It may be because I am not opening bat, but I find one of the most exhilarating things when watching or playing cricket (at any level) to be the battle between the fearsomely fast bowler and the courageous opening batsman. The classic example which springs to mind for me is the battles Michael Atherton used to have with Allan Donald.
In that case it would be fair to say that the South African paceman had the better of the exchanges, but all that seems to have changed. The balance now seems to be well and truly with the batsman.
The problem is that pitches now are so slow, and this World Cup promises to epitomise this trend. The home side is a classic example. The West Indies is immensely proud of it's fast bowling traditions. If you look through the West Indies side now though you would struggle to find anyone with the pace to hurry most club pro's let alone top class batsman. It is a side full of players who can 'take the pace off the ball', and keep it tight during power plays.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
The modern trend and ICC directives for pitch preparations and power plays to encourage big scores, are slowly killing off the fast men. Sure the best will always prosper as they learn new skills, and methods of out-foxing batsman, but once in a while can't we just have a quick strip or two. Must the ever-decreasing WACA strip be a clone of it's counter-part in Karachi. Fast bowlers must also be put on an even keel once in a while, and given a chance to put genuine fear into batsman, rather than just watching the ball whistle to the boundary with soul destroying reptition.
So here comes the conspiracy:
International cricket's governing bodies are now so dependent on huge broadcasting deals that they are desperate for matches to run their full coarse in order to keep sponsors happy and to avoid having to pay out large refunds to the ticket-buying public. To this end instructions have gone out to groundsmen that they must prepare pitches accordingly. The result is that most pitches are slow, low tracks - not much fun for any bowler of quality.
The worlds best cricketers are becoming one dimensional clones, just like the pitches they play on. They are losing valuable skills by not playing on a range of surfaces - For crying out loud it even seems to spill over into the post-match interview, such is their robotic like conditioning.
Some even argue for uncovered pitches again. Maybe not at the top level, but can we at least give the fast guys something to get their teeth into occasionally and make those flashy, arrogant twerps at the top of the order earn their runs. If he gets through the stage where he wonders whether he is going to get back to the pavillion alive, through courage and skill then he is worthy of his runs.
A multitude of fast runs does not always equate to facinating, absorbing cricket - At least not for everyone.
1 comment:
I totally agree. That is why the Johannesburg run fest (though brilliant to watch) was not THE greatest odi ever. The game was plainly stacked in favour of the batsmen - tiny boundaries and a rapid outfield, not to mention the quality of the modern day bat. No, the greatest odi ever in my humble opinion is THAT semi final at Edgbaston. There was some brilliant batting by the likes of Lance Klusener, but it was the bowling of Warney and the quite brilliant run out by Mark Waugh, Damien Fleming and Gilly to win the game that made it so good. Cricket at its very best. No one discipline dominated. I'd have the Natwest Final between England and India just behind.
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