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Former England seamer Stuart Broad found himself pondering the strategic decision behind India‘s choice of preparing a slow and low track in Ranchi for the ongoing fourth Test. The traditional flat pitches so far in the series were replaced by a dry track with variable bounce, favoring the spinners and bringing them back into the game. Broad expressed his surprise on the social platform X, questioning the rationale behind opting for a rank-turner, especially when England had little to no success on flatter surfaces in the last two games.
India’s Test series rollercoaster: From Hyderabad defeat to Ranchi challenge
The Test series between India and England has been a rollercoaster of performances, emotions, and pitch dynamics. Following a 28-run defeat in the first Test in Hyderabad on a turning wicket, India bounced back strongly, securing back-to-back victories in Vizag and Rajkot to claim a 2-1 lead. The change in pitch conditions to more batting-friendly surfaces seemed to neutralize the impact of the inexperienced English spinners.
Ranchi’s twist: The return of spin
However, Ranchi has introduced a twist in the tale. The decision to prepare a dry track with variable bounce has seemingly brought England back into the game. Winning a crucial toss, England posted a competitive total of 353, fueled by Joe Root‘s masterful century. The Ranchi pitch, favouring spinners, proved challenging for the Indian batters, and they found themselves struggling at 219/7 by the end of Day 2.
Also WATCH: Sarfaraz Khan funnily sledges Shoaib Bashir on Day 2 of the Ranchi Test; English spinner responds in Hindi
Stuart Broad’s query: Pitch strategy under scrutiny
Broad expressed surprise and raised questions on X regarding India’s decision to prepare a rank-turner in Ranchi. Given India’s impeccable record on flat surfaces, the choice of a slow and low track prompted Broad to reflect on the strategic thinking behind such a decision.
“I mainly tweet about England- but looking at India. They’re an amazing team on flat Test pitches in India where their spinners skill comes into it & they out bowl other teams. Playing on pitches that roll along the floor brings in the opposition so much more. I can’t understand why they’ve prepared a pitch like this?,” Broad wrote.
I mainly tweet about England- but looking at India. They’re an amazing team on flat Test pitches in India where their spinners skill comes into it & they out bowl other teams. Playing on pitches that roll along the floor brings in the opposition so much more. I can’t understand…
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) February 24, 2024
Trailing by 134: India’s uphill task on Day 3
As the series heads into Day 3 in Ranchi, India faces the challenge of bridging the gap, trailing by 134 runs. The low bounce nature of the Ranchi track has created difficulties for the Indian batters. The performance on Day 3, particularly by players like Dhruv Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav, will be crucial in determining India’s response and their prospects in the remainder of the Test series.
