Is Dhoni right in playing 4 seamers?

India have decided to play 5 bowlers in their first Test match against England. Stuart Binny has been included in the team as a bowling all-rounder. What’s even more interesting is the fact that out of the 5, 4 are seamers. This is pretty unusual for a team which has been dependent on it’s spinners for success in Test Cricket. Add to that the fact that Indian seamers have struggled in Tests off late.

Just when you think that situations cannot be more bleak, you realize that in this attack of four fast bowlers, there is no Zaheer Khan, India’s most seasoned campaigner in fast bowling department currently and we instead have Staurt Binny making debut in this match. Is this another one of MS Dhoni’s gamble that will pay off? The last time 4 seamers were played, was in Perth in 2012 and India lost the match by an innings and 37 runs and Vinay Kumar debuted in that match.

Dhoni and Cook with the Trophy

Let’s consider the conditions in England. The wickets are more bowler friendly and throughout the five days, batsman will have to work hard to stay at the crease and keep the opposition bowlers at bay. But the task is different from India’s perspective as England have the services of Jimmy Anderson, one of the best in the business and a highly reliable Stuart Broad while India have Ishant who is yet to be recognized as an effective pace option even after playing 55 tests and Bhuvneshwar Kumar who is good in ODIs but not so effective in Tests.

Stuart Binny earns his test cap

Even an out of favour Zaheer Khan realizes the importance of Ishant stepping up to the challange as he is the most experienced among the lot.
"It is Ishant who has played the most number of matches and he has been around for a while. It is time he steps into that role.For Bhuvi and Shami, it is their first (England) tour so they will look to Ishant and (bowling coach) Joe Dawes for inputs to perform in those conditions," Zaheer was quoted as saying.Before this series. 

Dhoni was criticized for being very defensive when the situation demanded aggressive and quick actions and hardly anyone would have thought that he will make a move of going with Binny and drop Ashwin instead who can proved wuite handy with the bat. But apparently he had to pay for not performing at all in the first Test in South Africa. That if this gamble has worked will be seen soon enough.