I learn man. I come here to learn. What a marvelous post. There is much to learn here. In the last few outings, ever so slightly, I feel Siraj is losing his head a bit. Also also also, I too absolutely love the way Shami runs. He has brought back the joy of ‘nain-sukh’ while fast bowlers prepare to decimate. Khoob jiyo man, this was a beautiful post.
No Sarthak, Thank you! I can live on these lines for 2 days.
After the release comes the craft. As the ball leaves his hand, its alignment is a picture of geometric perfection, as if hand-drawn into the video frame by a painter. There is a subtle, and often late, movement in the air, the direction of which the batter can, at best, take a calculated guess at. The ball finishes with a zip off the pitch, jubilant at completing a journey directed by an artist. I wonder if the opposition batters feel like clapping sometimes.
Shami vs Siraj is a fascinating saga! One way to bring him in is to drop Kuldeep for Ashwin because Ash brings batting depth. Kuldeep the bowler will be missed though, but after the NZ match, I see how batters will target Kuldeep.
The other perennial question for me is why our batters don't bowl. As always, there is a (structural) reason it seems. With the introduction of two white balls and fielding restrictions, the incentive and conditions for batters to bowl has completely gone away. Sachin could bowl because the laws of cricket favoured that. (Heard this explanation from DK.)
Batters did target Kuldeep, but he came back strong. On current form, he is India's most aggressive option in the middle overs and someone Rohit-Dravid deeply admire. He is staying for now.
The laws re: two new balls haven't helped, but India's insistence on all-round skills has also changed I feel. It has a lot to do with the increased value of exceptional single-skilled players. And a bit of subservience from coaches and selectors who did not put enough pressure on top talents to be multi-dimensional :)
I learn man. I come here to learn. What a marvelous post. There is much to learn here. In the last few outings, ever so slightly, I feel Siraj is losing his head a bit. Also also also, I too absolutely love the way Shami runs. He has brought back the joy of ‘nain-sukh’ while fast bowlers prepare to decimate. Khoob jiyo man, this was a beautiful post.
Thank you so much man :)
No Sarthak, Thank you! I can live on these lines for 2 days.
After the release comes the craft. As the ball leaves his hand, its alignment is a picture of geometric perfection, as if hand-drawn into the video frame by a painter. There is a subtle, and often late, movement in the air, the direction of which the batter can, at best, take a calculated guess at. The ball finishes with a zip off the pitch, jubilant at completing a journey directed by an artist. I wonder if the opposition batters feel like clapping sometimes.
Wow! Very well written Sarthak!
Thank you, Sanjay!
This is a lovely piece, such a joy to read!
Thank you, Karthik!
Loved it, Sarthak!
Thanks Arshad!
Shami vs Siraj is a fascinating saga! One way to bring him in is to drop Kuldeep for Ashwin because Ash brings batting depth. Kuldeep the bowler will be missed though, but after the NZ match, I see how batters will target Kuldeep.
The other perennial question for me is why our batters don't bowl. As always, there is a (structural) reason it seems. With the introduction of two white balls and fielding restrictions, the incentive and conditions for batters to bowl has completely gone away. Sachin could bowl because the laws of cricket favoured that. (Heard this explanation from DK.)
Batters did target Kuldeep, but he came back strong. On current form, he is India's most aggressive option in the middle overs and someone Rohit-Dravid deeply admire. He is staying for now.
The laws re: two new balls haven't helped, but India's insistence on all-round skills has also changed I feel. It has a lot to do with the increased value of exceptional single-skilled players. And a bit of subservience from coaches and selectors who did not put enough pressure on top talents to be multi-dimensional :)