Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell said that the Indian side led by Virat Kohli has now joined the ranks of pace-bowling proficient teams.
Be it spinners or pacers, the Indian bowling unit has been one of the most dominating since the past few years and have drawn praises from the legends as well as fans of the games and is the main reason why Virat Kohli-led side have been able to put up strong performances on overseas tours in recent times.
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The Indian side on account of prolific bowling performances has defeated Australia twice in the trot at their own homeland and also reached the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).
Writing in his column for ESPNCricinfo, Ian Chappell lauded the Indian bowling line-up saying that they have enjoyed success in Australia and reached the WTC final. He added that they have a chance to beat England in the upcoming Test series as good pace bowling definitely has its own advantage.
"In recent years India has joined the ranks of pace-bowling proficient teams. As a consequence, they have enjoyed success in Australia, reached the final of the WTC, and now have an even-money chance of beating England on their home turf. Good pace bowling definitely has its advantages," Ian Chappell wrote.
While talking about New Zealand’s pace attack, Chappell said that they deserved to win the WTC 2021 final as their pace bowling quartet made their presence felt and led the last-day victory charge.
"New Zealand's well-deserved win in the World Test Championship final highlighted an accepted adage in cricket: fast bowling rules. New Zealand's pace quartet - Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner, and Kyle Jamieson - made possible their presence in the final. Then in the prolonged battle with India for supremacy, the quick bowlers led the last-day victory charge,” he said.
Chappel pointed out that the influence of New Zealand’s pace attack was such that they were even compared with a formidable West Indies’ fast bowlers that ruled from the 1970s to the 1990s.
"Such was the influence of the New Zealand attack that there was even a comparison with the formidable West Indies quartets that ruled from the late-1970s to the mid-1990s,” he said.
Ian Chappell further said that statistically, Kyle Jamieson looks like the leader of New Zealand’s pace bowling attack, but in reality, it is led by Tim Southee.
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"Statistically the leader of New Zealand's group is undoubtedly Jamieson with 28 wickets at the uncovered-pitches-average of 12.07 in these five Tests. However experience-wise, it's swing bowler Southee who leads the way," he concluded.
The next assignment of the Indian bowling line-up is five-Test series against England, starting 4th August. With all bowlers being in top form, it would be interesting to see what bowling combination Virat Kohli-led Team India will go ahead in the Test series.
(ANI inputs)
