Pitch or Culture: The way we view our Cricket

Last week was not short of being from dull to maniac. Many of us will have different adjectives for the type of test matches or the brand of cricket that we have witnessed across different continents. During mid 90′s when I started playing serious cricket; days would start with tough fielding drills and if lucky end with batting practice. There was a prowess of batting culture all the way in the Indian cricketing system and being a bowler meant less skilled or someone whose chances of being successful at the top level was not very bright. That to me would come across as some sort of a caste system where coaches would motivate players to develop into batsmen more often than not and fielding to everyone meant practically physical abuse. Coming back to perception on batting; my parents always wanted to see me batting rather than fielding or bowling. Not just my parents but everyone around me ranging from the neighbors to coaches wanted to see team India bat whenever the team played on national television.

Today we love to watch the likes of Sachin & Sehwag dominating the bowlers rather than a Zaheer Khan going through the entire batting line up

There is a contrast in perception of the cricket being watched in every country; while India has always been a land of great batsmen outshining great bowlers (not to take any credit away from all the bowlers who ever has taken field for India) other countries have always had great balance of both bowlers, batsmen and not to mention outstanding fielding standards amongst the first eleven on the field. This perception and mindset of watching the brand of cricket we are used to as of now is the reason why we have the tracks on which India plays its domestic cricket. There is a huge hoopla or upsurge about Sachin’s 100^th century and everyone right from the sponsors to broadcasters want to tap that event. Even today Indians will want to watch a Sehwag, Sachin, Dravid or Laxman in full flow but no one would want to watch each and every ball delivered by Ishant, Zaheer or Harbhajan.

Even the Ranji Trophy pitches are a batting paradise where a century scored is the new equivalent of 40 or 50 runs scored. While we analyze the consumer’s inclination towards batting heavy cricket; some of the state boards like Baroda should be applauded for the green wicket that they prepared for their last Ranji Match against Madhya Pradesh which seriously tested the skills of all the batsmen.

Watching the India vs West Indies and the South Africa vs Australia test gave me two different flavours of the same game; much like in a multi cuisine restaurant where same dish can be offered with different flavours. No wonder the pan on which the dish was prepared was different and hence the different taste. The former being a slow track assisting batting and spin and the latter being a sporty one which had balance between bat and ball until it led havoc on Day 2 which accounted for more than 50% of the match getting over in a single day’s play leading to the fall of 23 wickets. Although the broadcasters would have lost some money clearly the second test match was much more enjoyable and the viewers had their each and every moment worth it.

Newlands – Capetown Pitch led havoc on Day 2

This is why boards and players should learn as much as they can about the pitch and encourage to develop a culture around this; there are so many voices in cricketing system advocating the use of sporty wickets but none to be seen around too often during these domestic competitions in India. Overdose of the spin friendly pitches negates fast bowling reserves as there is almost no help what so ever. At times the impact of the pitches has an individual cricket innings that is often under estimated; for instance Rahul Dravid’s unbeaten 27 against South Africa at Durban in 1996 was a titanic effort in light of India being dismissed for 66. He batted for 120 minutes against the brutal South African pace attack on a lively track and it was surely more impressive than a five hour century on a flatter track.

India is a country within its pervasive influence; cricket is a dominant strain in our culture consciousness which needs a balance as well. Although our culture does define the way we view our cricket but the boards with the deeper pockets also has the responsibility to make the game more interesting. India does have advantage of spin friendly pitches but at times due to lack of consistency these pitches flat out and result of the game is compromised. As a cricketing nation these are the conditions being aimed for which shall produce enjoyable matches with results in store. Having said that; the change in cultural mindset would enable the best bowlers both of spin & fast genre prosper in the modern game.