Batting takes a Beating

By Gulu Ezekiel

The biggest change from IPL Season I and II has been in the batting on display.
It is remarkable that it was not till the 30th game of Season II when Rajasthan Royals raced to 211 for 4 against Punjab XI Kings on Tuesday that the 200-run mark was crossed for the first time.
At the exact same stage last year in India, there had been seven totals of 200-plus. And while only Delhi Daredevils’ AB De Villiers has reached three figures this time so far—though Chennai Super Kings’ Suresh Raina came agonizingly close--at the half-way mark in 2008, there had been three individual centuries, including Brendon McCullum’s barnstorming 158 not out in the opening match of the tournament.
The major factor behind these relatively low scoring contests is of course the pitch conditions in South Africa.
While last year the likes of Swapnil Asnodkar made waves with their batting on flat Indian tracks, this time around the younger lot have been outsmarted by the veterans with their superior technique and vast experience.
Cricket at all levels has always been a batsman’s game, more so in limited overs cricket. But while in the 50-over variety, tall scoring matches have often been boring, in 20/20 it is the batsmen and their big hitting that draws in the crowds and the viewers.
It was at Johannesburg in 2006 that the cricket world was stunned when both Australia and South Africa crossed 400 runs for the first time in the history of 50-over ODIs. But most batting records in international cricket tend to be set in sub-continental conditions.
Australia and South Africa are the only two nations in which the Indian Test team have yet to win a series, though in the latter case the first tour came only as recently as 1992.
The South African season had come to a close by the time the IPL shifted base and the wear-and-tear on the wickets means Season II is destined to favour the bowlers.

www.sportshero.com (6/5/09)