‘Total cricket from India and West Indies! So sweet!’

Jun 09, 2013 Sports

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Colin E. H. Croft
We have all heard of “total football”, as played by Holland and Germany in World Cups.
West Indies and India have demonstrated that they too have adopted that concept and strategy to cricket. Watching both teams last week reminded of ultra-efficient bees making honey – so sweet!
West Indies v Pakistan normally produces sublime palpitations.  Last Friday’s stanza at Kia Oval did too!
When West Indies chased that relatively meagre 171 required, they wobbled very badly, Pakistan’s “big boy”, 7’ 1’ tall Mohammed Irfan shaking our representatives to the very core.
Maturity shown by Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, putting on 41 runs for that vital 6th wicket, ensured that West Indian hearts could beat again.

Ramnaresh Sarwan looked out of place; Darren Bravo not ready.  Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels got starts without converting, but Denesh Ramdin, Sunil Narine and Kemar Roach, as batsmen, steeled nerves.
Earlier, Pakistan were blown away with a combination of superb speed from Roach, maintaining an immaculate length, coupled with tantalizing tease, drift and flight from spinner Narine.
All other teams in this competition will now sit up nightly, to view this video, with severe headaches!
Roach was erudite, bowling with effort, style and efficiency that belied his 25 years. He operated at that length which confuses batsmen; not sure if they should come forward or track back; not sure if to defend, to save wickets, or simply to attack!
It mattered not.  Speed, accuracy and effervescent energy from West Indies beat Pakistan!
Misbah ul Haq, Pakistan’s wily veteran captain, played his best ODI innings ever for that 96 not out. He demonstrated his temerity, patience, tenacity and ability needed to counter.  When fellow veteran, wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, was flummoxed by Narine, Misbah knew he was on his own.
Roach has learned that he does not always need to bowl quickly, but to bowl intelligently, allowing even slower deliveries to work their magic.
Narine, new ODI world’s No. 1 bowler, probably causes more stomach wobbles in opposition dressing rooms than Epsom salts.  No batsman has managed to conquer his presence at the bowling crease!
Captain Bravo, like Brian Lara in the past, used his bowlers well, with few overs in one spell, not allowing batsmen to become settled, while setting attacking fields.  They must keep that formula!
Now, though, defending World Cup Champions India must be favorites to win Champions Trophy 2013, if they keep form, fitness and finesse.  Their game against West Indies next Tuesday will tell tales!
Former Sri Lankan batsman, now commentator, Russell Arnold was correct; “India were marvelous!”  India were engulfing, outplaying even out-fielding the excellently-fielding Proteas!
Umesh Yadav is India’s most improved bowler.  That scything “snorter” – bouncer – that dismissed AB de Villers was well delivered.  Yadav’s range, skills, attitude and aptitude make him a stunning find!
1.87 meters (6’ 2″) tall, Yadav is almost a replica of slightly taller (6’ 3″) Munaf Patel, but puts much more effort into his similarly high, straight armed deliveries, than Patel.
Fast bowlers should almost always be built exactly this way; strong, rangy, aggressive, about that correct height too, with definite, evil intentions to batsmen!
Roach and the late great Malcolm Denzil Marshall are the obvious exception; relatively small, but wiry!
Australian Dennis Lillee, in my opinion, joint best – with Marshall and Pakistan’s Wasim Akram – fast bowlers of all time, has unearthed amazing Indian fast bowling talent at his academy there.
Another tall, spindly fast bowler, Ishant Sharma, now Yadav, and others too, including ill-fated Sreesanth, presently caught up in other situations, are testimony to Lillee’s diligence, persistence, ingenuity, and unbelievable knowledge of the art of teaching fast bowling.
It is one thing to be a great fast bowler; it is quite another altogether to be able to transcend that divide from player and teacher; to come down from that “perch”; to impart fast bowling skills well!
Impressive too has been the latitude that Lillee has been given by India to ensure that they produced good fast bowlers, since history always suggested that the sub-continent could only produce class spinners.
It also shows what can be produced when given clear directives and opportunities, and not be encumbered or disbarred by politics, idiotic power-hungry personnel, nepotism and cronyism.
“DK” has been outstanding for India with his productions of fast bowlers.  Yet, there is much more that these young Indian fast bowlers will still have to learn.
25 years old Yadav has played only nine Tests and eighteen ODI’s and has much potential.
Sharma, only 24, is the most accomplished; 51 Tests and 56 ODI’s; with more than 200 wickets altogether.
South Africa’s bowling attack was powder-puff soft, with no Dale Steyn, but India’s batsmen were “smoking”, talented Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan playing classically to set India’s 331.   Imagine if Sharma, Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Denesh Karthik, Dhoni and Suresh Raina all come off together!
So, Roach and Narine against Yadav and Ishant Sharma; then India’s absolutely dream batting line-up against Gayle, Samuels, both Bravos and Pollard; all sweet, mouth-watering stuff!
Boom!
When West Indies meets India on Tuesday, hold on tight for “total cricket”!  Enjoy!

 

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