Just when you thought the whole idea of the IPL player auction couldn't get more crazy...
it has. The actual auction has taken place and is full of such bizarre contradictions and extravagent spending that you would think that there is no poverty in India and that the streets are paved with gold.
Now before we begin with the analysis of this draft let's just take a moment to consider that the all conquering Australian team are supposedly touring Pakistan during the duration of the competition meaning they would have a limited influence on the tournament.
So let's start with Andrew Symonds - the $1.47million dollat man [insert cash register noises here]. Mr Symonds has been blessed with circumstances here. The big hitting awesome fielding Australian would be the perfect 20/20 cricketer. But with Australia going on tour no one would pay that amount of money from him right? Well his own incredible stupidity actually helped up his price. He claimed that he would not go to Pakistan even if the rest of his team went as it was too dangerous. So far so good. He then went on to say that it was his undrstanding that all international tours were on an invitational basis and that he would kindly decline the Cricket Australia offer to tour. He obviously hasn't read his Cricket Australia contract and my guess on the basis of those comments is that he isn't the smartest joker in the pack (and when we are talking Australian cricketers, that's not a very smart pack to begin with). His comments were lept upon those who also can't read with glee that he would be playing in India no matter what. So Hyderabad forked out $1.47 million dollars for his talents on the assumption that he would be playing for them no matter what only to find that in his Cricket Australia contract if he refused to go to Pakistan they could (would and should) stop him playing for the mercenary money in India.
If Symonds is a little dim then perhaps he gets some of it from his captain Ricky Ponting. In a press conference after the auction Ricky P claimed he was 'dissappointed' with getting 'only $400,000 ' in the auction. He wondere why that was - maybe his poor form around the time of the auction but he wondered aloud that maybe it was the Harbhajan Singh incident at the Sydney test though he noted his international teamate at the centre of it was now Mr $1.47million. Punter did some more pontificating on the reasons - he sais he's always been good at endorsements (A fact that I cannot deny as I have seen him whore hiimself out for ads for vitamins, deodurants, cars, phones, banks, fried chicken and oils - you know what I mean). BUT RICKY, baby, DO YOU HONESTLY THINK ANYONE IS GOING TO FEEL SORRY FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE ONLY GETTING $400,000 to play 40 days of cricket????? I tell you cricketers are going to get a bad name.
That is with the exception of Michael Clarke - A man who did put some level of principle above the money when he decided to spend time with family and go fishing with an aging father over the IPL. Someone has some morals. Also in that category is England's Andrew Flintoff who showed his true sportsmanship (not for the first time) by saying the England Cricket Board has always done 'alright by him'.
This is money driven madness and the stupidity of it can be seen when you take a look at young Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma - he has played in a handful of tests and one day internationals - sure the kid shows enormous promise BUT the 19-year old has been signed up for $1.01million!!!!!!!!! Stop and think about that folks - as a 19 year old he is going to make in 40 days of cricket what some entire villages in India make in a decade!! This is insanity and someone has to stand up and speak out about it. Wouldn't it be wonderful if somoene in the IPL showed they were only playing for the love of the game by donating half of their income to charity in the developed world??? Of course this is unlikely to happen, I'd like to see a program maybe where the relative cricket boards in each country take some of the players money and re-invest it into the game. So a new generation of Pontings, Tendulkars and Jayasuriyas can come through and endorse hamburgers and high calorie soft drinks for years to come.
So it's come to this
In what has to be a move for the detriment of the game cricketers are today being auctioned off to the new Indian Premier League - made up franchises, with made up uniforms playing a made up game to make cricket look and feel like football. The net result is going to be an end to international cricket.
The first thing I think you'll see go is the One Day form of the game - if you had to truncate the game of cricket then this is perfect, it takes roughly the equivalent time of a day's play at a test match and you will more often than not see 400 runs scored (and anything upto 600) in a day with plenty of wickets and great fielding. 20/20 you may if you are luck get to see the same amount of runs scored but there is little planning and stategy which means more comes down to luck and you have an equal chance of seeing a no contest. Which is far more boring than any one day match or any day of test cricket will ever be. I think this will also lead to the end of the one day cricket world cup which I would value more highly over a 20/20 world cup.
The next thing that 20/20 cricket will effect is the players - the results are already quite clear in Australia where the majority of the current playing squad have signed up - but more intriguingly, there are several recently retired players who are also signed up for this competition. My gut feeling is that the likes of Warne, McGrath and Gilchrist have taken the money and run from playing for their country - I know they will protest this but I think it's clear for all to see.
I think if cricket is to survive the ICC has to step in a regulate this form of the game - I know they have sanctioned this tournament and the IPL but with $56 million dollar sponsorship and a billion dollar TV rights package one wonders whether this is for the betterment of the game or the pockets of those involved at every level.
Personally I will try and keep away from watching this form of cricket (though being a cricket obsessive that might be difficult). My main problem with the game is it really comes down to luck and the skill of a batsman and the skill of a bowler are secondary to the manufactured excitement of seeing a ball going into or over the fence.
Today's auction will also see the end of any dignity the cricket playing community had - now reduced like farm animals at the yearling auctions the players only value will be financial, They will go chasing endorsements and advertising dollars and lose sight of why they gained that recognition in the first place - In Australia every summer we get subjected to more and more advertisements featuring cricketers, selling everything from Cars to phones, to deoderant and fried chicken. I fear we will see these clunkheads nearly 24/7 with this new competition and the further bestowing of demigod status. Anyone who has heard these players speak (especially in light of recent race controversies) should know that this is not a good idea. If I want to see badly behaved sportsmen getting payed ridiculous sums of money for a few hours entertainment then I will stick to the footy (which is at least much more entertaining than 20/20 cricket). Yes today's auction is the final resting point for the journey into money that cricket took under the guidance of the late Kerry Packer. It is a sad day for the game as 20/20 shows a complete lack of vision. Sure there will be players, officials, umpires and commentators telling you that this is definitely not the case - but they will be doing so with large bundles of cash in their pockets.
Only ten to fifteen years ago if the tail scored between fifty to a hundred runs, it was considered a successful wag. After all, the bowlers are meant to to bowl sides out and the batsmen score the runs. Right?!
Not so in today's game. You have batsmen who think they can bowl and bowlers who reckon they're batsmen. The demarcation of roles has become obscured. I'm no fan of batsmen assuming the role of a bowler, howerver, I don't have an issue with bowlers contributing valuable runs to the team's total. It gives a captain a sense of peace knowing if his side is five out it's not necessarily all out. The tail's contribution can mean the difference between a mediocre total, a competitive score and a winning one. We saw this evidenced in the recent Test series between Australia and India. The respective tails, at times, scored heavily.
Another benefit of tailenders who can bat being, the more time a bowler can spend in the middle he gets a better look at how and what the pitch is doing. This allows a bowler to reassess and, if necessary, make adjustments to his bowling plans. It's especially useful if your spearhead bats at eight, as does Brett Lee. If he can survive the early onslaught, it gives him enough time to formulate plans and, hopefully when the time comes, execute them.
So, I think, those who recognised the need for tailenders to improve their batting, deserve a pat on the back.
The extraordinary one-dayer between Australia and South Africa not so long ago has definitely shown how far one-day cricket has come since being introduced since the 70s. Today, to be the best bowler in the world you need to know how to bowl an impeccable line and length, but also to know how to bowl to batsman who wants to belt you over the fence no matter what. This is where a lot of bowlers get into trouble these days... Always being taught to bowl short of a good length, outside off stump has caused bowlers to find it awkward to deliberately bowl elsewhere, and therefore they get punished when the batting side are looking for some quick runs at the end of an innings. You might be like... 'So what?'. But when you the other team scoring 70 odd runs off just 6-10 overs you'll be wishing you'd bowled a bit tighter.
So how do you stop batsmen from scoring so quickly?
a) Pitch the ball up: Aim for the toes/base of middle and leg stump. The worst thing you probably do is tee the ball up off a nice bounce for the batsman to wack over the fence. Sure, you're no Glenn McGrath - but you'll at least get a couple landing perfectly at the toes (practice!), and if not they will be low full tosses which are pretty hard to get underneath.
b) Set the field: It's best that you set your field fairly spread out so that those potential boundaries can be cut down to ones and twos. Start off by having a deep mid-on and mid-off, deep cover, deep mid-wicket and deep fine leg. Soon you'll start to see where the batsman's favourite spots are.
c) Change it up: Try to avoid consistently bowling at the same pace. Sure it's easy to say, but a lot of bowlers neglect how important a good slower ball is. You want to keep the batsman guessing... this is probably one of the easiest ways to do it.
d) Take your catches: Pretty obvious. Catches win matches. A slogfest is usually perfect for practising your outfield catches in a real-match situation. Try to have your best fieldsmen (who can not only catch, but are also quick on their feet) in key positions in the outfield.
e) Sledge: A rather neglected ploy, but it gets batsmen cocky - enough to make them lose concentration.
Being run out is probably one of the worst ways you can be dismissed - why? It's because the fielding team has just scored a free wicket by just doing what they're supposed to be doing... stopping the ball. Run outs can be easily avoided - that is why they're annoying, especially when you're on the receiving end of a shocking call, or a non-existent one.
With cricket being a team game, it's no surprise that teamwork is an essential facet in winning matches. Not only is team work fundamental in the field, it is also definitely a massive factor when you're out there with one other team member with the bat. If you've got a batsman at the other end who either: a) Doesn't call whether to run or not properly or b) Doesn't call at all (so you just see him/her ran at you in silence) you're definitely asking for it. And if you're one of those batsmen yourself, I'm not surprised if every one else hates batting with you.
So for all you mutes or confused callers out there, here are the essentials:
1) Call loudly - there's no point calling a run when you're saying it as if the guy/girl at the other end has a sound amplification device stuck to his/her head. Make sure they can hear it. The best way is to almost yell.
2) The three calls - There's also no point in going into a deep conversation when calling a run. It's either 'Yes', 'No' or 'Wait'. Nothing else. And when you say 'yes' you go, and when you say 'no' there's no use running down to the other end. That's why there's 'wait'. This is used to let the other batsman know that there might be a run possible and to be ready to go if for instance, the ball pierces a small hole in the field. Then either a 'yes' or 'no' decision can be made. The batsman who strikes the ball normally calls this one as he/she knows how well they have struck it as soon as the ball leaves the bat.
3) Who calls when? - Two basic rules. If the ball ends up behind the batsman facing, the non-striker calls the run. If the ball ends up in front of the striking batsman, then most likely they will make the better call. Simple.
4) Running between wickets - Always make sure that you're facing the ball, whilst you are turning, and that you're taking a sneak peek at the ball when you're running. Also, there's no use keeping this information on the whereabouts of the ball to yourself, let your partner know how many runs that could be possible from the shot, and go from there. Try not to leave at full pace after turning, always have a quick look and assess the risk of the next run. If you've smacked the ball close to the boundary, there's no point in pondering over the second run when you know there's an easy three runs in it... just use your common sense.
Probably one of the best parts of the game is sledging. Actually, it can be a huge factor in the dismissal of a batsman, especially if he/she has a very low tolerance and a poor temper. Sledging has been around for ages, and is found in almost every team sport in the world. You only have to look at this year's World Cup Final to see how effective it is - sledging makes even the best players crack, especially whilst under pressure.
On the lighter side of things, sledging is fun, especially when you're playing against friends (either on the opposing side or the same as yours). However, at a professional level, sledging is an important skill to master as it could mean an easy wicket of a key batsman.
There are various methods of sledging, of which I myself have used effectively and have copped myself:
1) Skill sledging - Probably the most common sledge is to comment about the lack of talent/skill the batsman has. This is emphasised especially when the batsman has just played a poor shot or has missed the ball completely. Most batsmen will brush it aside, but consistent mistakes means that the batsman is having a hard time - so make him/her know about it.
2) Stupid sledging - Coming up with ridiculous lines such as 'this guy's got more leaves that a tree', 'more swings than a boxer', and even 'swinging like a rusty gate on a windy day', definitely gets a laugh every so often, even the batsman might have a giggle. You may be thinking, but that means the sledging method is ineffective, but laughing means that the batsman's focus in centred on your comment, not where it should be - the ball. So when you some time in the field, think of some really wacky and stupid lines to use.
3) Harsh sledging - Lines that absolutely nail the batsman. It may be about the way he/she bats, looks, gestures, etc. These comments are blunt and to the point. A terrific example would be. 'This guy can't bat for sh_t!' And yes, swearing does give it some effect, but it really isn't necessary - and tip: not a good idea to swear next to an umpire.
4) Personal sledging - Usually the last method of 'attack', especially when all other methods seem to be failing. Personal sledging is unsurprisingly comments made about the batsman's family, wife, girlfriend, etc. Anything that is excessively harsh and an area that is almost a never off the field. If a batsman doesn't crack after this, well you might as well just start sledging for the fun of it, or you may want to concentrate on supporting the bowler.
Handling sledging: Being able to handle these comments is a very, (and I stress), VERY important skill to have. Not only does it help on the cricket field, but in any competitive circumstances you find yourself in. The easiest way is to either ignore and not to take any comments to heart, otherwise you may find yourself swinging punches, or getting fired up for no reason - which will cost you your wicket, perhaps even a few matches on the sidelines for misconduct (if you're the overly aggressive type).
As you can see, sledging is a fundamental area of cricket, which perhaps has had a bad name over the years, but the most important thing to remember is that whatever is said on the field, stays on the field, and that any comments made are merely for the game's sake and should never be taken to heart.
With cricket being such a technically oriented game, many of us play down the necessity and fundamentality of having a strong mental game. It does surprise me than not many people associate sports psychology with cricket due to the fact that cricket is a game whihc requires so much concentration and focus, that any slip up can result in a mistake - which may mean that you will be dismissed or drop a catch, etc. Like all professional sports these days, sports psychology is a fact which is rarely not focused upon and fine tuned, but for the budding amateur playing on the weekend, one's mental game is normally neglected, but rather technique and physical play is accentuated.
Arousal is a concept which greatly affects performance in cricket (it is definitely a word not only confined to the bedroom). Under-arousal (low stimulation) pretty much means that you're disinterested and careless, thus opening yourself to mistakes mainly due to the fact that you 'couldn't care less' or 'couldn't be bothered'. This is someone a team normally dislikes. One over-aroused can be overly aggressive and excessively 'amped' up, and is caused by too much stress or pressure placed upon an individual. It typically results in nervousness, and in extreme cases, shivering, vomiting and restlessness. Optimal arousal is a point on the 'Inverted U Hypothesis' which suggests that with the right amount of stress (yes, we actually do need it otherwise we'll fall into under-arousal) and frame of mind, this level of optimal arousal can be achieved, and thus, we are at peak mental status.
But try this for instance, if went into bat with a negative frame of mind - ie. 'there's no way I'm going to score any runs' or 'I'm going to get out pretty quickly', or 'I don't really care what I do', the more likely that you will get out cheaply. But it also phases me how these people seem to be the ones who are the most agitated by their dismissal purely because it was stupid and unforgivable. This scenario also applies to when you find yourself underneath a high swirling ball - if you're thinking 'I might drop this', it's most likely you will. Then you've got the ones who tell themselves 'Don't get out' or 'I can't get out' thinkers. Of course, what happens... they get out for 2 or best case scenario they end up blocking the whole innings and manage to get 10 runs. This is what is known as the 'Intention and Irony Effect'. Much like if you're told not to think about sex, you're obviously going to think about sex no matter how hard you try not to - the more you think about not getting out the more chance you will.
So it leaves me to answer - What is the best way to stay in a positive frame of mind to enhance performance? Simple, when batting, try focusing on the playing the shot and focusing on the ball, that way you're channeling your thoughts on focusing on the immediate delivery and channel out any thoughts of getting out/negativity. Another technique which may work for some is what I call the 'cocky' technique. A relatively easy ploy which has you thinking that you're on top and nothing can stop you. This may backfire if you have an excessively large ego/aggressive character as you may become subjected to over-arousal which has been proven to significantly decrease performance.
Ultimately, having the right mental game seperates the best from the rest. You'll definitely notice that the coolest players perform the best, and even if they do make mistakes, they have the ability to bounce back. If need an example, just look at Justin Langer, or for a more popular choice - Roger Federer.
Like all team sports, the captain is responsible for the function of their side both on and off the field. In cricket, the captain plays a very active role in the 'playing' of the game - their decisions on the field can directly affect the outcome of the innings, thus bad decisions will lead to disaster and good ones will often lead to victory. Cricket captains, whether it be Ricky Ponting or your local club side usually have the most experienced and extensive knowledge about the game, as decisions must be made on the spot according to particular circumstances in the game. For instance, the captain must be able to determine when a field change is required, or to be able to set the right field for the particular batsman on strike. Also, the captain plays an active in selecting bowlers and the batting order of the innings - which again is another intergral facet in the game of cricket.
The captain must know when to attack or defend, and set appropriate fields or send in an appropriate batsman for the given situation. For example, a captain may send in a powerful hitter ahead of a more conventional batsman in order to increase the run rate. Also, he/she must be able simultaneously perform at a high level consistently, whilst also monitoring the progess of the team and opposition and make changes accordingly.
Some basic decisions a captain may make include:
a) Setting a defensive field: This sees the fieldsmen spread out on the field, with the majority positioned around the boundary in order to stop batsmen who are hitting the ball powerfully. This is usually the case when trying to restrict as many runs as possible; or when a batsman has been in for a long period of time and is timing the ball perfectly; or a designated hitter is sent in to bolster the run rate of the batting side.
b) Setting an attacking field: This sees the field come close to batsman, basically encircling him/her in order to create pressure and to force mistakes. This ploy is often used on batsmen who are struggling to score or have just come in to bat.
c) Sending in a nightwatchman: A nightwatchman is a lower-order batsman who is deliberately sent in late in the day in order to protect a top-order batsman from being dismissed before the end of play. A perfect example of a successful nightwatchman would be Jason Gillespie. Nightwatchmen are usually told to defend and normally have very solid defensive techniques. This may backfire the following day if the nightwatchman remains in, as the run rate will fall due to the lack of runs, or if the nightwatchman is dismissed before the end of day's play.
d) Sending in a 'pinch-hitter': Here, the captain sends in a powerful hitter in order to score quick runs. This usually occurs at the end of an innings in order to 'pinch' extra runs by hitting fours or sixes.
e) Declaring: A captain may decide to declare an innings (end an innings) before all batsmen are dismissed in order to achieve a result in the game. This typically occurs when a side has amassed a comfortable amount of runs, and continuing to bat will only give less time to bowl the chasing side out.
To add to this, the captain must also complete a captain's regular duties, such as sustaining team discipline and ensuring player's are mentally ready for performance.
So as you can see, cricket is not merely hitting a ball with a bat, it is a game of thought and intuition. The captain is one person who can influence whether or not a team will win or lose a cricket match - so the better the cricket mind, the better the captain and the better the side.
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