Length does matter !

A Question for Cricket Enthusiasts, especially Indians...

Who was the person most responsible for India's big total [370 / 4] at Dhaka ?

A] Virendar Sehwag ?
B] Virat Kohli ?
C] Team effort ?
D] Shakib Al Hassan ?

All have roles.

A] You don't score 175 every day, especially in ODI World Cup.
B] His 100 was faster that that of Viru.
C] But for Sreesanth, everyone did their share. The team did do well.
D] Winning toss and inviting the strongest batting unit to bat first.
    [Well Ganguly has company from across the Eastern border]

But the real answer is...

E] Rubel Hossein !

Okay, don't scoff at me. Agreed the 21 year old was the most economical Bangladesh bowler and seemed to have kept Sehwag quiet early on. So why ?

Look at this: Sehwag was peppered with short pitched bowling by Rubel and Co. He almost bowled only that stuff to Viru. This actually infuriated Viru and made him more determined. He cut his 'Upar Cut' off and decided to bat almost 50 overs. It definitely made the difference.

You can't keep Sehwag from Sehwagging. You just have to get him out. If he bats more than 40 overs, he will score big. You are not likely to get someone out to a short ball when he just keeps ducking and knows the bowler can't go on and on with that stuff.

Bowlers will have to device new strategies with Viru and also with Team India. Pathan has already showed this and against better bowling attacks. What worked in 2007 and in T-20 World Cups till last year seems to have run its run. Time to change the length, because length does matter !







S-Pun Doctor