Powerplay dilemma for Men in Blue
Kochi, March 14: Does Yusuf Pathan need the buffer of powerplay to score runs? You can keep as many fielders as you want on the boundary, they are not going to stop him from hitting sixes, are they? If in the gap, neither will they have the time to get close to shots that whistle across the turf. Such is the enormous hitting ability and power of the man. Then, why bring him on in the powerplay?
Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag took apart the top-class South African fast bowlers with timing and elan, using the extra-pace to manipulate the ball into gaps for delightful boundaries. A significant part of that sublime display of batsmanship came when the field was up in the mandatory powerplay. Playing proper cricketing shots, the duo stroked 128 runs in 15 overs. If that is so, then why not do the same in the batting powerplay?
Sir Vivian Richards ' speaking on a talk show ' felt that the term 'powerplay' was forcing the batsmen to lose their cool. It is as if there is no other option but to swing the bat at every delivery during that tricky five-over period. India lost four wickets for 30 runs in the batting powerplay taken in the 38th over.
Clearly, the fact that so many innings have fallen apart during the batting powerplay, suggests that success in the powerplay depends more on 'how' it is used than 'when'. Instead of Pathan, Yuvraj Singh, Dhoni or Virat Kohli could have just timed the ball past the infielders to pick up runs without losing that many wickets. Pathan would be best used in the last few overs when any team requires to go for the bowling immaterial of where the fielders are placed. Simply because Pathan can clear the field with ease, something which Kohli would certainly struggle to do.
In this most open of all WCs, to be champions, India needs to extract the best out of each of its players. Both Pathan and Kohli are talented cricketers. Why should India shoot themselves in the foot by playing them out of position? Perhaps, it is good that the hosts are going through testing, and varying, situations in each of its groups games. Better to learn things the hard way, provided they use it when it matters most ' in the knock-out stage.
News Posted: 14 March, 2011
|
