Other than the port and its beaches, Visakhapatnam is also getting known for its medical infrastructure. Parts of the city are dotted with hospitals and diagnostic centres. They get patients from different places in Andhra Pradesh and also from Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
The Indian team is not in need of medical attention yet. A couple of their players are out injured and they are 0-1 down in the five-Test series against England. But they have reason to believe that they can make a comeback, beginning with the second Test which gets underway on February 2. Here are five things that they must do to ensure a smooth takeoff in mission recovery.
Bat with purpose, show spine: The first thing, bat properly and without fear. This doesn’t mean wanton hitting. The first Test could have gone their way had they not thrown away wickets in the first innings or shown spine in the second. It’s important to make as many runs as possible in the first dig in these conditions favouring the slower bowlers. The deeper the match goes, batting becomes tougher. So those who get in must not fritter that away. There will be either Rajat Patidar or Sarfaraz Khan, or both, in the XI. The newcomers, as well as the likes of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, will have to show that they belong to this level.
Have batting cushion and four specialist bowlers: India must not be rigid in thinking. Ravindra Jadeja’s absence weakens the batting. Replacing him with Kuldeep Yadav is not the answer. You need a batter in his place as well. So forget the five-bowler formula for a while. This means sacrificing Mohammed Siraj. It’s a bit harsh on him, but could just be the way to go, under the circumstances. The replacement could be Sarfaraz if Patidar replaces Rahul. It could also be Washington Sundar, but not as a spinner. It’s fine if he bowls a few overs of off-spin, but his primary role should be as a batter. He is an accomplished customer with the willow and has done well in the opportunities he has got.
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Bowl to a plan, have alternatives ready: The bowling fell apart in the second innings in Hyderabad, against Oliver Pope’s sweeps and reverse-sweeps. There will be phases when England’s batters will dominate, but the bowling shouldn’t look as clueless as it did. The bowlers must have alternative plans to cover for the eventuality of the primary plan not working. This was missing in the first Test. They must not over think and yet, be prepared to operate at a level when Plan A is not working. Sometimes, it involves simple things like packing one side of the wicket and bowl to that side.
Use Kuldeep judiciously: Kuldeep can be a trump card if used judiciously. He is a genuine spinner of the ball who has been in form in the limited-over formats. Recalibrating himself for Test cricket might take a few overs in the middle, but he could be the answer to England’s unconventional approach to batting. Kuldeep himself is unorthodox. If he gets it right in conditions favouring him, he can be a handful. India must rely on him and let him be instead of putting him under pressure. He can go for a few runs, but his ability to take wickets will not diminish.
Stop thinking about the pitch: Last but not least, stop obsessing about the pitch. Don’t go for a rank turner, for that would mean India compromising on their batting strength. There will be turn. An excessive amount might backfire. It’s important to not overburden yourself with thoughts of how much the ball will turn and when. Clogging the mind with that will be counterproductive. The pitch will be the same for both teams. The one showing greater urge, cohesion and dedication will prevail. It’s important to keep things simple.
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