India, Dec. 2 -- Sunil Gavaskar has thrown a fresh spotlight on what really defines batting skill - and it's not what the global narrative has told us for years.

In his latest column for Sportstar, the India great argues that playing quality spin on turning pitches demands a higher level of talent than handling fast bowling on pacy tracks, challenging a long-held bias in favour of bounce and speed.

Writing in the context of the Perth Ashes Test and the debate around the double standards over pitches, Gavaskar doesn't just defend subcontinental turners - he flips the skill hierarchy itself. For him, the real examination of a batter's technique, footwork and game-reading still happens on surfaces where the ball grips, dips and turns.

For...