The IPL Sunday Roast #5
0
By Rahul Patil
Although this is primarily an IPL focused write up I have to start by congratulating the blackcaps on an impressive performance in the T20 series in Pakistan. It’s never easy winning away from home. It’s even more difficult when 9 of your first choice players are unavailable. Therefore, a 2-2 result is definitely one to celebrated. Mark Chapman the one with the beauty spot on his bat. 290 runs at a strike rate of 166 against a full strength Pakistan side is phenomenal stuff.
The blackcaps have invested in Chapman for the last 5 years but he’s not managed to secure his place in the playing XI when they are at full strength. A series defining performance like this one should definitely keep the selectors interested in him for the ODI world cup later this year. In Williamson’s absence could Chapman be the answer to New Zealand’s middle order conundrum?
Turns out beauty spots are contagious. Chapman has passed his one to Daryl Mitchell’s bat in the ODI series. Two days, two centuries and unfortunately both in a losing cause. Mitchell knows a thing or two about scoring centuries in a losing cause. He scored 3 consecutive test hundred’s in England last year. The blackcaps lost all three tests in a series where Bazball was born.
Mitchell is one of the few blackcaps who express their emotions freely on the cricket field. He is the kind of guy you want in your corner if you ever get into a fight. His on field celebrations can sometimes be over the top. But it also shows how much he loves winning. At the highest level you need that steely resolve to succeed. I have a feeling Mitchell will have a good ODI world cup later this year.
Back to the IPL where Conway and Boult continue to impress. You can read about their exploits here https://www.sportsfreak.co.nz/kiwi-conway-in-the-hunt-for-ipls-orange-cap/
An argument I keep hearing every now and then is “Wouldn’t it be better for some of our blackcaps to be playing in Pakistan rather warming the benches at the IPL?” It’s a fair question but the answer to it is a bit complicated.
The maximum of 4 overseas players in the playing XI rule has been a part of the IPL from day one. It ensures 64% representation for Indian players in every team but can be quite tough if you are an overseas player. Let’s take the example of Finn Allen for instance.
Finn plays for RCB. RCB’s top order has two overseas batters in captain Faf Du Plessis (the tournaments leading run scorer), and Glenn Maxwell. Being an opener himself there is no place for Finn in that top order while those two are performing. Sri Lanka’s mystery spinner Hasaranga takes the third overseas spot whereas the fourth one normally goes to an overseas seamer like David Willey, Wayne Parnell or a fit Josh Hazlewood. Currently the only way Finn can get in the playing XI is if either Faf or Maxwell get injured and that too is difficult thanks to the IPL’s new “impact player” substitute rule.
A similar story is that of Mitch Santner at CSK who misses out to Sri Lankan mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana. Glenn Phillips also regularly misses out to Harry Brook and Heinrich Klaasen at SRH. Santner, Phillips, Southee, Ferguson and Bracewell did get opportunities in the early part of the tournament but unless you break the door down with your performances, it’s not easy to keep your place in the side when everybody is available for selection.
The financial aspect of the tournament cannot be ignored either. Allen for example will be paid his full purchase price of NZD 158K as long as he is fit and available for selection for the length of the tournament. Warming the benches in the team dugout is frustrating but at least it is financially rewarding. It is the harsh reality of modern day cricket.
What I can promise you though is that even if they are not playing they do learn a lot from just being in that environment. The exchange of knowledge that occurs between the various international players is equivalent to a master’s degree from Harvard. A packed international calendar rarely gives you an opportunity to reflect and work on your game. If you are not playing, the two month IPL window can be a great opportunity to work on your technique as a batter or add a new kind of delivery to your arsenal as a bowler.
Another heartening factor of the IPL is the opportunity it provides for some of the smaller cricketing nations to rub shoulders with the big boys. Rashid Khan has always been a global superstar as far as T20 cricket is concerned but looking at the talent on display I am sure that Rashid Khan is only the tip of the iceberg. This year’s tournament has representation from Ireland (Josh Little), Namibia (David Wiese), Zimbabwe (Sikandar Raza) and of course Afghanistan (Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmed, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqui).
Afghanistan’s political and subsequently their international cricketing future hangs in the balance at the moment but there is no denying the fact that they are an absolute gold mine of cricketing talent.
The highlight of the on field action has been that LSG recorded the 2nd highest team total in the history of the IPL when they put on 257 against the Punjab Kings. RCB still hold the record for the highest team total ever i.e. the 263 against the Pune Warriors in 2013 thanks to a 66 ball 175 by the universe boss Chris Gayle.
As far as the points table is concerned we are well and truly into the second half of the tournament and three of the top four teams are the same as last year. It just goes to show that once you find the right formula it tends to deliver consistent results year after year.
Follow Rahul on Twitter