Kumble let down by batters, IPL 2009 Finals

Banglore v Deccan, Finals, IPL 2009

Nobody can predict outcomes in sport, but as I had posted yesterday-

"I can tell you that Gilchrist will not be playing his natural game- he will have to earn it. I reckon that he will not be getting balls to cut and pull, but will have to fetch them from outside off or be forced to slog them off the front foot." - saumilzx
...from my post after Bangalore won the semi finals

Kumble has stopped Gilchrist like this before. This time he got one ball at a length outside off, another full and flighted on his pads, and then a third which was flighted in from leg inviting him to loft (slider/googly combo pack with a new ball). Gilchrist was bowled for a duck. But to be fair to Gilchrist, he at least come down the track, rather than slog it off the front foot and get a top edge, as he has often fallen that way in the past.

Compulsive natural batters can be very unnatural against the likes of Kumble and MacGrath- both great bowlers who thrive on a batter's intent and allow you to play your shots ...or rather, sort of allow you...

Kumble continued the strategy from yesterday, and made sure big shots were dried up in the middle overs, when Deccan were asked to bat first. Bangalore slipped in balls into the pads, allowing singles to square leg or straight. Square of the wicket on the off-side, the gaps were available, but the options were not. So batsmen had to go inside out for big shots- only to be caught at deep extra cover or mid off...

When chasing, even though Bangalore lost early wickets, they had the batting resources, since the losses included Pandey (although a star for Bangalore- he was the junior player gambited by Kumble to open) and van de Merve, their bowling all rounder- who did boost their run rate nonetheless.

Dravid who had an off day, dropping Symonds in the slips, played what looked like an injudicious shot- trying to paddle sweep a straight ball from Harmeet (the junior 5th bowler), down to long leg and was bowled. At this stage it looked like rotating strike would have helped, as Taylor and Boucher were better suited for risky shots.

But full credit to Gilchrist for pursuing with Harmeet, who went for 10 runs in his first over. Harmeet responded by keeping it dead straight- wicket to wicket- making it tough to rotate strike. He was indeed the junior star for Deccan today, just as Manish Pandey had been for Bangalore in the last two games.

The end result was that, Kumble won the battle but lost the war- perhaps an apt ending for the Bangalore Management, which woke up late in identifying him as the best choice as leader, when he was always available.

There is only so much one man can do for a team. Although in a team game, the team is greater than its players- it is often the case when a player is let down by the team.

Unfortunately, it was so for Anil Kumble today.

Saumil
Mumbai
25 May 2009

Simon Taufel reads Muralidaran with 100% accuracy!

Yes, there is someone who can read spin wizard Muralidaran. Unfortunately, it is not a batsman, but an umpire! Simon Taufel is the amongst the best in the business for sure.

In today's gripping semi finals of IPL 2009 (Bangalore vs Chennai), Murali was required to weave his magic to try to get a few wickets as Bangalore were chasing a moderate target of 147 with many wickets in hand.

Murali was bowling around the wicket to Dravid/Pandey- as this is how he gets an lbw in play. He was right on the button.

1. Murali's first appeal looked very good. Replays showed that the ball pitched on middle and turned enough to miss leg stump. Not out.

2. Few balls later, his second appeal looked plumb, but fortunately Simon Taufel was not looking into Murali's eyes but at the ball which the batsman missed! Not out. Replays showed that the ball pitched on middle-off stump, but still turned enough to just miss leg!

3. Soon Murali slipped it straighter, pitched on middle-off, surely it must be out this time! Not out. Replays indicated that the ball did not turn enough this time, and perhaps slid to clip the outer side of off stump (was it a doosra?). Cannot be given.

4. Fourth time- Murali flights an off-spinner onto middle stump, to hit middle stump, which Dravid tried to sweep and miss. Out!

Murali ended with 15 runs and a wicket in 4 overs! Could be man of the match on another day, with another umpire around (these figures are still daunting to say the least).

Simon Taufel got them all right! Brilliant umpiring...
Also, spare a thought for the batters facing Murali, who have to judge the ball before it hits their pad or bat.

Saumil
Mumbai
24 May 2009

Karpov Kumble outcaptains Dhoni, Semi Finals, IPL 2009

Bangalore Royal Challengers v Chennai Super kings
IPL 2009 Semi Finals

Anil Kumble, who not too long ago was criticized and almost forced into retirement for his 'defensive' captaincy- has proved a point or too, to his detractors by humbling the mighty batting line-up of Chennai Super Kings. And he did that by a containing strategy rather than tactical punches, as characterized by Shane Warne's success with the Rajasthan Royals last year. The important lesson is that, your team and execution have to back the approach you choose.

Firstly, he chose to field, putting the first innings dot-ball dilemma onto the opponents. The pitch was good but slow, so Kumble had a chance to plan his bowling around that fact (Kallis, Praveen Kumar, plus spin), and allow singles to key players and slip in dots as well. As a result, Chennai could not runaway with any momentum, as they could not really estimate the target.

Hayden was pinned from around his leg stump with options to work it square on the leg side for singles. Kumble slipped in googlies- and Hayden tried to cut and almost got caught at short extra cover (Mumbai Indians had rendered Hayden motionless in the league phase, with Harbhajan bowling the same line). However, Parthiv Patel got off the blocks very well, and it was evident that they had no restrictive plans for him, bowling conventional lengths around off stump.

Dhoni and Raina got singles against the spinners (Kumble and Van der Merve) but Bangalore would take that, since this was not a pitch where wickets in hand would translate to a burst of runs in the end (which is perhaps why Dhoni promoted himself at number 3). In the death overs, again there were many balls wide of the crease, with Oram and Morkel getting only singles to third man or straighter on the off side.

Kumble was clinical in his execution and confident that the uncertainty of not knowing a target would make it difficult for Chennai to bat themselves in (Remember, in T20 the risk is often about a side not playing itself in).

Chasing 147, Bangalore were exactly aware how to pace themselves and not go for anything extravagant. It is easier to say that, but the new kid on the block of Indian Cricket- Manish Pandey provided the strike rate with deft touch play, to make it a run-a-ball game for Bangalore.

It was not easy as it sounds, as Muralidaran was weaving his magic for Chennai. Perhaps, he came on a bit too late, with the damage already done in the first 6 overs (could Murali have bowled the 5th/6th over- Dravid would not like to hit him over the inner fielders; and Pandey who looked good against pace had never dealt with Murali).

All in all, it was Kumble's deep and subtle plans to gambit away some singles- without really trying anything special in bowling that allowed Chennai to get to a good score, but only sort of good.

Will it work for him in the finals against Deccan? I can tell you that Gilchrist will not be playing his natural game- he will have to earn it. I reckon that he will not be getting balls to cut and pull, but will have to fetch them from outside off or be forced to slog them off the front foot.

Another good day of strategic subtleties from 'Karpov' Kumble, might just do it for Bangalore. If so, the celebrations, though, will be anything but subtle.

Saumil
Mumbai
23 May 2009