My News
28.06.08
The Times - Batsmen’s game won by bowlers
Graham Napier’s big hundred for Essex in the Twenty 20 Cup gave more ammunition for those who think that Twenty 20 is more and more a batsmen’s game. People forget that this is still a pretty new style and players are working out new tactics. Boundaries are shorter, bats are better and, as Napier showed on Tuesday in scoring an undefeated 152 off 58 balls, batsmen will have a go.
More and more scores will look ridiculous. I think that the Indian Premier League (IPL) has helped to raise standards because most of the world’s best players were over there, watching and learning from each other. Some of them have gone on to England and they will be rubbing off on the English guys.
But I believe that bowlers win 20-over matches. Rajasthan Royals won the IPL with five frontline bowlers in every game. That was a policy. And it is the same with Victorian Bushrangers in Australia, beaten once in three full years.
If you bowl first you can restrict the total and make life easier for your batsmen. If you don’t post a great score you have the ammunition to take wickets, the best way to slow the run-rate. The basics of the game hold true whatever the format.
Relying on part-time bowlers can be a mistake and this is one area where England can learn. Paul Collingwood seems to think that he can fill in with himself, Luke Wright and Ravi Bopara as a combined fifth bowler. Sometimes there may be no choice, but not in this case.
For years I put forward Dimitri Mascarenhas as a one-day player. Finally he was given the chance to prove himself and he came off. So it staggers me that he is not in there now. He is a finisher with the bat and can offer ten clever overs with the ball. He should be a regular.
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