© Shailesh Nigam, Varun Khanna (for respective articles)
So, Pakistan are the new world champions of T20 cricket (or chaddi cricket, as my friend & co-blogger Varun would call it).
Did they deserve to win? I think they did, despite my being an Indian who would be the most unlikely supporter of anything Pakistani. Though I can also have a last laugh by saying in the same breath that India beat Pakistan in this very World Cup even before the first official ball was bowled in the championship. So, we’ve vanquished the eventual victors, and by that very logic are better than them. However, I do not wish to steal their thunder, and for once I will applaud them for their achievement.
The pre-tournament favourites for me were South Africa, Sri Lanka and India (not necessarily in the same order). However, there were other teams who gave two hoots to what I thought and came to the party. Both West Indies & Pakistan showed that they were hungry and ready to play big daddy. Amongst the early favourites, the South Africans did reach the semis but choked at that stage as they so often do (maybe they should get an automatic bypass to the finals the next time they qualify for finals in a championship, and then maybe they can lift a cup). Both Australia (who weren’t in anybody’s reckoning despite being the best team otherwise – I know I am playing with peril by saying this, but no arguments please) & India (the defending champs) withered away in the early stages to set up the final clash between Sri Lanka & Pakistan. Finally, the champion is a country that didn’t just deserve to win; it ‘needed’ to win badly.
The two finalists were nations whose cricketing destiny seems to be intertwined ever since the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore on 4th of March, 2009. Pakistan has been the pariah of cricket ever since. That they have been reduced to becoming touring cricketers, who are now forced to embark on a journey every time they want to play international cricket, since no nation wants to tour the terror-ridden Pakistan, has meant that they’ve not had too much going for them for some time now. They did need something to revive them, and for sure this victory is going to do wonders to the sport and the general feel-good factor in the country.
Sports has a way of creating a mood across any nation, and it finally reflects in the economy & general behavior of people. Is it because the people are generally happy after the victory, prone to partying & spending on self, family & friends? Or is it merely coincidental? Historic evidence suggests that every time Brazil has won the football world cup, their economy has received a huge boost. Indian cricket (and Indian confidence) really started looking up post the 1983 world cup win. When Italy won the FIFA Cup in 2006, for months it seemed that the nation was forever in a celebratory mood, and the economy went into 5th gear. Since it has happened so many times to so many nations, it can’t just be written off as a coincident. And I do hope this victory does something similar to Pakistan – they really need to have something to rejoice about. They need to come out of their closet and become a part of the developing world where terrorism has no place. They need to bask in the glory of what they have achieved, and not bicker over what was never theirs. They need to shun violence & hatred, and embrace friendship & goodwill towards others. They need to be seen as people who one can be friends with. History has given Pakistan an opportunity, and as a neighbour I do hope they grab this one.
Showing posts with label south africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label south africa. Show all posts
Monday, June 22, 2009
Thursday, September 13, 2007
ICC Twenty20 World Cup - spare a thought for the bowlers
The ICC Twenty20 World Cup began yesterday in South Africa amid grand fanfare. A new form of cricket that is meant to provide wholesome entertainment to spectators – does it sound like Bournvita (wholesome nourishment for kids)? Who cares – so long as it tastes good!
So, what are the ingredients of this bottleful of wholesome entertainment? A bagful of pinch-hitters – javelin chuckers who can hurl anything beyond 80 yards most welcome; an army of fast legs, safe hands and good arms – Asafa Powell (the new world record creator at 9.74 seconds – he already held it – for the 100m sprint), brick-passers who work in building construction & discus throwers take notice; an orgy of masochistic bowlers who love being hit out of the park – dads teaching their little ones to bat, please stand up and take a bow; all added together, mixed well & bottled into well-packed teams consisting of an ocean’s eleven that wants to be the world’s most famous recipe for success in this colourful menu of picture-perfect grounds, cheering & jeering crowds, and cheerleaders who go berserk with their pelvic movements every time a four or a six is hit (surely, Michael Jackson’s career could see a new lease of life). That is what conjures up this alluring meal that is being dished out to cricket lovers across the globe. And the sweet dish – well, when the actual match seems better than highlights, who needs a sweet dish?
I will not reflect upon the inaugural match between South Africa & West Indies yesterday, but for mentioning the fact that Chris Gayle became the first cricketer to hit a century in this form of the game, at a scoring average of 200%+. I am sure that this is only the beginning, and we will see many more in times to come. When a team scores more than 200 runs in 20 overs and still loses (as is what happened to West Indies yesterday), you know it is time to bid a farewell to bowlers. Surely, this species is on the verge of extinction, and the poachers are the world’s cricket governing body and spectators who bring in the moolah.
When people love to see a bowler being taken to the cleaners by a batsman and cheer every four & six, you know that this format is about the skill of tactful & hard hitting batsmen who send the fielders for a leather hunt (both inside & outside the stadium). When somebody like Shaun Pollock goes for over 50 runs in 4 overs, you seriously wonder why should he be willing to torment himself at this age and after such glorious achievements! An economy rate of 8.00 runs per over seems like dream bowling in a match of this sort. So, why will good bowlers play this game – this will only result in them slowly deciding not to participate in such matches. And make it the sole domain of batsmen who can hit big, batsmen who can-also-bowl and all-rounders only. McGrath would be glad that he retired in good time.
As I watched the run riot at the New Wanderers yesterday, I wanted to spare a moment of pity for the bowlers. And I started thinking about how we can improve this game and make it good for the bowlers too, and ensure that we don’t lose out on seeing them on the field (and not in commentary boxes) in this format. I have come up with 2 basic suggestions that could go a long way in improving things as they exist. I am not talking about fielding rule changes or batting affecting bowling, but about changing some rules regarding bowling only that should see great bowlers still wanting to participate.
Suggestion 1: Like a free hit given to the batsman after every no ball, the bowler should be given a free hit after every wicket. This should mean that the batsman cannot score in any which way on that ball apart from a 4 or a 6. This will make it more lively from both the bowler’s and the batsman’s perspective. The batsmen would try to hit out and could get out. Or, he would try to defend, giving some respite to the bowlers and helping his economy figures. Also, on this free hit ball, the batsman can be declared out for failing to connect with the ball – watch the fireworks if this happens!
Suggestion 2: This one is more radical, and I believe also more potent. Every time a wicket falls, the over should automatically come to an end, and the next over should start. This will ensure that batsmen are more cautious for the first 3 balls and take risks on the last 3 balls of the over, giving a fair chance to the bowler to experiment in the first 3 balls and take wickets.
Not that I have a say in world cricket policy matters, but as a spectator & a lover of this glorious sport, I want to see good bowlers also, and would not refrain from raising my voice against those who want to kill the fine art of bowling. Howzzat!
So, what are the ingredients of this bottleful of wholesome entertainment? A bagful of pinch-hitters – javelin chuckers who can hurl anything beyond 80 yards most welcome; an army of fast legs, safe hands and good arms – Asafa Powell (the new world record creator at 9.74 seconds – he already held it – for the 100m sprint), brick-passers who work in building construction & discus throwers take notice; an orgy of masochistic bowlers who love being hit out of the park – dads teaching their little ones to bat, please stand up and take a bow; all added together, mixed well & bottled into well-packed teams consisting of an ocean’s eleven that wants to be the world’s most famous recipe for success in this colourful menu of picture-perfect grounds, cheering & jeering crowds, and cheerleaders who go berserk with their pelvic movements every time a four or a six is hit (surely, Michael Jackson’s career could see a new lease of life). That is what conjures up this alluring meal that is being dished out to cricket lovers across the globe. And the sweet dish – well, when the actual match seems better than highlights, who needs a sweet dish?
I will not reflect upon the inaugural match between South Africa & West Indies yesterday, but for mentioning the fact that Chris Gayle became the first cricketer to hit a century in this form of the game, at a scoring average of 200%+. I am sure that this is only the beginning, and we will see many more in times to come. When a team scores more than 200 runs in 20 overs and still loses (as is what happened to West Indies yesterday), you know it is time to bid a farewell to bowlers. Surely, this species is on the verge of extinction, and the poachers are the world’s cricket governing body and spectators who bring in the moolah.
When people love to see a bowler being taken to the cleaners by a batsman and cheer every four & six, you know that this format is about the skill of tactful & hard hitting batsmen who send the fielders for a leather hunt (both inside & outside the stadium). When somebody like Shaun Pollock goes for over 50 runs in 4 overs, you seriously wonder why should he be willing to torment himself at this age and after such glorious achievements! An economy rate of 8.00 runs per over seems like dream bowling in a match of this sort. So, why will good bowlers play this game – this will only result in them slowly deciding not to participate in such matches. And make it the sole domain of batsmen who can hit big, batsmen who can-also-bowl and all-rounders only. McGrath would be glad that he retired in good time.
As I watched the run riot at the New Wanderers yesterday, I wanted to spare a moment of pity for the bowlers. And I started thinking about how we can improve this game and make it good for the bowlers too, and ensure that we don’t lose out on seeing them on the field (and not in commentary boxes) in this format. I have come up with 2 basic suggestions that could go a long way in improving things as they exist. I am not talking about fielding rule changes or batting affecting bowling, but about changing some rules regarding bowling only that should see great bowlers still wanting to participate.
Suggestion 1: Like a free hit given to the batsman after every no ball, the bowler should be given a free hit after every wicket. This should mean that the batsman cannot score in any which way on that ball apart from a 4 or a 6. This will make it more lively from both the bowler’s and the batsman’s perspective. The batsmen would try to hit out and could get out. Or, he would try to defend, giving some respite to the bowlers and helping his economy figures. Also, on this free hit ball, the batsman can be declared out for failing to connect with the ball – watch the fireworks if this happens!
Suggestion 2: This one is more radical, and I believe also more potent. Every time a wicket falls, the over should automatically come to an end, and the next over should start. This will ensure that batsmen are more cautious for the first 3 balls and take risks on the last 3 balls of the over, giving a fair chance to the bowler to experiment in the first 3 balls and take wickets.
Not that I have a say in world cricket policy matters, but as a spectator & a lover of this glorious sport, I want to see good bowlers also, and would not refrain from raising my voice against those who want to kill the fine art of bowling. Howzzat!
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