test began. Yet, the Indian bowlers hardly ever tried this line of attack. It’s been incredibly baffling that no one, including Jasprit Bumrah, has tried this.

India’s Jasprit Bumrah appeals unsuccessfully for a wicket while bowling during play on day two of the third Test.
| Photo Credit:
AP

Bumrah has one of the best bouncers in the game, one that comes at the helmet like a rocket. Mohammed Shami, among Indian quicks, has the best bouncer but he is not here in Australia, and Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana and Akash Deep have not bowled it as accurately to cause any problems.

Most crucially, there were hardly any bouncers bowled to Head in his first 30 deliveries when he was trying to settle in. This is his fourth century against India in the last 18 months or so and not once has he been tested by the short delivery early on.

With a South African fast bowler Morne Morkel as the bowling coach, who used the bouncer very well, one would have thought that the bouncer would be a weapon unleashed at Head.

The first day’s play being restricted because of rain also brought to attention the fact that the covers need to be used for the entire ground and not just the square where the pitch is. Once the covers are used for the ground, then play can resume pretty quickly after the rain stops.

General view of covers on the pitch as it rains during play on day one of the third Test.
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AP

Yes, there may be some time taken to remove the entire ground covers but that is better than having play abandoned because of a wet outfield. That is unfair to the crowds who pay good money to come and watch some cricket.

That first day in Brisbane, with play being abandoned before 15 overs were completed, meant that the crowd got a refund of its money so wouldn’t the ground authorities like for play to resume as quickly as possible so they don’t have to issue any refunds?

Covering the entire ground in today’s day and age is absolutely necessary because, even the broadcasters, who pay humongous amounts to acquire the rights, also want more play to happen and not resort to showing highlights of old games again and again.

There’s of course the cost factor for the cricket associations, but with the funds that are now available to them, investing in full ground covers is a must.

The Indian top-order has found it heavy going against this top-class varied Australian attack. On these Australian pitches, it is never easy while the ball is hard and new and that’s why they have to be a little circumspect, at least at the start of their innings.

Australia’s Steve Smith leaves a ball during play on day two of the third Test.
| Photo Credit:
AP

If they can take a leaf out of the way Smith, who was out of form, bided his time before unfurling his repertoire of shots, then they also will be able to get runs against this quartet, who have more than 500 wickets between them.

Lots of patience and self-belief is needed and some shots need to be put in cold storage till the batter is well set. Easier said than done of course, but try it and maybe you will find it can be done.