Shoaib Akhtar's blog: Want Virat Kohli to score on green pitches against quality bowling in a Test match

The thickness of bats and spread of the sweet spot must be regularised

 

 

Islamabad: Let me start by making a confession here: I am still in a trance over Virat Kohli’s batting display. I know that it is almost a week that IPL got over and Virat’s team lost the finals to Hyderabad but it was a pure joy to watch the young man bat.

Now, I am waiting for the day when Virat will be playing a quality bowling attack on a green wicket of a Test match. It will be fun. Last time he went to England Virat struggled quite a bit but I think all that is history now. This new Virat has a more compact technique and he seems more sure of his off-stump now a days.

Recently, the ICC Cricket Committee met at Lord’s in London. I understand the “bosses” discussed the thickness of a cricket bat and perhaps the need to regularise that. I completely agree with this call. Believe me, I am not talking as an ex-fast bowler, my thought comes from the point of view of a fan. As a lover of the game I am always seeking balance between bat and ball rather than one-sided marauding of bowlers. Unfortunately, that is what modern day cricket is all about. If you cast your mind back to the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand you’ll realise what I mean. On once fast, bouncy and somewhat seaming pitches of these two countries as many as 38 hundreds were scored. Now that is a bizarre number.

Yes, the pitches in that World Cup were batsmen-friendly. Besides the modern cricket bats are killing the bowlers. I have seen miss-hits going for a six which is not ideal for the game. It is depressing for a bowler to note that he has beaten the batsmen but due to slightly ‘unfair’ advantage of the willow the ball still sails over the boundary. To my mind the powers that be must regularise the thickness of bats and spread of the sweet spot.

One more issue was discussed by the Committee – chucking. I have read reports which have quoted that efforts should continue to screen bowlers at domestic level. I am sorry but that is too late. To my mind suspect actions should be identified and rectified at the age of 11 or 12. Domestic competitions is too late a stage to modify an action, instead it should be done at an early age. To my mind each cricket board should pledge their support to eke out bowlers with suspect action.

The Committee has also discussed the state of Test cricket. While it is in good health in Australia and England but in our part of the world it is inconsistent. Some cities in India get a packed house but whether the same crowds will embrace the idea of day-night Test matches is something that remains to be seen. I think the biggest challenge is the pink cricket ball. I have spoken to cricketers who have played games with a pink ball. They feel that pink is not as natural a colour of leather as red is. The players also feel that pink ball doesn’t shine as much as the red one does. Personally I like day-night Test matches if the powers-that-be can sort out the colour of the ball.

As I wind up this article I’d like to pay homage to the greatest boxer or rather the greatest sportsperson the in the world Mr Mohammed Ali. What a man, what a boxer. May his soul RIP.