Maroc - POPDIARIES.COM - A La Une - 10/Jan 16:30

BCCI Questions Over Ashwin's Retirement, Management Under Fire

India’s historic twin Test series victories in Australia were majorly shaped by their impressive bowling attack. Anyways, the recent 3-1 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy clearly highlighted a clear gap between Jasprit Bumrah and the other bowlers. While Bumrah led the charge by taking 32 wickets in 151.2 overs at an average of 13.06 and a strike rate of 28.4, India's other pacers — Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Kumar Reddy — managed 40 wickets in 351 overs, with an average of 34.82 & a strike rate of 52.6. The lack of experience among the pacers and an over-reliance on Bumrah have raised concerns over India's future fast-bowling depth.  Sunil Joshi, the former India spinner and ex-chief selector during India’s 2-1 series win in Australia in 2020/21, remains positive about the fast-bowling future but noted that India missed a left-arm pacer in the line-up. "No, because we already have Troy Cooley, he's been in NCA, and is looking after the fast bowling pool. So, I don't think there should be any worry. But definitely, we did miss a left-arm seamer in that line-up." "If a left-arm seamer would have been there, then there would have been a little bit of change in angles because most of the Australian, English or New Zealand batters, they are not very comfortable for the left-arm seamer because you're taking the ball away with a different angle. "We just needed variety, but fortunately or unfortunately, both the bowlers Yash Dayal and Khaleel Ahmed were there, but they couldn't play, and that's unfortunate," Joshi stated in an exclusive conversation with IANS.  Joshi reflected on the 2020/21 series, and also recalled how India dealt with numerous injuries, and how net bowlers had to step up and perform, leading to India's success. He deeply felt that, beyond the performances, our country needed better tactics when bowling to Australian batters, field placements, & bowling rotations. "It's all about showing character by each individual player who's on the tour to do well. For that, did we prepare very well? I think yes. Did we take responsibility? Yes. So, now from this tour, from the first Test match to the second and third matches, did we learn something from the opposition? "look at it that way because if we learned something from the opposition, then yes, we could have been better and more consistent. If you have not learned, you need to look to explore that and be disciplined to put that efforts into perspective and practice, then make a result out of it, and that's how I looked at this tour." "Tactically, when it doesn't go well, then we'll be questioned. If it goes well, we say that okay, it's a good tactic used. We just need to look at what the opposition team did - like what are those tactical moves they did consistently well? Like, one can look at their fast bowlers or even at Nathan Lyon - he didn't do anything, he just kept his patience and his consistency. Did we do that? No, except Bumrah. Another surprising development for Joshi during the Australia tour was Ravichandran Ashwin’s sudden international retirement after the third Test at the Gabba ended in a draw, a match he did not feature in. "I also felt very surprised by that because I don't know what transpired or prospered during or between the second and third Test matches. But it's again Ashwin, who has been very upfront in his decisions. So I'm not saying that it was a bad decision. "I mean, we need to respect that, because he has been a modern legend of the game and there's no doubt about it. But again, what transpired for him to do that? So obviously, we'll have to know because it was unbelievable, and the board, selection committee, and team management should answer that," he concluded at the end. READ MORE - PCB Reacts as Champions Trophy Faces Potential Relocation