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It's a different ball game

Parthasarathi Sharma, coach-in-charge of the NCA's South Zone camp, on the game, then and now

BACK TO THE BASICS Parthasarathi Sharma PHOTO: S.R. RAGHUNATHAN

Parthasarathi Sharma is concerned about the falling standards in the defensive technique of young batsmen, which he attributes to a lack of footwork. "Attack is an extension of defence," he says.

The coach-in-charge of the National Cricket Academy's (NCA) South Zone camp, which began at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on April 15, has ambitious plans for the boys. "First, they have to go back to the basics," he points out.

Sharma was a fluent top and middle-order batsman of the 1970s and early 1980s, who played five Tests. His efforts included an impressive debut against the West Indies in New Delhi (1974), where he returned scores of 54 and 49. Those who witnessed Sharma in action talk about his refined methods.

The 58-year-old Sharma, who now coaches the Jammu & Kashmir Ranji Trophy side, travels back to his playing days to emphasise his point. "The pitches were livelier, there were more lethal pace bowlers around and there was no restriction on bouncers. Someone like Andy Roberts had two types of bouncers, one that would go through straight and the other that would cut into you."

Power game no more

He goes on, "The batsmen did not wear protective gear like helmets, but very few got hit on the head. Now they all wear protective gear but most of them have been struck on the helmet, they are taking their eyes off the ball."

Batting has undergone a transformation since the 1970s, he says. "There were some great technicians in the 1970s. In the 1980s, we saw the power game with men like Vivian Richards and Ian Botham calling the shots. Now, with the bats being so good, the cricketers no longer require to hit the ball hard. They just need to time the ball."

This is precisely why he refuses to call anyone a `big hitter' these days. "The willows now are awesome. Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee are the only genuine fast bowlers in the contemporary scene and they have been hit by tail-enders over their head for sixes!"

The bats may have improved, but the batsmen still need to adjust their game to the different wickets. "On a seaming pitch you should not try to drive on the rise. You need to be decisive as you move forward."

He elaborates. "But even at the international level, the batsmen are attempting too many strokes without moving their feet. They get away on flat tracks because of the bat. But on pitches that are doing a bit, their faulty technique lets them down. On a fifth day turning track, where the ball is likely to keep up and down, you need to have floating footwork."

He sheds further light on the concept of floating footwork. "By this, I mean non committal footwork. You either move fully back or fully forward or dance down the pitch, but do not commit yourself. You either get to the pitch of the ball or play it as late as possible."

Sharma picks an example from the India-Australia Test series of 2004. "Damien Martyn made a lovely hundred in Chennai and he often went fully back and played the ball late. The Indian spinners could not make the alterations in their length accordingly, as they tried to get him on to the front foot. They tended to over-pitch and Martyn, who even took an off-stump guard, prospered."

The former cricketer from Rajasthan plans to have sessions with the boys focussing on defence and footwork. "I don't want them to use heavy bats, which will bring the bottom hand into play. They need to use the top hand as the guiding hand."

On the topic of lack of depth in spin in the country, another area of concern, he says, "They say you cannot flight the ball these days, but off-spinner Ramesh Powar did so with success against England in the ODIs. Young spinners need to learn to deceive the batsmen in the air."

Sharma talks about a clear directive from the NCA to `report' bowlers with illegal actions at the camp. "The problems need to nipped in the bud," he says.

Former South Zone cricketers Diwakar Vasu and Vivek Jaisimha are assisting Sharma at the camp, which concludes on May 25.

S. DINAKAR

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