India should pick Akash Deep over Mohammed Siraj for the Pink Ball Test At Adelaide - Brad Hogg, A Criczop Exclusive
Brad Hogg’s Take on India’s Bowling Strategy for the Pink Ball Test at Adelaide: Akash Deep Over Mohammed Siraj?
In a recent live interaction with a Criczop writer, Brad Hogg shared his thoughts on India’s strategy ahead of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Adelaide, which will feature the Day-Night Test between the two teams. The conversation turned to India’s bowling options, with a particular focus on whether the team should include Akash Deep in the playing XI for the Pink Ball Test, potentially leaving out Mohammed Siraj.
With Australia already dealing with the injury of Josh Hazelwood, they have opted to replace him with Scott Boland, strengthening their bowling attack. India, on the other hand, has the dilemma of choosing between their regular bowlers. The discussion sparked around the comments made by Mohammed Siraj during an ESPNcricinfo interview, where he explained his thoughts on bowling with the pink ball:
"I think that with the pink ball, it's better to bowl back of length," Siraj stated. "Pitching it up doesn't generate a lot of swing, so the more you hit the deck and get it to seam, the better it will be for us. I've heard that the ball swings a lot under the lights, but I haven't yet bowled with it under lights. So when we go to Adelaide and practice, we will try that, and the more practice we get, the more we'll understand what we have to do."
Brad Hogg agreed with Siraj’s assessment of the Pink Ball conditions, acknowledging that bowling back of a length is a crucial factor. Hogg, however, voiced some reservations about whether Siraj could consistently execute that strategy, particularly with the required precision and accuracy. Hogg suggested that India could benefit from including Akash Deep in the playing XI. Known for his excessive pace, Deep could hit the deck harder than Siraj, which could be a significant advantage on the Adelaide pitch. Hogg also mentioned that Deep’s pace could bring the "X-Factor" India needs to maintain pressure and momentum throughout the Pink Ball Test.
The Criczop writer shared a similar view, agreeing that Akash Deep could provide more of a threat compared to Siraj, especially on a pitch that demands aggressive, back-of-a-length deliveries. With Siraj having already made a strong impact in the first Test, taking 5 wickets, his rhythm was well-established. Despite this, the writer believed that India should opt for a more dynamic approach in the Pink Ball Test.
Brad Hogg added another interesting point: if things were to go awry with the bowling attack, India could rely on Nitish Kumar Reddy, who could step in as a backup option. This flexibility in India’s squad could prove valuable in ensuring they maintain control in the high-stakes Adelaide Test.
Editors Choice
Looking at the probable lineup for India, it seems likely that they could field a combination of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Harshit Rana to start, with Akash Deep potentially replacing Siraj if the team decides to go with the change. This decision would come down to how well India believes Akash Deep’s pace and aggressive style could work on the Adelaide pitch under the unique conditions of a Day-Night Test.
While Siraj has found his rhythm and contributed significantly with his 5-wicket haul in the first Test, the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide presents an opportunity for India to experiment with new strategies. Akash Deep’s pace could provide the cutting edge that India needs to keep Australia on the back foot in this challenging format. The decision on India’s final XI will be crucial, and fans will be keen to see how these tactical changes impact the team’s performance.
