I was disappointed by India's approach in Tests : Shaun Pollock

[Hitman]

PORT ELIZABETH: South African pace bowling great Shaun Pollock on Wednesday criticized India's misplaced priorities and approach to the Test series against the Proteas, saying the team's lack of preparation stood out despite a historic ODI triumph.

"I was a little bit surprised by their batting. When they came on this tour I thought it was going to be their strength. I was a bit disappointed by the way they went (in the Test series)," Pollock said.

He asked if India would be satisfied with winning the ODI series when they should have prioritised winning the Test series instead.

"Looking back, I think they have identified that preparation wise they needed to be here for more time. I suppose it goes down to what are the actual goals you want to achieve. If you want to win Test series away from home, then you have to give them more priority. And priority means more preparation.

"I think going out to England, we have heard some guys are going to play county cricket. So preparation wise I think they will be better equipped when they go there or to Australia," said the former all-rounder."

India lost the three-match Test series 1-2, after being walloped in the first two games, but have secured a first ODI series win here on Tuesday.

Pollock said, "We have seen they are now settled in ODIs. Probably they could have structured the tour better and had ODIs before Tests, and that could have been better preparation for India."

"I think practice matters. You need to have two practice matches and have a guarantee that you are genuinely good opposition than just developing players. You have to set your goals."

South Africa's all-time leading Test wicket-taker added, "Is it a great thing to win the ODI series or is it a great achievement to come and win a Test series in South Africa, which you haven't done? Maybe that's where the priorities haven't met the same preparation."

Virat Kohli's form in the ODI series has been one of the highlights for India, and a reason for their triumph. The skipper has 429 runs in five matches, while he was also the only batsman on both sides to score a hundred in the Test series.

"I saw an interview at the start of the tour and he was talking about backing himself in these conditions. That positivity and approach paid off for me."

"He wasn't fearful of the conditions and he wanted to grind out performances. He obviously came here with the right mind set. I thought the rest of the batting group would have been similar, but there wasn't anyone else who supported him particularly in the Tests," said Pollock.
Pollock said, as captain, Kohli is trying to instill new confidence in the team.

Kohli has had some guys support him in the ODIs and that's why India have been so good. It is a slightly depleted (South African) team but in saying that the wins India managed especially in the first three were very comprehensive."

When asked about Kohli's on-field aggressive brand of leadership, the former Proteas' skipper said, "I am not saying aggression is what he is offering, but it's more the attitude that I can back myself, win the battle and come out on top."

"Malcolm Marshall taught me to have a great respect for the opposition but also to have a great self-belief that wherever you come up against them, you respect them but you win the battle."

On Kohli's aggressive approach, he further added, "I think that's what he wants to install (in the Indian team), and the confidence."

The key is to strike a balance.

"I suppose it's always edgy, or can be. Confidence might go into over aggression and over confidence and that's the balance that they need to find. But you can always curb that aggression and attitude.

"In international sport you have to have emotion, but it matters how you channel that emotion towards being calm and towards performance rather than peripheral issues," he added.

Pollock was all praise for the Indian bowling attack that managed to take all 60 wickets in the Test series and continued to impress in the ODIs as well.

"That's fantastic. But you have to look at surfaces that they have played on. The hardest one to get wickets was Centurion, but on the other two, there was plenty of assistance."

"But yes, I am impressed with India's stock," said Pollock.

The former captain felt India now have plenty of options in bowling, unlike in the past.

It's the first time that India have had 5-6 guys that can be picked and do a good job. In the past India have relied only on Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan, or somebody like that.

"Even the spinners did a good job. So the bowling was good. If you can keep those bowlers together as a group there is no reason why India cannot be successful in England and Australia where the fast bowlers will have to do a job."

Link: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...-tests-shaun-pollock/articleshow/62917327.cms

 

[WengerOut]

I have always believed the overseas series itenary should be ODIs followed by tests. That way acclimatisation is done.

 

[Savak]

I have always believed the overseas series itenary should be ODIs followed by tests. That way acclimatisation is done.

This has by no means been an unsuccessful tour to South Africa for India. Their upward trajectory and massive improvement in performances from the third test and ODI series has shown that had they had more time in South Africa, they would have beaten them. At the end of this tour, it is South Africa more than India who have a lot more questions to answer, i have never seen such a poor South African team in history and Daryl Cullinan's fears about the lack of quality cricketers coming through the South African system are now coming true.

 

[Proactive_]

That was the biggest missed opportunity at a series win in SA. All thanks to the garbage selection policy and politics by Kohli and Co.

 

[RainMan_]

This has by no means been an unsuccessful tour to South Africa for India. Their upward trajectory and massive improvement in performances from the third test and ODI series has shown that had they had more time in South Africa, they would have beaten them. At the end of this tour, it is South Africa more than India who have a lot more questions to answer, i have never seen such a poor South African team in history and Daryl Cullinan's fears about the lack of quality cricketers coming through the South African system are now coming true.

When one team plays top notch cricket, then the opposition team is bound to look average. This very same southafrican team looked almost invincible against bangladesh. Let them play against srilanka, they will swat them like a fly. India's top class bowling and kohli's brilliant on field captaincy didn't allow them to play their natural game.


And i dont thick southafrica has anything to worry about their team. India just got the better of them. They have bowlers like Rabada, imran, morkel, allrounder like moris, top class batters like amla, markam and abd.

 

[Savak]

When one team plays top notch cricket, then the opposition team is bound to look average. This very same southafrican team looked almost invincible against bangladesh. Let them play against srilanka, they will swat them like a fly. India's top class bowling and kohli's brilliant on field captaincy didn't allow them to play their natural game.


And i dont thick southafrica has anything to worry about their team. India just got the better of them. They have bowlers like Rabada, imran, morkel, allrounder like moris, top class batters like amla, markam and abd.

The Pakistani team also beat South Africa in the CT. Now we all acknowledge that the Pakistani team is poor at this point in time and no where near the level needed for Modern Cricket. For the SA team to lose to them is a worrying sign.

 

[Bewal Express]

The tests are remembered for generations, ODI's are forgotten within months. Ind missed a great chance against an ageing Saffer team and another opportunity will not arise for at least 4 years, maybe never.

 

[BreadPakoda]

I guess India was after all “saving” itself for the ODI series. #flawedlogics

 

[Gubol123]

The Pakistani team also beat South Africa in the CT. Now we all acknowledge that the Pakistani team is poor at this point in time and no where near the level needed for Modern Cricket. For the SA team to lose to them is a worrying sign.

I will always bet on Pak beating SA/Eng in a crunch game. Not only Pak raises their game when it matters, SA/Eng seem to take their foot off the pedal. Looks like SA and Eng have their choking gene well established.. Even their U19 looked clueless as soon as they reached knockouts

 

[Hasan123]

Team selection is what cost India the most in this series. Kohli played really well but he didn't get enough support.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

This has by no means been an unsuccessful tour to South Africa for India. Their upward trajectory and massive improvement in performances from the third test and ODI series has shown that had they had more time in South Africa, they would have beaten them. At the end of this tour, it is South Africa more than India who have a lot more questions to answer, i have never seen such a poor South African team in history and Daryl Cullinan's fears about the lack of quality cricketers coming through the South African system are now coming true.

Well how will quality cricketers come through when all the whites have huge incentive to leave, because they can't get into a side.

There is a quota of 5 whites. If you are a young white batsman, your competition is AB, Faf, QDK. And obviously all 5 slots can't be batters. In the end, it's completely unrealistic position to put a young guy in.

Due to demographic reasons, blacks tend to play less cricket and more other sports, so only very few blacks benefit. And even that benefit goes to rich black kids like Rabada, who go to the same private schools that all the best cricketers come from.

I wrote a long post about an year ago about how SA will be a minnow in 10 years or so...

Once the seniors go, the juniors aren't good enough.

 

[Brodipet_baadshah]

Should had been 5 match test series instead of mere 3..
5 tests...5 odis nd 1 t20 should had been the schedule...how can one schedule 6 match odi series for heavensake..lol

 

[cricketworm]

Slip catching has cost a series as well, one shouldn't forget that SA was probably bowling with top pacers, who wouldn't give an inch. May be Rahane and Bhuvi could have made a difference in 2nd test, but Rahane's form was so poor going to SA, it was difficult to pick him, Rohit was in some serious form before going to SA. Bhuvi's drop was the biggest blunder, despite flat dry pitch, his runs with bat would have contributed.

Oh well. The current pacers we have are still pretty young, so hoping for even better series next time around.

 

[Junaids]

Massive fail for India.

They had the players to win a Test series in South Africa.

But the administrators failed by getting the team two weeks too late to South Africa. The preparation was inadequate.

And then the selectors picked ODI specialists ahead of quality Test players like Rahane.

India could have won this series. But their lack of professionalism means they have squandered what might be their last ever opportunity to win a series in South Africa.

The ODI wins are irrelevant, just like Pakistan’s in South Africa five years ago.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Kohli even after marriage was able to perform well. Went to Italy then finland then India then SA.He thought everyone would adjust right away without worrying about jet lag. Grave miscaulation. One reason Sachin was an epic fail as a captain was he thought everyone to be like him

 

[Stark]

Agreed.

The selections of some players were not one bit justified. Persisting with them was a bigger blunder.
The Indian team had a chance to win atleast one more test and that would have seen a reversal of the lost series.

The sooner Kohli get his unjustified exuberance culled, the better it would be for the team.

 

[Third_Umpire]

Shaun should be more disappointed with South Africa's approach to the ODIs. Barely lifting a foot in the series, and showing such disinterest.

Easy to criticize others Shaun, but get your own boys to at least try to win.

 

[Sadevdesai]

Since the Indians lost the Series ...... he must be correct !!!!!!!

 

[giri26]

The series was not lost because of arriving early in SA. Even if they had come one month ahead of time, the results would have been the same. India lost because they did not do the basics right. Lots of drop catches, some daft shots and poor selections. It had nothing to do with lack of practice. What would have SA offered India in terms of practice? A game on a flat track against some newbies (Ala Pakistan in NZ), what would that accomplish? The best way for teams to prepare for the test series is to schedule ODI series ahead of the tests but even that would not have worked for India as tests specialists like Pujara, Vijay, Saha, Ashwin et all don't play ODI.

 

[jnaveen1980]

The series was not lost because of arriving early in SA. Even if they had come one month ahead of time, the results would have been the same. India lost because they did not do the basics right. Lots of drop catches, some daft shots and poor selections. It had nothing to do with lack of practice. What would have SA offered India in terms of practice? A game on a flat track against some newbies (Ala Pakistan in NZ), what would that accomplish? The best way for teams to prepare for the test series is to schedule ODI series ahead of the tests but even that would not have worked for India as tests specialists like Pujara, Vijay, Saha, Ashwin et all don't play ODI.

But coming straight from playing against lungans without even adjusting to timezone playing first test was suicidal. It also helps bowlers readjust their line and length. Your mental make up will be different. M Vijay would have definitely not played some rubbish shots in the first two tests. Also we would have figured out Rohit didn't belong in that line up. Rahane might have scored well in practice game and found a spot in playing XI.

 

[giri26]

But coming straight from playing against lungans without even adjusting to timezone playing first test was suicidal. It also helps bowlers readjust their line and length. Your mental make up will be different. M Vijay would have definitely not played some rubbish shots in the first two tests. Also we would have figured out Rohit didn't belong in that line up. Rahane might have scored well in practice game and found a spot in playing XI.

For all you know, knowing Rohit, he would have scored a hundred in the practice game. Do you know Azhar Ali was retired out after scoring a fast hundred against the bunch of rookies NZ dished out for their practice game? What did he do in the actual ODI series? I agree that the test players should have arrived early but practice games do not work and will never help anymore.

I remember when India travelled to Australia in 1991/92, the practice games had meaning. You actually played against sides who could defeat you. Alan Border who was Australia's captain in that series still played for Queensland team in-between the test series. Mark Waugh, Bruce Reid, Steve Waugh, Matt Hayden, Geoff Marsh, I can go on and on, all of them were part of the practice games. Nowadays touring teams are given games against second and third X1's on flat decks which are nowhere close to what they would get in the actual games.

Actually practice games builds up false sense of security and you end up picking the wrong player based on their performance against rookies. Practice games used to be the path of International hopefuls to showcase their talent against visiting sides in the past but nowadays it is just a formality where hosts put up a team of rookie FC players and few u19 players on the flattest tracks in the country which does not help anything in terms of preparation.

Virat was right in a way but I agree with you that the players should be there at least 2-3 weeks before to get used to the weather and conditions but unless you are playing the countries top FC side in their full strength on test grounds, the practice games no longer hold any significance.

 

[Stark]

The series was not lost because of arriving early in SA. Even if they had come one month ahead of time, the results would have been the same. India lost because they did not do the basics right.

Not coming in early for acclimatization process too was not doing the basics right. The result may well have been the same, but reaching SA earlier is something a cricket board should have understood as an obvious norm by now.

 

[giri26]

Not coming in early for acclimatization process too was not doing the basics right. The result may well have been the same, but reaching SA earlier is something a cricket board should have understood as an obvious norm by now.

Yup I agree that the teams should reach early for a full series.

 

[IndianFan2018]

Massive fail for India.

They had the players to win a Test series in South Africa.

But the administrators failed by getting the team two weeks too late to South Africa. The preparation was inadequate.

And then the selectors picked ODI specialists ahead of quality Test players like Rahane.

India could have won this series. But their lack of professionalism means they have squandered what might be their last ever opportunity to win a series in South Africa.

The ODI wins are irrelevant, just like Pakistan’s in South Africa five years ago.

How can you say last opurtunity, do u see future ? All bowlers are still young, batsman too have age apart from Vijay. So they can in next series after 4 years, wishful thinking at most

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Massive fail for India.

They had the players to win a Test series in South Africa.

But the administrators failed by getting the team two weeks too late to South Africa. The preparation was inadequate.

And then the selectors picked ODI specialists ahead of quality Test players like Rahane.

India could have won this series. But their lack of professionalism means they have squandered what might be their last ever opportunity to win a series in South Africa.

The ODI wins are irrelevant, just like Pakistan’s in South Africa five years ago.

It's India that's delighted with the overall results, while South Africa have been thrashed.

India have won this tour for me, and for the vast majority of Indian fans.

 

[Princejain191]

The XI players that played in the matches were responsible for the losses. Not any external factors. SA should never have made 280 on first day pitch of Newlands match, Bumrah and Shami were horrible. Pujara and Pandya should not have been so carelessly runout in Centurion. We had a good chance to score 400+ there and get a good lead. We had our moments and we blew them.

 

[Bilal7]

Team selection is what cost India the most in this series. Kohli played really well but he didn't get enough support.

Should have supported Pandya in the first test. He did well, aided by an Indian-style pitch in Centurion, but did not have a legendary series.

Just one good innings in the first four innings of a series means that he contributed more to India losing than winning. [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]

 

[Hasan123]

Should have supported Pandya in the first test. He did well, aided by an Indian-style pitch in Centurion, but did not have a legendary series.

Just one good innings in the first four innings of a series means that he contributed more to India losing than winning. [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]

Lol Kohli was easily the best batter in the series. Keep on crying. He proved you wrong. Always shifting goal posts to suit your agendas .

 

[Mamoon]

Should have supported Pandya in the first test. He did well, aided by an Indian-style pitch in Centurion, but did not have a legendary series.

Just one good innings in the first four innings of a series means that he contributed more to India losing than winning. [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]

He was the best batsman in the series. I think he has now reached a level where he can be considered among the greatest batsmen to have played the game, and his best is yet to come. However, had he taken India home in one of the two chases, his series would have been considered as a legendary one.

Now, it is not legendary but it was still great. Ranks alongside his Australian tour where the pitches were much easier but he was exceptionally prolific.

Truly a great, great player.