IT looks like another red ball but it can make all the difference. The SG brand and the Kookaburra brand are quite different and it is this difference that counts a lot when the Indian bowlers perform overseas.
I know there has been disappointment back home at India losing the second Test and drawing the series against Zimbabwe, but let us not write the team off. There is no doubt the defeat was a setback, but I would like to share with you the problems the Indian bowlers faced in the Test series.
Javagal Srinath was devastated by the fact that he had not bowled well and I could understand his feelings. Being a senior pro on the circuit, there were greater expectations as far as he was concerned. It was a very disappointed Srinath I spoke to at a dinner before he left for home.
It was a very valid point that Srinath made about the difference between the balls used in India and overseas. Having been used to the SG brand, it takes time to adapt to the other brands. What makes bowling a challenge is the fact that the seam differs immensely.
The seam in the SG ball is upright and very prominent. It stays the same till the 80th over or more. The ball tends to lose shine because of the nature of the outfields we have in India, but the seam stays intact. Because of the seam, the ball tends to grip the pitch and assist in spin and lateral movement.
For a spinner it is essential that the ball should grip the surface. It is fine for a wrist spinner like Shane Warne or Muralitharan. The Kookaburra brand works well for them, but not for the Indian spinners. Even Anil Kumble has struggled because of this difference in the ball, especially the seam factor.
It also becomes difficult for someone like Ajit Agarkar, who cannot get the ball to reverse swing because the leather does not peel off. The ball becomes a lot easier to handle for the batsmen after 30 overs. From the 50th over to the 80th, it becomes soft enough to make it tougher for the bowlers.
The Kookaburra ball swings much more than the SG brand, but then it may not be best suited for Indian conditions. Similarly, the SG brand may not be ideal for use in countries like Australia, England, South Africa or the West Indies. So what could the International Cricket Council do about it?
It would not be a bad idea to standardise the quality of ball to be used in international cricket. It would remove the home advantage factor for all teams. It is just a thought. I know the conditions vary from country to country, but it is just a thought for the ICC to consider.
The quality of the ball does not affect the batsmen as it does the bowlers. There are times when the ball swings more and sometimes it swings less, but then the batsman can overcome this challenge if he adapts. What can the bowler do? It takes an effort to control the movement of the ball.
A lot depends on the ball and this is a point I want people to understand whenever they analyse the performance of the bowlers. I know the fans would have expected Harbhajan to run through the Zimbabwean side after watching him destroy the Australians in the home series. But they should not make sweeping conclusions about his calibre just because he did not run through Zimbabwe. He found gripping the ball uncomfortable because the seam mingled with the leather unlike the SG ball he bowled with back home. We should not be harsh on the Indian bowlers, especially the spinners. Tell me, how many Indian spinners have done consistently well abroad?
In judging a bowler, it should be remembered that the pitches in India are sluggish. It is a crucial factor because the playing surface becomes a big challenge overseas. And then you add the ball factor and you realise that it is not easy to be a successful bowler in international cricket.
I can tell you after having spoken to a few bowlers that a failure just because one cannot use a particular brand of ball can be a big setback. I have seen bowlers lose their confidence on this account. Srinath told me how difficult it was for him when he tried to swing the ball and it stayed straight. You can lose control on the ball and the loss of confidence can affect the team's chances.
There is need for the Board to look into the matter. It should not become alarming to the extent that the bowlers begin dreading the very idea of playing overseas. A few thousand dollars cannot be more important than the interest of Indian cricket. The Board must import the Kookaburra brand of balls and distribute them among the frontline bowlers to begin with. There is a long season ahead for the Indian team and the administrators should not ignore this aspect of the training.
What prevents the Board from importing Kookaburra balls for use at conditioning camps? It is the best stage to learn since the cream of Indian cricket is picked and it becomes easier for the coach and the senior members of the team to share their experience. You cannot expect a newcomer, regardless of his talent, to suddenly adapt and use the Kookaburra ball to his advantage.
Let this not be an excuse for the below par performance by the Indian team in the Test series in Zimbabwe. This same attack can be a potent force provided the Board takes more interest in the preparation for a tour. The Board should also give a thought to the idea of providing Kookaburra balls to select bowlers. The team management can identify the bowlers who can try and come to terms with the brand of ball they would encounter when playing overseas.
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