There is something about the straight-line no-frills bowlers that I don’t understand. These are the guys who are the most consistent of the lot and they keep things simple by bowling a tight line and length. Their variations are fractionally slower ones, and ones that move away ever-so slightly. They cost about 5 runs an over or thereabouts and usually are not in the thick of things per se. They pick up maybe a wicket or two per innings.
Are these the unsung heroes of One-Day cricket? Why isn’t there talk about the incredible value that these simpletons bring to the Cricket field? Munaf and Ravinder Jadeja are the two recent such bowlers that India have produced. And, both I think have earned great confidence from their Captain. However, both have managed to swing in and out of the Indian side. Jadeja eventually crushed under the weight of his ordinary batting performances, and the continuing inability to bat in tough situations down the order just negated the incredible value he brings with his bowling. These are not the guys who turn the ball a mile, or bang in swinging Yorkers (but then who does in India?).
In short, this breed of bowlers are not the rings-and-bells trigger-happy Clint Eastwood’s of International Cricket. They don’t have blond streaks, tattooed arms or rocker-hair. And hence, alas, they are never the headline-makers until they produce a single-handed match-winning performance. But we fail to understand that the bells-and-whistles with most other characters come at a cost of high volatility.
With the exception of Zaheer, I can’t recall a single Indian bowler who has consistently produced impact-full bowling performances in the last year or so. Munaf has a career economy rate of less than 5, and has an incredible average of under-30. This is a record that is better than most other bowlers that have made the rounds recently not just in India, but internationally. And yet, Munaf can never feel assured of a place in the Indian side. And Munaf is just a name in a long list of misfits like Scott Styris, Angelo Mathews and others who are never ‘talked about’ for their bowling, that is consistent, effective and trite all at the same time.
What is it that makes us fascinated with bells and whistles so much that we fail to see the rudimentary building blocks that produce great wins?
Blow hot-blow cold Firepower over plain old bland consistency? What are we thinking?
Are these the unsung heroes of One-Day cricket? Why isn’t there talk about the incredible value that these simpletons bring to the Cricket field? Munaf and Ravinder Jadeja are the two recent such bowlers that India have produced. And, both I think have earned great confidence from their Captain. However, both have managed to swing in and out of the Indian side. Jadeja eventually crushed under the weight of his ordinary batting performances, and the continuing inability to bat in tough situations down the order just negated the incredible value he brings with his bowling. These are not the guys who turn the ball a mile, or bang in swinging Yorkers (but then who does in India?).
In short, this breed of bowlers are not the rings-and-bells trigger-happy Clint Eastwood’s of International Cricket. They don’t have blond streaks, tattooed arms or rocker-hair. And hence, alas, they are never the headline-makers until they produce a single-handed match-winning performance. But we fail to understand that the bells-and-whistles with most other characters come at a cost of high volatility.
With the exception of Zaheer, I can’t recall a single Indian bowler who has consistently produced impact-full bowling performances in the last year or so. Munaf has a career economy rate of less than 5, and has an incredible average of under-30. This is a record that is better than most other bowlers that have made the rounds recently not just in India, but internationally. And yet, Munaf can never feel assured of a place in the Indian side. And Munaf is just a name in a long list of misfits like Scott Styris, Angelo Mathews and others who are never ‘talked about’ for their bowling, that is consistent, effective and trite all at the same time.
What is it that makes us fascinated with bells and whistles so much that we fail to see the rudimentary building blocks that produce great wins?
Blow hot-blow cold Firepower over plain old bland consistency? What are we thinking?
2 comments:
So in your opinion, what is it that cricketers like Munaf are missing? They are talented in what they do and give satisfactory results almost every time,yet they are not the favorites!
Also, what do you refer as "bells and whistles"?
Bells and whistles in my mind are the variations, dismissals as well as general shenanigans. A world class batsman contorted in mid air is talked about as the dismissal of the century, even though it might have come on the back of, and is followed by, a string of nothing performances. Nothing wrong with giving a delivery its due credit, but a bowler can't be judged on the basis of such brilliant flashes that are too few and too far apart.
Second, the amount of chatter bowlers can produce with the sledges, blond hair and tattoos shouldn't eclipse the nondescript bowlers who turn in consistent performances, chip away as they do, but rarely produce balls of the century.
These guys get barely any media/public attention, subdued appreciation of their performances and a position in the national side that is eternally held in doubt.
And after all, a career economy of 4.75ish and a below-30 average is certainly ahead of the curve and a dozen notches above satisfactory, but the fan perspective for such bowlers is still that of a non-favorite who produces satisfactory results.
What is the value of bland consistency in the disco-theque version of Cricket that we experience today?
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