In cricket India always seems to make a mess of strategy, team composition and tactics. This despite Rahul Dravid, one of our finest cricketers with an acute and active cricketing brain, also as Head Coach. Take the recent WTC Final that India lost to Australia. The Oval pitch seemed a green top and following the horses for courses maxim, India went in with four pacers. Apart from Shami and Siraj, Shardul Thakur and Umesh Yadav got a look-in. But this decision did not take into account that the Oval track turns on the 4th day onwards.
The other thing was that this is the WTC Final for which the team had worked through the year and reached this position. Therefore team selection should have reflected balance since Australia had put in the same amount of work and were worthy opponents. India going in with four pacers was playing into the Aussie hands since they are more comfortable with pace than spin. But balance in the team demanded that India go in for two spinners: Jadeja and Ashwin. This left-right spin duo has served India well in Tests and are durable twins.
