IND vs NZ: “Pretty Convinced That Even The Indian Batters Nowadays Don't Play Spin As Well As Players In My Time Used To” – Wasim Jaffer

Former India National Cricket Team batter Wasim Jaffer believes that modern-day batters, including Indian batters who are traditionally recognised as good players of spin, don’t play spin bowling very well.

Jaffer’s comments came after the first two T20Is of the ongoing three-match series between India and New Zealand where spin-friendly tracks were produced, especially in the second T20I in Lucknow.

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Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Jaffer said that the batters have changed their approach towards dealing with tough spells.

“Batters usually find their way out nowadays by hitting the bowlers out of the attack. It is not like how it used to be in our time where you are told to play out a spell. Even in seaming conditions, the batters go out and try to get the bowlers out of the attack by being more aggressive. We were told to play out that spell but T20 doesn’t allow you to do that,” Jaffer said on ESPNCricinfo.

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Wasim Jaffer added that he is pretty convinced that the current crop of Indian batters is not capable of playing quality spin bowling very well, which according to Jaffer is a concern

“I am pretty convinced that even the Indian batters nowadays don’t play spin as well as players in my time used to. That is a concern and it is just the upbringing,” he said.

The focus is more on fast bowling – Wasim Jaffer

Wasim Jaffer further said that the main focus in recent times has been on fast bowling and the quality of spin bowling has reduced in first-class cricket. He also feels that the modern-day batters being braver is one of the reasons behind their struggle against spin-bowling.

“The focus is more on fast bowling, those that bowl 140-145kph and you don’t get to play real quality spin even in the first class circuit

“That is probably the reason bowlers don’t bowl the way they used to in the 1990s and the 2000s. That flight and guile are missing because the batters are braver, they don’t hitting sixes even when there is a long-off and long-on, T20s have made them braver. That is probably the reason why batters don’t tackle spinners as well,” Jaffer concluded.

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