Legendary Australian player Ian Chappell said that a cricket team’s priced possession is the ‘depth’ during such grave times. He said that India and England are well placed with respect to the depth, unlike Australia.
The ongoing pandemic has hit all sports and cricket has been no different. The teams are now forced to quarantine for long periods before the start of a series and stay in bio-secure bubbles. This has tested the depth of the squads of several teams.
"It has become abundantly clear during this pandemic-ravaged era that one of the prized ingredients in a cricket squad is depth. Ideally, it should be both in batting and bowling," the former Australia captain wrote in a column for ESPNcricinfo.
"India displayed their ample depth - particularly in quick bowling - in defeating Australia on their recent tour. In making six changes from the first to second Test and still defeating England comfortably at Edgbaston, New Zealand surprised with their talent too." he wrote.
The batting great said that England showed their depth in the recent three-match ODI series against Pakistan.
"England have displayed both depth and flexibility by comprehensively blanking Pakistan in their three-match ODI series. Their prospects for the Ashes in Australia were also boosted by the skillful showing of both Saqib Mahmood and Brydon Carse, two bowlers whose pace should be an asset on bouncy pitches,” he wrote.
The 77-year-old former Australia captain believes India has the best talent pool in terms of batting.
“When it comes to batting talent, India is best placed of all the teams. Their development system, which produces players with traditional techniques and provides ample opportunities at first-class level, is one to be envied," Chappell wrote.
“(But) mind you, the extent of India's reserves will be fully tested on the England tour as they have already had to react to isolation requirements and they haven't even played a warm-up game. Just another example of why modern cricket teams consider depth king,” he concluded.
Ian Chappell also warned Australia to fix their batting department, which did not show promise in the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner in the T20I series against West Indies.
“The one major team whose recent performances haven't implied substantial depth are Australia," Chappell wrote.
“Batting is the main area of concern and the batters haven't flourished in the Caribbean, with only Mitchell Marsh making his mark. But Marsh is unlikely to replace Cameron Green as the Test all-rounder batting at six.”
"Once again the Australian batting was shown to be fragile when David Warner and Steve Smith are missing. A glance at the Sheffield Shield batting performances for the last couple of seasons doesn't inspire much confidence that the new wave of stars is on the horizon,” he wrote.
(ESPNCricinfo inputs)
