THE PLAYING ELEVEN
Fifteen players for the World Cup have been selected in the expected lines. All the eleven who played against Sri Lanka in the last match, would be in the eleven in world cup matches, except Dinesh Karthik, who would yield place to Sachin and Srisanth to Munawar Patel. We have a batsman-wicket keeper (Dinesh Karthik), a fast bowler (Srisanth), a spinner (Anil Kumble) and an all rounder (Irfan Pathan), in the reserves- certainly an excellent team, on paper. However, one wish that a more capable batsman than Dinesh Karthik, finds place in the reserves.The availability of a better all rounder than Pathan has not been ascertained. The claims of an Ashish Nehra or an R.P.Singh, based on their track records, have not been looked into.
In the one day matches, unlike the test matches, we need not take twenty wickets to win. If we bat first, we need to set up a target which our opponent cannot reach within the prescribed overs. Therefore batsmen need to score fast without losing wickets. Glutton for runs should be provided ith opportunities to feed themselves with balls and the fasting ones should stretch themselves in the comforts of the dressing room. In the initial overs, as there is no field restriction, batsmen, capable of hitting over the head of fielders, a trend started by Sanath Jayasurya, make merry and multiply runs. Sehwag, Robin Uthappa and Ganguli should find their names high in the batting order. Mature players, who can adapt themselves to a situation, should be in the middle. Sachin, Dravid, Yuvaraj Singh and Dhoni ideally fit into this slot. We need an all rounder, who can take over from the top batsmen, and with the support of tail-enders set up a good target. Unfortunately we do not have an all rounder of the caliber of a Kapil Dev, or even that lesser mortal Manoj Prabhakar. Pathan is an apology for one.
As the batsman try to set up a high target within the available overs, bowlers should try to restrict the runs scored by the opponents. Containing the batsmen is more important than even taking the wickets. If we have five Babu Nadkarni type parsimonious bowlers, those who bat against us would never score more than 100 runs in 50 overs. Agarkar and Zahir Khan in their few earlier over have this virtue. Harbachan Singh is more economical than Anil Kumble. Munawar Patel certainly scores over Srisanth, in this type of game. .
To contain batsmen, apart from accurate bowling, bowlers also need support from fielders, in holding catches, even converting half chances into regular ones, saving boundaries and singles. Dropped catches and unsaved runs add to our misery. We have two fielders – Mohammed Kaif and Suresh Raina, who practice fielding as a fine art and who brush shoulders with Jonty Rhodes, the ultimate in fielding. Kaif and Raina can reduce 40/50 runs from the opponents, help us in getting wickets by holding sharp chances and accurately throwing on the wickets to get run outs, and can also score a few runs. From these two only, why do we ask for more? If atleast one of them had been selected, he would have played as the twelfth man, enhancing our fielding performance, without disturbing the batting or bowling line up.
If six or seven players find entry on the basis of their batting, an equal number on the pretext of their bowling ability, should we not include two players known for their international class fielding exploits? The mere presence of a Kaif or a Raina on the field would be a source of inspiration to the slow movers. One day game needs athletes and not also ran.
In the one day matches, unlike the test matches, we need not take twenty wickets to win. If we bat first, we need to set up a target which our opponent cannot reach within the prescribed overs. Therefore batsmen need to score fast without losing wickets. Glutton for runs should be provided ith opportunities to feed themselves with balls and the fasting ones should stretch themselves in the comforts of the dressing room. In the initial overs, as there is no field restriction, batsmen, capable of hitting over the head of fielders, a trend started by Sanath Jayasurya, make merry and multiply runs. Sehwag, Robin Uthappa and Ganguli should find their names high in the batting order. Mature players, who can adapt themselves to a situation, should be in the middle. Sachin, Dravid, Yuvaraj Singh and Dhoni ideally fit into this slot. We need an all rounder, who can take over from the top batsmen, and with the support of tail-enders set up a good target. Unfortunately we do not have an all rounder of the caliber of a Kapil Dev, or even that lesser mortal Manoj Prabhakar. Pathan is an apology for one.
As the batsman try to set up a high target within the available overs, bowlers should try to restrict the runs scored by the opponents. Containing the batsmen is more important than even taking the wickets. If we have five Babu Nadkarni type parsimonious bowlers, those who bat against us would never score more than 100 runs in 50 overs. Agarkar and Zahir Khan in their few earlier over have this virtue. Harbachan Singh is more economical than Anil Kumble. Munawar Patel certainly scores over Srisanth, in this type of game. .
To contain batsmen, apart from accurate bowling, bowlers also need support from fielders, in holding catches, even converting half chances into regular ones, saving boundaries and singles. Dropped catches and unsaved runs add to our misery. We have two fielders – Mohammed Kaif and Suresh Raina, who practice fielding as a fine art and who brush shoulders with Jonty Rhodes, the ultimate in fielding. Kaif and Raina can reduce 40/50 runs from the opponents, help us in getting wickets by holding sharp chances and accurately throwing on the wickets to get run outs, and can also score a few runs. From these two only, why do we ask for more? If atleast one of them had been selected, he would have played as the twelfth man, enhancing our fielding performance, without disturbing the batting or bowling line up.
If six or seven players find entry on the basis of their batting, an equal number on the pretext of their bowling ability, should we not include two players known for their international class fielding exploits? The mere presence of a Kaif or a Raina on the field would be a source of inspiration to the slow movers. One day game needs athletes and not also ran.
posted by Mahadevan at 11:50 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home