By Anil Kumble
Having all the 22 yards at your disposal as also the entire field in your vision is a whole lot different from watching the action on a small screen in front of you.Having to comment on whats happening on that screen only is a tough ask. That is the first lesson I have learnt inside the commentary box.
Also getting used to a whole lot of stats thrown at you on the screen and picking only the ones relevant to what you are saying takes some doing, I can assure you. Multi-tasking while you are actually speaking is quite a challenge. But I know it is only a question of getting used to it and here the help that I am getting from my co-commentators is most useful.
On the plus side, and it is a big plus, the nice, warm commentary box is certainly the place to be, what with the English weather being quite chilly at the moment.
Whatever the chill, the Indian team is red hot, thats for sure. I know they were nervous before their first match against Bangladesh, who as we all know can be a surprise package.
Bangladesh can shock too as their defeat against Ireland on Monday showed. They are out of the World Cup and this wasnt expected. Before the match though, Ireland did look a very determined lot even as Bangladesh seemed to be a bit on the edge. It reflected in the result didnt it, with Ireland making it to the Super Eight stage.
Coming back to the Indians, their nervousness was understandable. Being defending champions brings its own problems. And no matter how many practice matches you play or how many practice matches you win, they count for nothing. Its only the real thing that matters. To their credit, they did get off to a good start but the difference was clearly Yuvraj. Before he came in and took off, India seemed headed for a par score of 150-160 but Yuvi took it away from Bangladesh. With the bowlers backing up the batting, the winning start and a place in the next stage was ensured.
I was a bit surprised though to see two spinners being fielded butnot even for a momentam Icomplaining. With Sehwag absent, the Indians went in for five bowlers and thus the second spinner got a look in. And, I for one, liked the look of Pragyan. The young man has quickly learnt that in the T20 format, a spinner has to slow the ball down. That combined with the tennis ball bounce of the Nottingham track did the trick.
There was no trick to Chris Gayles batting though and it was all treat. His innings against Australia showed how just one man can take the game away from a team in this format. No matter how good the bowlers were, how fast they, Gayle had his answer.
Gayles knockand England qualifying for the next round a day later, will have served to keep the English crowd in good cheer. It always a helps a tournament when the host team progresses.
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