By Javagal Srinath
It must have surprised the cricket world to see two Asian teams reach the finals. What’s more intriguing is that India winning 2007 ICC T20 world cup 2007 and now another subcontinent team on the verge of winning. Ironically, the T20 format was invented in England; tried and tested in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa much before India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, who are now poised to be the champions. It is interesting to delve deeper into the phenomenon of Asian countries adapting to this format better than anybody else. I will reason out the urgency and brevity of this format which has made this game more creative and hence suitable for the Asian bloc.
This game dominated by batsmen, strategies has called for ignoring the copybook style of cricket. Innovations like Cross bat shots, switch hits, scoop over the wicketkeeper are in. Defence, straight ball defence, body behind the ball, straight elbow and other traditional cricketing shots are out.
Creativity, Innovations and flair come naturally to the Asian batsmen. This may have lots to do with coaching styles everywhere. Coaches who never subscribed for creative shots will have to think beyond the coaching manuals. Traditional coaches at the grass root levels will have to differentiate techniques for varying cricketing formats. With T20 format being a huge success, the existing coaching books will have to undergo some serious changes.
In the sub-continents children are exposed to all kinds of cricket, school cricket, club cricket and largely gully cricket or tennis balls cricket. The tennis ball cricket is devoid of any coaching allowing the batsmen to innovate all kinds of strokes thus keeping creativity at its best. Technique and discipline are enforced only when they start playing the longer versions of the game imitating test matches and one-day internationals. At the same time rest of the world are seemingly caught up with structured and methodical way of introducing kids into cricket coaching. I guess Tennis ball cricket devoid of all coaching in some ways could be seen as the most natural way of playing the game without any influences or pre-conceive ideas. May be this is one dimension that the subcontinent players are able to invoke in T20 format to be ahead of the others.
Looking into the first Semis, if Afridi appeared largely responsible for Pakistan storming into the finals, it was Umar Gul’s Yorkers which made the difference in the end. Operating Umar Gul on the 17th and 19th over was a great bit of captaincy. Younis resisting to bring the main strike bowler Gul, till the fag end of the innings paid rich dividends. Bowling Yorkers take as lot out of a bowler. Gul, repeating Yorkers after yorkers with deadly accuracy, was my man of the match.
It is hard to be both creative and consistent but Dilshan has mastered his innovations. Dilshan was solely responsible for Sri Lanka’s win over West Indies in the second semi-finals. When rest of the batsmen struggled to score even double figures, Dilshan scored with ease only to reflect the confidence of the individual.
Looking into the finals, Pakistan team could be a dangerous team but Sri-Lanka is a brilliant side. Although finals could be any body’s game, majority feel Srilanka has the edge.
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