Trouble against spin continues, India A go down to Holland

If anyone required further proof of India’s struggle against spinners, India A provided just that on Wednesday morning. Barely a couple of days after their seniors surrendered the match and series to Moeen Ali, the India A batsmen got rolled over by left-arm spinner Jon Holland as Australia A won the first unofficial test by 98 runs at Dindigul.

If anyone required further proof of India’s struggle against spinners, India A provided just that on Wednesday morning. Barely a couple of days after their seniors surrendered the match and series to Moeen Ali, the India A batsmen got rolled over by left-arm spinner Jon Holland as Australia A won the first unofficial test by 98 runs at Dindigul.

Yes, the Chinnaswamy track wasn’t ideal to bat but nobody really expects a day four pitch to be a bed of roses for batsman anyway. What would hurt the India A batsmen is the manner in which they threw their wickets away.

“It wasn't an easy wicket to start off. You needed to be patient and bat through periods when runs-scoring wouldn't be easy. There were a few batsmen who showed it, but unfortunately, not more than a couple of guys [from India A] were able to bat well. It was a good learning opportunity for our players, and a good challenge," was India A head coach Rahul Dravid’s assessment of the track and his team’s performance.

The couple of batsmen whom Dravid mentioned were Mayank Agarwal and Ankit Bawne. Both the overnight batsmen showed patience, applied themselves, kept their pads away as much as possible while facing the Australian spinners. Resuming the day at 63 for 2, still needing 199 more runs to win the match, Agarwal and Bawne, who top-scored with 91 in the first innings, started confidently and did not lose any wicket for the first hour.

Things changed rapidly after Bawne (25) lost his wicket while going for an adventurous drive in a rare lapse of concentration. That was the break Australia and Holland needed.

Seeing the Indians iffy against Holland, Australia A skipper Mitchell Marsh introduced part-time off-spinner Travis Head into the attack and immediately got success as he removed R Samarth for 8. The slide was on. Wicket-keeper batsman KS Bharat became the first of three to be out for a duck, falling to an outrageous pull shot. Gowtham and Kuldeep went back in quick succession leaving Agarwal stranded at the other end.   

At 135 for 7, the only interest left in the match was Agarwal’s hundred. The Karnataka opener decided to take the attack to the Australians, depositing Holland for a six straight over the back of his head. He stretched the Indian innings to 163 before hitting one straight back at Holland, becoming his fifth wicket. Agarwal walked back to the pavilion after playing a valiant knock of 80.

Holland completed the formalities by taking the last India A wicket of Ankit Rajput to end with figures of six for 81.