Oct 25, 2009

Aussies get Tendulkar by One Shot Bowling!

The last time Tendulkar played Australia in a big series, was in the CB Series, Australia 2008, where India won 2-0 in the finals. Tendulkar scored a hundred and a ninety in both the games.

Today, after Australia posted 292, they knew that a run-a-ball effort, which Tendulkar is perhaps the only player in world cricket to achieve without risk taking would dent their chances.


After quite some time, Tendulkar has faced some one-shot bowling (as in my book- when a bowler bowls balls which pretty much have only one natural reply, and they only keep bowling that way). In this case, the balls were innocuous in themselves as they were bowled wide of off stump, at a good length or fuller. This means that the natural shots are through cover/extra cover. So the slips were off with more fielders in front on offside (sounds strange? but this is a recognition of the fact that Aussies wanted to control the strike rate and then get wickets indirectly).

Tendulkar in such a case (chasing run-a-ball), would normally have to try to fabricate something different to meet this strike rate. He did work one on the on side and drove one very straight, to a ball wide of off stump. There was a brilliant dive to stop a square cut at point. But he was well prepared to wait, as the method for chasing 300 in ODIs has now got a clear direction these days (see my earlier post on The Probabilities of Chasing 300 in ODIs in T20 era http://bit.ly/IQ2zn ) and moreover, Austrlian bowling still relies heavily on seam, and there will be runs in the middle and towards the end.

They eventually got him this time, after missing out similarly during the CB Series 2008, though it was not quite one shot bowling then. (http://bit.ly/1bdzR2 ).

Whether they persist with such an approach again is to be seen, because the days when Tendulkar was the only main wicket (he still is the main wicket) are hopefully gone. Not trying to get a batsman out or giving him singles is fine when others may not produce the strike rate. Michael Bevan in the commentary box has already questioned/hinted if this is a good idea.

For this Australian bowling attack to last another 5-6 ODIs in India is going to be a test for sure. Hauritz is a good spinner, but again, when Indian openers click in, or India bat first, he will be tested. Not giving Australians an early wicket, with even a moderate strike rate can well be India's approach, especially if they prop their spin department in the middle overs (Yuvraj likely to return soon?). India may have to play an extra spinner in place of a seamer?

@saumilzx
Oct 25, 2009