On The Cricket Pitch

Lessons in batting

Philip Hackett

Wednesday,  August 3, 2005

If the top West Indies batsmen not playing in the current series in Sri Lanka were paying attention last weekend, they would have learnt a few critical points about batting at the international level.

The opening exchanges in the triangular Indian Oil series featuring India, West Indies and home side Sri Lanka provided entertainment for cricket lovers, a degree of frustration for the perfectionists and an education for students of the game.

Both matches were low-scoring affairs, not often the ideal scenario for one day matches, but despite the paucity of runs, the opening match between India and Sri Lanka never lacked for intrigue and excitement as the home team was made to work hard for what, at one stage, appeared would be an easy victory.

That victory was eventually achieved primarily through the efforts of seasoned batsman Sanath Jayasuriya. Known over the years for his dashing stroke play as a bold free scoring opener, Jayasuriya exposed another dimension to his cricket with a responsible unbeaten 43 that rescued his team from an uncomfortable position. What was especially outstanding about the former captain’s innings was that it was made batting at number six with a dislocated shoulder.

There was hardly any evidence of his discomfort after the initial stages of his knock when he found it difficult to get the ball away, but as his pain killing medication took effect he controlled the middle and lower order batting of a Sri Lankan side that has been prone to collapse this season.

Jayasuriya’s innings was the epitome of discipline, commitment and common sense, three elements often lacking in West Indies cricket. As long as Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwayne Bravo et al are able to adopt such attributes into their game it would enrich the quality of the West Indies batting, if and when the dispute between the WIPA and the WICB comes to an end.

For all the enthusiasm shown by the replacements currently in Sri Lanka, most of them are hopelessly out of their depth and still in need of the basics. The low expectations of this team were easily recognised in the comments of several of the commentators who were high in praise of Xavier Marshall for his innings of 26. When mediocrity can be praised, it is a harsh reminder of the low level we have now reached.

In what was generally a disappointing weekend for batsmen, one other emerged with his reputation intact. Rahul Dravid’s man of the match batting performance of 52 not out on Sunday against the West Indies again proved his value in limited over cricket. There would hardly ever be a debate over his importance in the batting line up of a Test team, but apart from that he continually answered the critics who see him as a dour batsman, not perfectly suited to the abbreviated game. So complete a player is Dravid that I believe he will also excel as Twenty20 cricket becomes a more permanent part of the international cricket calendar.

Dravid continually provides strong evidence that, at the international level, a large portion of cricket is intellectually based, or as some people put it, it is played upstairs. He responds to situations as they arise, unlike other cricketers, many of West Indian origin, who seem only able to function in one mode. Dravid was the leading scorer in one-day internationals last year with 1025 runs, and was one of only two players (the other was Kumar Sangakkara with 1010 runs) to exceed the 1000 run mark. He is currently rated third in the ODI rankings behind Jacques Kallis and Brian Lara. Dravid’s success shows that a batsman does not have to be an adventurous dasher to be successful at ODI cricket.

West Indies supporters can take heart from the effort put in by the bowlers in the Test series and again on Sunday. They have performed above my expectations, given their lack of experience. It was refreshing to see two of our bowlers operating in partnership and forcing the Indian batsmen to hurry their strokes. The consistency is still lacking however, and this is where the bowlers absent because of the dispute will be missed.

The fielding has come in for high praise, though ironically it was the main reason why we did not put even more pressure on India chasing our paltry score. Ricardo Powell, and Dwayne Smith, two of the best fielders in the region, both dropped critical catches that should have been taken, while wicket keeper Ramdin, who has had an impressive start to his international career, dropped one very similar to that put down by Browne off Inzamam in the final Test against Pakistan.

Only the most optimistic West Indian will back this team to reach the final, despite the glorious uncertainties of cricket. The ICC Champions Trophy success is now a distant memory and we have only won one ODI since then. With ten consecutive defeats behind us, and on the evidence of recent happenings, we are left to wonder when we will win another.

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