5 non-subcontinent pacers who excelled in the subcontinent
The subcontinent is one of the toughest places for away teams to win a Test series. The stark contrast in the nature of pitches in the subcontinent from the ones in countries like England and Australia is one of the major factors behind that. Slow and low pitches offering plenty of spin are what the subcontinent generally provides.
Teams travelling to Asian countries for Test cricket have often been found guilty of focusing too much on the conditions rather than their strengths. They pack their side with too many spinners and more often than not finish on the losing side. And pacers are treated as commodities to be used just in the opening spells or to reduce the workload of the spinners.
However, history suggests that away teams who focused on their strengths and were not intimidated by the conditions gained better results. The West Indies of the 80s, the Australia of the early 2000s and the South Africa of the late 2000s and early 2010s proved that quality pace bowling can win you Test series in the subcontinent too.
Here, we look at 5 such non-subcontinent bowlers who excelled in the subcontinent:
#5 Sir Richard Hadlee
Sir Richard Hadlee, one of the finest cricketers to have ever emerged from New Zealand, has a phenomenal record with the ball in the subcontinent.
Hadlee played 13 games in the subcontinent in the period 1976-88 and picked 68 wickets, which is the fifth most by a non-subcontinent pacer in the subcontinent. With an average of 21.58, he has five 5-wicket hauls and two 10-wickets hauls to his name.
New Zealand won 3 of the 13 games that Hadlee played and he had 28 wickets to his name in those three wins at an unbelievable average of 8.32. Both of his 10-wicket hauls and three of his 5-wicket hauls came in winning causes.
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