Gilchrist, Yusuf Pathan and Sehwag can be pinned? What about Jayasuria?
It is interesting that a format such as T20, which is made for those who play the game in only one way- destructively- has pushed bowlers to work out lines to pin them and force false shots.
In T20, scoring runs at a strike rate of 170%+ is destructive. And if you cannot knock out Gilchrist, Pathan or Sehwag in this format, it can be all over in a short time. You usually cannot tame them- while they are there, as they will be smacking it all over the park. They may in the process get themselves out... that is what the conventional thinking is..
But look at what is happening- bowling teams are finding ways to keep tabs on these blokes:
1. Adam Gilchrist
Usually unstoppable as he can smack you off the backfoot and frontfoot- as he drives as well as he pulls. But Kumble has had a better equation with him, in the last few years, keeping it full. He will still hurt you, but you have more options to control him this way. Kumble got him out in Australia (07-08) sliding it full and wide, got him in the last IPL Finals (ok, it lasted two balls) by preventing his backfoot game.
Yesterday, Delhi leg spinners bowled googlies from around the leg stump. Fuller again. Although Gilichrist got out, he was nonetheless showing signs of getting to terms with this length. Instead of charging down the pitch (and missing) he swept to square leg and slog-swept over mid wicket. Eventually, a very full googly outside leg stump got him.
2. Virender Sehwag
Mumbai Indians have shown a way to control him. Left arm- over the wicket onto leg stump and right-arm over the wicket- angled in. His favorite off-side play is all but taken out. Deccan Chargers were quick to adopt this plan and were successful as Sehwag was forced to fabricate inside out to Ojha, from outside leg stump- and scooped it over mid-off. With Gambhir injured and the Delhi middle order not quite firing, there is that little bit extra burden of Sehwag to consider constructive options, even in T20.
Will he play a more managed innings or just follow his natural instincts on an unnatural line of play given to him?
3. Yusuf Pathan
After his maverick 100 hundred against Mumbai Indians, he is back on the radar this year, after a poor IPL last time in South Africa, on bouncier pitches. Anil Kumble (Bangalore Royal Challengers), had special plans for him- bringing on Steyn and Kallis to keep it short and bouncy, since Pathan hits most of his big shots off the front foot. It worked for Bangalore (even after being dropped once at mid-wicket) and it also worked for Kolkatta (though they eventually lost, getting a taste of their own plans).
4. Sanath Jayasuria?
Yet to fire in this IPL, although did well in the first game against Rajasthan and was a bit unlucky against Delhi to be out after clearing mid-off, to a wonderful catch. There are questions lurking over his abilities as compared to two years ago, but teams can ignore him at their own peril. You can see that he is not given width and teams have managed to strike the right length to him. Steyn was brilliant to get him lbw- pinned without footwork- perhaps a sign of slowing reflexes?
But with 14 games in the league-phase there will be a few unlucky teams where his full fury might unleash, especially since Tendulkar is in good form, and singles are a good option for Jayasuria to play himself in (With Gambhir & Graeme Smith injured, Sehwag and Pathan may not have that luxury though).
Bowlers are getting more organized in T20, and showing that batters will need to be selective and be ready to blend in constructive phases (2/3 overs!) if needed. If batters come with a predetermined destructive 'natural game' mindset, they will find it a bit unnatural- as bowlers are the ones who initiate play.
Saumil
Mumbai
22 March 2010
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Posts
