Team India has managed to get a firm grip over England in the ongoing Test series. Former Australia cricketer Ian Chappell has appreciated them for correctly identifying and exploiting England's ineptitude against spin bowling.
India won the third Test against England in Ahmedabad by 10 wickets on Day 2 as they skittled out the opposition batsman for 112 and 81. They now lead the Test series 2-1 with just one game to go at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Ian Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNCricInfo, "Virat Kohli described the day-night third Test, in Ahmedabad, as ''bizarre'', a word that aptly describes the England batsmen's attempts to cope with India's spinner."
"India's decision to select three spinners for the Test was prompted by England's batting on a tricky Chennai pitch, where their batsmen - Joe Root excepted - displayed a distinct ineptitude against spin. India correctly calculated that would result in mental scarring and used it to their advantage," he added.
IND v ENG 2021: "I'm thinking to bring the curator to SCG," Nathan Lyon supports the Ahmedabad pitch
Chappel appreciated Akshar Patel's straight delivery that got rid of Jonny Bairstow as that put the England batsmen in a fix on whether the ball is turning or not.
He wrote, "From the moment Axar Patel conjured up the ultimate thimble-and-pea trick to dismiss Jonny Bairstow with a straight delivery, England were in a spin. Is the ball over there? No, it's here. When faced with a serious spin challenge, the England batsmen didn't trust their defense, which eventually resulted in panicked attempts to attack the Indian spinners."
"Their choice to reverse-sweep rather than to leave their crease to change the bowler's length is a classic example," the 77-year-old added.
IND v ENG 2021: Michael Vaughan and David Lloyd joke about fourth Test pitch preparation
Ollie Pope tried to use his feet against the Indian spinners in the second Test. Chappell believes that it was the right plan but the execution wasn't great. Whenever Pope stepped down the track, he was concerned about making it back into the crease if he missed the ball, which is not the right frame of mind according to the former Australian cricketer.
He wrote, "Back in Ahmedabad, Ollie Pope decided to use his feet against the Indian spinners. He had the right idea but the wrong execution. Firstly, he jumped rather than glided out of the crease. Secondly, his front foot pressed forward but the back one lingered as if searching for the safety of the crease."
"I was told two crucial things about footwork when I was very young: 'Get stumped by three yards, not three inches,' my coach said, 'and never think about the keeper when you leave the crease.' Pope was conscious of the keeper as he tentatively ventured out of his crease, which meant he was worried he would miss the delivery."
"That results in footwork that hinders rather than helps. It's never easy against good spinners on a challenging surface, but it is possible to play well; just not the way England is going about it," Ian Chappell concluded.
