Clash of ideologies means more thrill

DURING the last few overs of Ashes the nerve-shredding opener at Edgbaston on Tuesday, it wasn't hard to go back to the last time a Test in India went down to the wire.

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN

The India vs New Zealand at Kanpur in the winter of 2021 didn't have the same atmosphere, prestige or stake but it was important because it set the tone for Rahul Dravid's new regime. Like the first Test at Birmingham, it was also the beginning of a new WTC cycle at home.

On a seemingly slow surface which refused to crumble the way India thought it would, the visitors held out against the two Ravis, Ashwin and Jadeja, as well as Axar Patel. No 11, Ajaz Patel (2 off 23) and allrounder, Rachin Ravindra (18 off 91), dead-batted for almost 10 overs in dying light on the last session of the final day.

With more home WTC points at stake in the 18 months since, Dravid and the management didn't want to take any more chances. With two world-class and one elite spinner in their ranks, they opted for pitches that would bite, grip, jump and turn before tea on Day One. Throw in normal subcontinental conditions and these pitches were weaponised.