cricket today
cricket today
Table of Contents
India’s cricket team has traditionally been a batting powerhouse, with many of the greatest batsmen to have ever played the game emerging from the country. But in today’s game, where cricketers need to increasingly adaptable and versatile, especially among batsmen there has been an increasing recognition of the importance of part-time bowlers. It is not just about offering more bowling options to the captain but about having extra depth and flexibility in the side. And now India’s bowling coach has spoken on it and given insights on how this should be used within the team.cricket today
### The Changing Dynamics of Modern Cricket
In modern day cricket, teams are on the lookout for players who can deliver in more than one department of the game. The advent of T20 cricket and it’s fast-paced and highly unpredictable nature has somewhat escalated that demand. Even in the longer forms of the game – ODIs and Tests, having batsmen who can roll their arm over gives the skipper more tactical options. It helps in keeping bowlers fresh, making use of conducive conditions and changing strategies quickly.cricket today
The Indian team, which has always boasted of a strong batting line up, has often grappled with the issue of the composition of its side and in particular the number of bowlers. While India traditionally has gone into a match with 5 specialist bowlers, inclusion of part time bowlers in the side will help in having more well rounded attention, reducing pressure on primary bowlers who otherwise risk breaking down and making the attack also more potent and unpredictable.cricket today
### The Role of Part-Time Bowlers
Part-time bowlers, usually batsmen who bowl part-time, have often played a vital role in filling the void or rather say the bridge between specialist bowlers and the rest of the team and have proved to be handy for several reasons.
Breaking Partnerships: A part-timer can be used as a surprise element to break a partnership, get batsmen out of their comfort zone. Generally, batsmen tend to take it easy when they see a part timer and tend to do something silly.
2. Balancing Workload: In a long game primary bowlers should be used cautiously and part-time bowlers can be used for 4 – 5 overs which will help the main bowler recover and bowl better in the coming spells.
3. Exploiting Specific Conditions: Some conditions, like a turning pitch or a slow outfield, can be tailor made for part-time bowlers. Their ability to tweak the ball or bowl slower ones can come in pretty handy and that may not be the case with a fast bowler or even a full-time spinner who bowls at the same pace.
Strategic Flexibility: The captain can change the dynamics of the game by using part-time bowlers as either a different type of attack or in combination with other bowlers to pose all sorts of problems to the batsmen.
The Path Forward: Developing Indian Batters into Effective Part-Time Bowlers
India’s head coach Ravi Shastri and bowling coach Bharat Arun have set the goals of introducing eight to ten overs from part-time bowlers and lowering the average number of overs a specialist bowler bowls in Tests.
It’s part of their strategy to win in Australia over the next two months, though desperation was apparent when India batted out 162.1 overs across two innings in a winning cause against Afghanistan last month. In February, after India went down 1-2 in a three-match series in South Africa despite taking all 60 wickets on offer, batting coach Sanjay Bangar spoke of how he and his fellow coaching staff
members had “pushed for investment” into helping batsmen become competent part-time bowlers. He didn’t use the word desperate, but then it was understood: They were that as well. Six months later against England, where Virat Kohli announced he expected to be tested by top-notch opposition having battered sub-par opposition last season (Sri Lanka), India’s first attempt with Hardik Pandya as fifth seamer lasted one Test match after he returned 3/66 and took a run-out each in three innings.
