The Hindu : Sport : Chasing could be the order of the day

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Friday, Mar 09, 2007
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Sport

Chasing could be the order of the day

S. Dinakar

Chennai: That the World Cup 2007 will be without a day\night game could alter the dynamics of the contests. Chasing, rather than setting targets, could be the order of the day.

Since '87, all the editions, save the '99 competition in England, have had a healthy mix of the day and the day-night games. The conditions under floodlights influenced plenty of matches, particularly during the 2003 tournament in Southern Africa.

England's James Anderson and India's Aashish Nehra, among others, bamboozled opponents with conventional swing under lights. The moisture in the air and the evening breeze assisted their methods.

The one-dayers, these days, are being increasingly dominated by conditions. Unless the pitch is likely to help the spinners, or is one of uneven bounce, teams that elect to field can dictate the course of the day games.

The moisture on the surface, which can also be caused by the sweating under the covers, tends to favour the pacemen initially. A side with an incisive pace attack would fancy its chances in the early phase.

Win the toss, strike early with the new ball, utilise the pressure created to restrict the opposition and then pace the innings in the chase could be the right ploy.

In fact, the day games during winter follow a definite pattern in the sub-continent. In Mohali or Lahore for instance, a side that fields first is the likely winner.

Things might not be so predictable in the West Indies, where the climate could be warmer and much of the dew could disappear under the sun before the duel commences. Still, there could be more help earlier than later.

Then there is the question of defending targets on a small ground, which is never easy. While the twos or the threes might be harder to score, the fours and the sixes can be more easily achieved.

The spinners could find life hard on such venues. However, they would not have to grapple with a ball made wet by excessive dew under the lights. Unlike in a day-night game, we actually might see spinners operating in the end overs, backed by fielders with dry fingers and palms. The outfield too would not slow down.

The spinners could have a major say in the Caribbean although it might be hard for the captains to manage two specialists with a possible 20 overs of Power Play in an innings.

It is well known that the dew on the surface enables pacemen achieve lateral movement at the start of the chase in a day-night game. The ball tends to skid through as well.

In the Caribbean, the pacemen could be up against it in the afternoon, while bowling second. Of course, those with ability could reverse swing a slightly older ball.

The threat of rain looms in the West Indies, and, in a scenario where the Duckworth and Lewis rule could be employed, pursuing a target could serve a side's interests better.

All things considered, this could be a very different World Cup than the one four years ago.