We played the first, of many, one-off T20’s of the 2012 season. This one was against the Grafton Tigers (Grafton Cricket Club). The match was scheduled for an 8 AM, but our kit arrived a few minutes late. That resulted in a reduced 18 overs a side affair.

We posted 71/7 in our 18 overs, with Yashwanth top scoring with 34. The Grafton Tigers chased down their target of 72 in just under 16 overs, losing about 3-4 wickets in the process. Scorecards don’t reveal the entire story, and this is one of those occasions. The match was much tighter and the scorecard doesn’t throw light on the drama.

It was the first practice match of the season, and I had the honor of captaining the team. The loss hurts, but the lessons it taught are priceless. It was, after all, the first practice match of the season. I hope we apply the lessons learned towards our success in the upcoming season – MPL and NECA

1) Field placements.
I couldn’t get the field placements right for each bowler. I felt that two to three fielders at times were placed in positions where the ball was never hit to, or would never make it. Two to three out of nine fielders, bowler and wicket-keeper apart of course, is a significant number. Getting the field placements right is crucial and must change for each bowler, based on his style of bowling, his line and lengths, his strengths and weaknesses. Getting this right could result in saving 10-15 runs. Most bowlers tend to stick with the field that was in place for the previous over. Each bowler, should make the necessary adjustments in the field. The captain must ensure of this by talking to the bowler at the start of the over or spell. The hard-tennis-ball that we play with is a unique thing. It doesn’t quite travel the same way, and in the same angles, as the leather ball does.

2) End of the innings bowlers.
Captains need to know their bowlers well. Some bowlers prefer to bowl out in the first 10-15 overs out of the 20, while some others are just at home while bowling at the end. A team needs two to three bowlers who can bowl towards the end of the innings, or in a pressure situation. Building pressure, at the start of the inning, while bowling, is easier as compared to maintaining the pressure. A captain needs to preserve overs of specific bowlers not just for the end of the inning, but also for specific batsmen in the opposition.

3) Batting
While batting, be it setting a target, or chasing, it is crucial and critical to pace the inning. An ideal target to set when batting first, in a T20 match, is around 100. A sub-85 score needs a tight bowling display, combined with good fielding. A target in excess of 95 certainly puts the pressure on the team chasing.
Posting a 100 runs inside the 20 overs needs a plan. The plan calls for a well-paced inning. You need to get to around 45 in the first 10 – for no more than the loss of three wickets – which in turn means a start of around 20 in 5 overs.  This doesn’t require sending a pinch-hitter to open – we need batsmen who won’t take long to get set, will lay a good foundation for rest of the inning.
The knowledge on which batsmen are good at rotating the strike, at scoring the big shots, have temperament to keep a cool head when the match gets tight, are all important factors. A successful captain stays on top of this. Talent alone doesn’t guarantee a win.

4) The tennis ball we play with doesn’t travel on the lush fields that we play on. You may get a few two’s if the ball is hit into the gap, but singles are the easiest, and most frequent scoring options. Keep in mind that the ball is difficult to pick up in the thick lush grass. It isn’t an easy task for a quick, clean, pick-up and throw. Many tight singles that we don’t take are actually run scoring opportunities wasted/lost. Hit the gym, get in shape, sprint.
Rotate the strike, rotate the strike, rotate the strike. Target getting 4 singles an over. Manage that and the lose balls will follow. Dispatch the lose balls and the pressure is squarely on the opposition.

5) Lastly, I have to bring up what has been our achilles heel. We need to get a hold on extras. We concede anywhere between 15-20 extras an inning. We’ve got to cut down on this. No freebies, enough of the generosity. Atiti devo bava doesn’t apply in this case.

And one final lesson for me – no more scheduling matches @ 8 AM on Sunday’s, when the required travel to the venue is close to 45 minutes, requiring players to wake up at 6 AM. Spoilt by the amount of cricket on offer, some are beginning to complain about the early starts, eh Sistla?

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At long last, grumpy winter left town, allowing us to welcome the more pleasant spring weather. Fun in the sun was the theme, which meant cricket for some, and photography for Ono!

We quietly started the 2012 cricket season on the 7th of April, good two-three weeks earlier than usual. A little windy, but on a crisp spring morning.

A gathering of just over 15 of us who preferred playing some cricket over watching the IPL and/or other less useful things. Some new faces mixed with some returning characters. It made for some good fun.

Judging by all the talk going around, those of you who didn’t make it, sure are keen to know how the first day of the season was. The new talent on display are sure to push us for spots in the NECA team, while making the MPL teams stronger, and the player auction more exciting.

So here goes, more of a summary, than a match/day report from our opening day.

Merwan had the horror, err honor (or is it horror?) of being out to the first ball delivered in the 2012 season, bowled of a full-toss (off of Dipesh I think). He’d brought a friend along – Ram. Didn’t get enough of a look at Ram’s batting. Merwan and Ram left after the first match (we played two pick-up matches); they’ll have to wait their turn to impress us, and drive-up their MPL auction price.

Ram apart, among the new faces were Amol, Rohith, Koundi and Srikanth P.

Amol, a left-arm-spinner and right-hand-bat – it’s not Rafeeq in disguise (or was it?) – made an impressive debut. He flighted the ball more, and seems to have a very-brief halt in his action, just prior to delivering the ball – kind of like Ajmal. A strong and powerful batsman as well, adding to the ever growing list of all-rounders that we have. Rafeeq, what does this mean to your stock value?

Rohith is a right-arm-medium-pacer, but with a tendency to hurry the ball on. He is a pretty good batsman as well. Played both matches and was impressive.

Koundi is a right-arm-medium-pacer, with a smooth flowing action; something similar to Mukesh’s, for those of us who remember that kid. Bowled well in both matches. We didn’t mark out the side-lines at the bowling end – first day and all. Koundi however, took this as an open invitation to extend the popping crease as wide as he possibly could – bowling from close to 10 ft. wide off the stumps! Was he trying to trouble the batsmen with the angle or just plain confuse everyone? A useful lower order bat and a budding character!

Srikanth P, a right-arm-medium-pacer with an extra yard of pace thrown in there, was impressive too. Getting Ankit out, after a lot of back-and-forth between the two, marks a memorable start to the season for both! An intern previously, he wasn’t around for MPL 2011 – but is now here for good. Preferred to bowl round the stumps to all batsmen. What’s his strategy behind that?

The other regular characters that showed up included Dipesh, Krishna, Srikanth S, Ankit, Ono, Abhishek, Yashwanth, Swarooph, mE (Raghuvir), and a few others that apparently didn’t leave an impression on me!

Dipesh was as impressive as always, which was odd given that it was the first day of the season. He bowled yorkers at will – his three overs in the second match went something like 1/1, 7/0, 0/3 (three wickets for zero runs, which included a run-out) – with his last over being the penultimate of the inning, with the opposition requiring 15 for no loss. Did you hear about the numerous straight four’s he hit? Oh yeah, this kid is ready!

Ono and Abhishek renewed their tussle for the best keeper tag, although I think its time to change the keeper. They weren’t impressive enough, if you ask me – fumbling the ball too much for my liking. Or was it to my liking?

When it came to batting, Abhi played it smart, trying to ease into the season after a long time away from the field.

Ono though found a higher gear and went about smashing the ball for fours and sixes – the one over square leg, especially was impressive. He is contemplating not playing till the MPL auction, hoping he has done enough to secure a good price at the auction. Is he aware of the reality that he will not see a single penny that he is bought for!

Srikanth S was, well, Srikanth S – bowled well on his day, batted well on his day. Abhishek certainly was happy with his performance on the field, although I wasn’t too impressed – Srikanth S, you are in our group as a character first, and cricketing skills second. You didn’t really put up a show! Common man!

Krishna was as usual – fast, furious, and wide. Well more wide and then furious at himself. Probably compensated a bit for Rahul’s absence (tongue-in-cheek)!

Ankit, was off to a great start – chatting with everyone on the field. Teammate or not, doesn’t make a difference to this guy. That apart, his cricketing skills were also on display. Took his time to get his eye in, but then settled in for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, to deny me batting in the second match. Bowled well too. ‘Mouth of the Year’ for a second year running, and ‘MPL 2011 Final MVP’, surely well deserved.

Swarooph had a good first day as well. Bowled well in both matches, although he is probably still fuming at being run-out in the first match, without facing a single delivery.

Yashwanth bowled in the first match and seemed to pull a muscle and didn’t return to bowl in the second match. A steady start with the bat, I think, although I don’t remember clearly, given that its now close to a week since the day.

I, meanwhile, spent a lot of time in the middle – a little as a batsman trying to get his eye in after the winter hibernation, but most of it, as an umpire, waiting for Ono or Ankit to get out! Guys, you don’t have to bat so well on the first day of the season, and deny others a chance.

Some of the big guns – Ganesh, Priyank, and Aravind to name a few – stayed away, as they had to tend to ‘more important issues‘. Do ask them what these issues could be!

One of the only large guns, Sidhu, stayed away as well. When quizzed on his mysterious non-appearance, he is believed to have said that the temperature reading wasn’t large enough enough for his liking.

Wonder what colors the 2012 season will display.

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