T20 - Bowlers' Nightmare
When it seemed the Indian Premier League was becoming a tedious affair, the Deccan Chargers’ victories over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the Chennai Super Kings have made the tournament intriguing. Combined with RCB’s slump in form, Kolkata Knight Riders’ inconsistency and Kings XI Punjab’s late surge, the IPL, which has come to the business end, is really getting hotter.
The T20 format is very cruel on the bowlers. Short boundaries, heavy penalties for slight over-stepping and delays in completing their quota on time, and the big, heavy bats that help even mistimed shots clear the boundary effortlessly limit bowlers to mere bowling machines. Batsmen of the size of Goliaths and with the license to go for the kill right from the word go further add to their woes.
In short, the stadia look more like slaughterhouses with the hapless bowlers waiting to be butchered.
A couple of alterations to the rules of the game can make the contest between bat and ball more even and interesting.
1. During a reverse sweep, the leg-side wide should come out of the equation.
2. When batsmen shuffle, wide should be awarded based on the distance from the bat during the point of contact.
3. Whenever batsmen march down the pitch, the bowler should be allowed to bowl a bouncer (not above the head height).
4. During a powerplay, for once, the bowling captain should have the right to replace a bowler, if he is proving very expensive, in the middle of an over.
Hmmm any more alterations, I think, the batsmen would appeal in the International Court of Justice.
PS:The recommendations and the whole scenario remind me of the caste-based quota system in India.
The match between Deccan Chargers and RCB is to begin in 100 minutes.
The T20 format is very cruel on the bowlers. Short boundaries, heavy penalties for slight over-stepping and delays in completing their quota on time, and the big, heavy bats that help even mistimed shots clear the boundary effortlessly limit bowlers to mere bowling machines. Batsmen of the size of Goliaths and with the license to go for the kill right from the word go further add to their woes.
In short, the stadia look more like slaughterhouses with the hapless bowlers waiting to be butchered.
A couple of alterations to the rules of the game can make the contest between bat and ball more even and interesting.
1. During a reverse sweep, the leg-side wide should come out of the equation.
2. When batsmen shuffle, wide should be awarded based on the distance from the bat during the point of contact.
3. Whenever batsmen march down the pitch, the bowler should be allowed to bowl a bouncer (not above the head height).
4. During a powerplay, for once, the bowling captain should have the right to replace a bowler, if he is proving very expensive, in the middle of an over.
Hmmm any more alterations, I think, the batsmen would appeal in the International Court of Justice.
PS:The recommendations and the whole scenario remind me of the caste-based quota system in India.
The match between Deccan Chargers and RCB is to begin in 100 minutes.
On a Sunny Day
Looking at the title, one would expect me to describe my outing on a hot summer day or anything related to the rising mercury levels. But, I go just beyond them.
I have been hit for a huge six over long on by the Sun, who is on fire. May be the T20 effect! I am trying to recover from the huge damage done by the hot red ball. Two days of bad appetite, cold and headache are teasing and tormenting me by rotating strike.
The toss happened on Saturday afternoon after the fireball won the toss and elected to bat first on a superb batting track. At about 1:00 pm in the afternoon, I bowled for about 40 minutes (coming backing from the office - We work only half a day on Saturday. &*^%+@! rule). I was like a bowler continuously bowling no balls and giving free hits.
I thought I would use third person narrative as I cannot degrade myself. Please note the change.
After the first innings, the bowler was too exhausted to bat. He didn't come out of the trauma of the first innings for the whole day. He thought he would be alright by Sunday. But things changed for worse. Kevvvvvvvvvvvvvv!
So, what happened to the bowler on Sunday? He doesn't remember exactly!
Got ready on Monday to go and meet his team members. But no, the first innings impact was so huge that he collapsed just after getting ready. To forget the horrible happenings, he got a DVD for himself, watched three movies - I Robot, Beyond the enemy lines I and Beyond the enemy lines II - and spent with his grandparents.
Today, he forfeited the match and ventured out. He is now feeling better. Hope the situation of the bowler improves.
So Bhaktajanulaaraaa! Bolo
Om Surya Bhagawane Namaha!
I have been hit for a huge six over long on by the Sun, who is on fire. May be the T20 effect! I am trying to recover from the huge damage done by the hot red ball. Two days of bad appetite, cold and headache are teasing and tormenting me by rotating strike.
The toss happened on Saturday afternoon after the fireball won the toss and elected to bat first on a superb batting track. At about 1:00 pm in the afternoon, I bowled for about 40 minutes (coming backing from the office - We work only half a day on Saturday. &*^%+@! rule). I was like a bowler continuously bowling no balls and giving free hits.
I thought I would use third person narrative as I cannot degrade myself. Please note the change.
After the first innings, the bowler was too exhausted to bat. He didn't come out of the trauma of the first innings for the whole day. He thought he would be alright by Sunday. But things changed for worse. Kevvvvvvvvvvvvvv!
So, what happened to the bowler on Sunday? He doesn't remember exactly!
Got ready on Monday to go and meet his team members. But no, the first innings impact was so huge that he collapsed just after getting ready. To forget the horrible happenings, he got a DVD for himself, watched three movies - I Robot, Beyond the enemy lines I and Beyond the enemy lines II - and spent with his grandparents.
Today, he forfeited the match and ventured out. He is now feeling better. Hope the situation of the bowler improves.
So Bhaktajanulaaraaa! Bolo
Om Surya Bhagawane Namaha!
T20 - Indian Lions in African Safari
"I never expected India to win T20 world cup," has been the reaction of a number of Indian fans after the Titanic T20 final. India was only one T20 match-old when it entered the competition, and nobody thought India would qualify for semis. But things turned dramatically after Yuvraj's blitzkrieg innings against the Englishmen and the performance graph of the Indian team since then soared only in one direction - North. That's what a young team does with young ideas, new methods and fearlessness.
Good for a young captain to win his first series, and that too a big one. It doesn't matter whether India won it or Pakistan gave it (as pointed out by many that Pakistan were unlucky) as it is the victory that matters. I feel a bit for Pakistan, who have put up a brave show and almost pulled off a great victory. But credit to Indian bowlers who were brilliant and especially captain cool Dhoni was outstanding. He was fantastic, switched bowlers cleverly and used his resources very well.
Having said this, the future is going to be tough for Dhoni as he will be handling about four seniors who have ego problems.
I believe that the pressure factor from the media and the people back home is playing havoc on Indian performance. So, my appeal to media is to give Dhoni some time and don't hype the Indian team whenever they beat a big team or score heavily in one Test.
Finally, I have this small sentiment of changing houses whenever India is in a pressure situation, and it always paid off. This time again, I watched the first half in Koti in my friend's house (of course! took the permission of my boss) and the second half in my home. I told my friend that India would win if I change house, and it is proved correct again.
