Ten batsmen and a keeper

After the past few days of mayhem, I’m led to recall the words of the late, great Bill O’Reilly. “All you need for one day cricket is ten batsmen and a wicket keeper.” Of course, the Tiger intended these words as criticism. O’Reilly was possibly the first and almost certainly the most ardent hater of one day cricket. I believe that “the pyjama game” was coined by O’Reilly. While this week’s games and teams have taken the shape of O’Reilly’s jibes, with Daniel Vettori (two Test centuries) batting at ten, I think it’s great. In my opinion, the last two games of the Chappell Hadlee Trophy were one day cricket as it should be played.

Sometimes, when One Day cricket is criticised, the detractors lose sight of what the game is. Perspective beings balance and the truth is that one day cricket to a large extent saved cricket. One day cricket is about revenue – cricket for the masses means money for the coffers. The money brought in by one day cricket allows Test cricket to be played without the burden and pressure of financial demands. While it is true that Test cricket on the whole is in a healthy state in its own right, this not always and will not always be the case. I look at it a little like an artist who produces and sells pieces that are not really his true love or style but they pay the bills. Which means he can concentrate on what he really enjoys, even if that doesn’t pay the bills. The idealists may describe that as selling your soul. The pragmatists may look at it is as being sensible.

The last two matches had the main thing required in a one day match – a close finish. It also had runs galore – over 1,300 in fact. And it seems to me that there is something more exciting about a high scoring close finish than a low scoring finish. True, there have been some thrilling low scoring finishes over the years (mostly involving Michael Bevan), but I for one, like to see the ball going over the fence. And that happened 21 times on Saturday alone. It seems to be the same in golf – fans like lots of birdies and low scores – but if you see a tournament where the winner is 22 under, there is an outcry, especially from ex-players, that the game is being made too easy. At least in cricket we have a recourse – maybe so – but that’s why we have Test cricket.

It’s all history now but I have a few observations about the matches.

Symonds hit 50 from 16 balls in going from 100 to 150. There can’t have been too many quicker 50’s. Shahid Afridi holds the record for 0 to 50, which is 17 balls – amazing for a standing start.

After taking 3-5 from six overs and having the Kiwis quaking in the boots, Brett Lee slumped to 1-80 from ten, including an over that must have set a new record for stupidity. The 49th over had a beamer that was fended for four (and was called a no-ball), a bouncer that was called a wide and a no-ball for three in the circle (not really Lee’s fault). But still it didn’t quite cost his team the match.

New chum Lewis, went from the ice man to the vanilla slice man, going for 20 runs from the 49th over on Saturday. I find it hard to believe that Lewis and Johnson are considered better than all of Gillespie, Kasprowicz and Bichel. I’m sure the selectors are looking to the future but how far do you go before falling back to the faithful. I saw a promising young quick down at the Oval on Saturday. Perhaps he is a chance.

Hussey’s average in ODIs is now 151. Of course it is silly but he has made 604 runs, with five fifties and the runs are coming at a rate of 100.66 per 100 balls . His 88 on Saturday from just 56 balls was sensational. He went from 37 from 40 balls to 88 from 56 balls – 51 runs from 16 balls. While we are having some fun, let’s not forget that he is averaging 120 in Tests.

And of course, congratulations to the Kiwis for setting a new record run-chase with their successful 332.

World round up: England and Pakistan managed to rack up almost 600 the other night as England triumphed. They are doing battle at the moment in the 2nd ODI. And Sri Lanka and India are playing the second Test. Tendulkar became the first man to score 35 Test centuries – shall we say a, er, new record. And Kumble who keeps on going, took another “six for” as India hold a handy 246 run lead with six second innings wicket in hand. Murali of course, took a common place “7 for” and Irthan Pathan is proving to be a very useful cricketer. His bowling has come along in leaps and bounds and having made a first innings duck batting at eight, opened the second innings and made 93!

Hail to the Chief

Pakistan had several star performers during their recently concluded successful series against England. But one man stood above the rest and fittingly, it was the Pakistan skipper himself, the man mountain, Inzamam-ul-Haq. Shoaib was sensational, Salman Butt shone and Yousuf came through big time but for consistency and inspiration, look no further than big Inzi.

Inzamam made 431 runs at 107.75 with two centuries and three fifties. Top score of 109 and lowest score of 53. He was dismissed just twice in the final two Tests, being run out on both occasions. Not bad from a man who, despite a poor showing in the recent Super Test, despite jokes about his size, lack of speed and appalling running between wickets, has nothing to prove. In 105 Tests, Inzamam has scored just over 8000 runs at 51.61 with a top score of 329. Since taking over the captaincy, he has averaged just under 63.

It’s hard to believe that Pakistan has dispensed with England so empathically. Surely this is not the same team that was hammered in Australia less than twelve months ago. But it is more or less is. The team that met Australia in the first Test in Perth included such useful players as: Salman Butt, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar and Danish Kaneria. Abdul Razzaq has fallen away and Yousuf Youhana has changed his name but that aside, all of those afore mentioned played significant parts in defeating England. What’s the difference? The venue.

One also wonders whether England may have struggled to focus after the euphoria of regaining the Ashes. England would have been very keen to win the series – to really push for the unofficial tag as the best team in the world, they need to match Australia and win on the sub continent. While it is true that they suffered at the hands of injury and personal dramas, one could not help wondering if there was a touch of what is known in Rugby League circles as “end of season syndrome” (ESS). This is more than just “let down”. In years gone by, ESS occurred when the premiership winning team from the ARL competition travelled to Britain to play their British counter part. This took place shortly after the conclusion of the Australian season and the result was almost always victory to the less fancied British club. This was usually attributed to most of the Australian’s still having a blood alcohol level that would see them imprisoned, should they sit behind the wheel of a car.

However it happened, Pakistan rockets up the world Test rankings from 7th to 4th while England sheds some points. If India can account for Sri Lanka (which seems unlikely given the inclement weather), India will go to number two. As if any of that actually matters.