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The importance of technique
The best were on display over the past two weeks. It is a short tournament and one bad day could mean curtains to even the best team. On the last occasion two other teams India and Sri Lanka reached the finals. That was not unexpected. Too many betting people would not have put their money on an England -West Indies final this time. It would have been a brave person who would have even suggested that these two teams will survive tough opposition.

England got the better of Sri Lanka and consider the three teams and on form and overall player ability, England would take the third slot. That was overturned as poor fielding let both Sri Lanka and Australia down. Perhaps the cooler conditions affecting both teams. England played almost to their best potential and weathered both storms.

The West Indies fared even better. They ousted South Africa and Pakistan. Overall, their recent form has been poor but certainly in the one dayers than in the test matches.

There are two common factors about the finalists in both tournaments. The home teams Sri Lanka and England both got up there. The other team has been the one best suited to play in the condition. India filled that description being neighbours of the host nation. On this occasion the West Indies and even their 'A' team has been in England for almost two thirds of the season. They surely are the best acclimatized visiting team.

It indicates that in these short tournaments the ability to muster conditions should be the primary disaster in the face. The pitches in England have favoured bowlers more than the batsmen when teams of even strength have met. Most captains have opted to field first on wining the toss. Unless the opposition as U.S.A. or Kenya!

Then again, some pitches have turned considerably as the games progressed. In the second semi-final Inzamam-Ul-Haq won the toss and elected to bat. It may have been better had he done the opposite. His justification of the decision was that he expected the ball to turn later in the game. My advice is don't try to read pitches unless you are an expert!

Almost always the ball seamed around in the initial twenty overs. Then the second new ball also did the same for about half that many overs.

What was evident was how woefully inadequate the batting technique was when handling the moving ball. These are the best players in the world and they keep getting out or beaten to deliveries outside the off stump. True they are playing against the best amongst bowlers, but this crop is nowhere near the bowlers of the eightees. England, Australia, West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan and Kapil Dev for India, formed at least twenty outstanding pacies.

The technique is truly inadequate. Even the likes of Gilchrist and Hayden are falling prey. Inadequate foot movements, over use of the bottom hand, poor shot selection are all contributory factors. It is a case of hit the ball anyway, not how or how correctly. For most, another opportunity is around the corner. Most importantly it should be strive for excellence in mastering technique.

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