The Hindu : Sport : Need for level-playing fields

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 08, 2006

Sport

Sport

Need for level-playing fields

S. Dinakar

Rawalpindi: Runs, runs and more runs. These words, in a nutshell, summed up the opening ODI of the Hutch Series.

These are supposed to be revolutionary times in ODI cricket, what with the Super Substitute rule introduced, not to speak of the Power Play overs. Sweeping changes they might be, but the heart of the issue that deals with `monotony' has still not been addressed. And this pertains to the nature of the surfaces.

Batsman's game

In fact, India coach Greg Chappell, speaking to The Hindu, ahead of the Pakistan tour had lamented: "The one-dayers now are only for batsmen and only for runs. They have muted one-day cricket. Some of the most thrilling one-day matches I played in were low scoring games."

The astute India coach had hit the nail on the head. The pitch at the Arbab Niaz Stadium favoured the batsmen to such an extent that they could hit through the line almost blindfolded.

Cricket is so much lesser as a challenge when the bowler is almost completely taken out of the contest. India made 328 in the first ODI and as the teams returned for the break, the Pakistani fielders were congratulating themselves. They realised that, under the conditions, the otherwise mammoth total of the Indians was very gettable.

Powar to join team

The Indian team-management's request for off-spinning all-rounder Ramesh Powar has been accepted and the Mumbai cricketer will join the team on Thursday, ahead of the second ODI on February 11. The injured Harbhajan Singh will continue to stay with the squad.

Powar, if picked, faces a daunting task on tracks that are unlikely to be different in the games to follow. The Mumbaikar's batting ability could also have been a factor in his selection. He is a hard striker of the ball and can provide India with much-needed hitting ability down the order; the side sorely missed someone who could deliver the big blows during the climactic stages of the innings in Peshawar.

Any team will attempt to adapt to the requirements of the situation, but this ODI series is bound to suffer in terms of providing engaging fare, if the bowlers are so handicapped.

As things stand, the ODI rules are already lop-sided in favour of the batsmen with the bowlers facing severe restrictions. The preparation of such tracks will further limit the bowlers.

Wrong notion

Limited overs cricket, especially on the sub-continent, has embarked on a course where the long-term health of the game is being compromised for short-term gains.

Bowlers need to have their say in the face-off with the batsmen.

In this context, it will be worth travelling back to the 1996 World Cup in the sub-continent where, on docile pitches, the batsmen were able to charge down the track and cart someone like Curtly Ambrose all over the park.

On most tracks they would have got their noses broken had they attempted such tactics against the West Indian giant.

There is this funny sub-continental concept that spectators swarm the ODI arenas only to watch the ball disappearing over the ropes.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. The audience here is mature enough to warm up to well fought out matches, where the bowlers receive an equal opportunity.

The final ODI of the India-South Africa series this season was staged on a lively Wankhede Stadium pitch in Mumbai. What we witnessed was an exciting match, where only batsmen with both technique and temperament could make sizable contributions.

It becomes hard to judge the merits of a batsman on surfaces loaded with runs. On several occasions batsmen who are dismissive of the bowling on such belters are ruthlessly exposed on a pitch that offers something for the bowler.

The popularity of the annual triangular ODI competition in Australia is not least due to the fact that there is a measure of assistance to the bowlers, both the pacemen and the spinners, throughout the match. On offer to the viewers is actually a better test of skills.

Rare breed

There will be occasions when somebody like Waqar Younis, with his speed in the air and reverse swing, could still strike irrespective of the conditions, but then these special bowlers belong to the rarest of rare breeds.

Otherwise, there is an urgent need to make ODI cricket a level-playing field — for the batsmen and the bowlers.

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