Sports

The batting paradise
 

International cricket has never been played in Karachi or Lahore at the end of June or July. It’s the end of summer when temperatures roar and the humidity drains the cricketers. Playing the game is possible but the strain is optimum for the bowlers, in particular for the quicker bowlers.

The pattern the games have gone does have a similarity. Runs early in the game has happened almost all the time. The occasional wicket or two has fallen early but the run rates in the first ten overs have been over six runs an over. There have been slow spells in the middle but the end has been a flourish, particularly when teams have had wickets in hand.

With their wins over Pakistan and Bangladesh, Sri Lanka have booked a berth in the finals. They overcame the tough back-to-back games without too much difficulty. At present they are playing very efficient cricket.

Similar to all other playing situations, players have to adapt as much as possible. The better players and the better teams work out their strategy early and stick by it. On this occasion the Sri Lankans have been the clever team. Although, India had convincing wins early but were exposed when they confronted the Pakistani’s. Clearly they lacked the bowlers who could deliver on the surfaces.

An opening partnership or second wicket partnership is a must. This is indicated by the fact the main scorers occupy the one, two and three slots. Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya, the most experienced opening combination occupy the top spot. India’s Virendra Sehwag, Gautham Gambir and Suresh Raina have also been prolific scorers. So too Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik and Younus Khan. New opener Nasir Jamshed, still nineteen years of age carved an entertaining half century, in quick time, before running out of steam in his first game of the tournament against India.

Next, it is important for one of the three in the top order to go on and make a big score. Also, to bat through the innings. Kumar Sangakkara has done it twice. Suresh Raina, Shoaib Malik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Mohamed Ashraful, Alok Kapali and Younus Khan have made that valuable contribution for their teams. Sangakkara and Khan have been exemplary. They have been excellent in measuring out the innings. Not being rushed at the start, displaying patience, rotating the strike and putting the bad ball away to the boundary.

Then, there must be a flourish at the end. Six and a half runs an over seems a good score on these belting surfaces for batting.

Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (L) and teammate Suresh Raina run between the wickets during the Super League Asia Cup match between India and Sri Lanka at National stadium in Karachi on July 3. AFP PHOTO

Accomplishing all that is fine but the bowlers also have a role to play. They cannot simply come and deliver, set defensive fields and think its all under control. Bowlers also should have a strategy.
Giving away five runs an over is acceptable.

Then, it’s difficult for all the bowlers utilized to do that. Should a couple of bowlers go for seven runs or more per over then the team is in trouble. The ideal situation would be for two bowlers to bowl their complete quota at four and a half runs an over. That permits for one bowler to go for a few extra runs which is bound to happen. In addition, one bowler must bowl extremely well at the start while the ball is new and hard.

It is also very easy to punish the hard new ball, as there is very little movement off the pitch.

The middle overs are the most vital. Spin bowlers have the chance of slowing the run rate between overs twenty and forty. They have to be accurate, bowl to the field and minimize the four and six hits. Of the three teams in contention to win the Asia Cup, Sri Lanka has the full outfit. Nevertheless, we should witness plenty more runs being scored in Karachi.

  • Ranil Abeynaike is a former Sri Lanka cricketer and curator of SSC
 
Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]

 

Other Sports Articles
Mendis untroubled by the big stage
CR&FC cuts loose; Havies beaten 32-5
Proud to be an Asian cricketer
Diminutive Mahes stands tall at 80
Dasun cracks career best 154
Wimbledon goes to Venus
Gampaha swim finals today
Lanka to contest in Karachi tourney
Holding quits ICC over Oval change while Zimbabwe remain
The dry fish fury
Irritants that always make you scratch
The batting paradise
Sense and sensibility

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 2008 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved.| Site best viewed in IE ver 6.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution