Cricket - Not all about the Cherry and the Willow!

Cricket – Not all about the Cherry and the Willow!: If you are to explain to a novice about what exactly is cricket in simple terms, you would go for the age old norm and say it is a contest between the bat and the ball with two teams of eleven players each involved in it. Only if it was actually this simple. The element of non artificiality is perhaps the highest in cricket as compared to any other outdoor sport. The only one which comes close is tennis with different courts offering various new dimensions. In cricket there are numerous factors which are out of our control and cannot be manipulated. This gives it the unpredictability which we associate with cricket matches. All these factors are as crucial as some of the more discussed strategic philosophies and ideas. They provide the game an air of excitement and challenge the players to adapt their skills to suit the conditions. This also helps distinguish the great players from the ordinary ones.

Here we take a look at the integral factors which impact a cricket match:

1. The Pitch:

Two absolutely similar and equally strong teams could play each other on two different sets of pitches and the results would be entirely opposite. This is courtesy the 22 yards which is the centre of all the action and its nature. The sight of subcontinent teams going overseas and losing comprehensively is a familiar one these days. But when we see Australia coming to India and loose 4-0 we know that each one is lion in their respective dens but a rabbit outside it. While the ball swings in England like the road turns in India, South Africa offers steep and spongy bounce for the pacers. Subcontinent teams are often welcomed with a nice reception of grass carpets.

Australia will inevitably offer more bounce and seam movement than anywhere else, though it also means the ball coming on to the bat and the freedom to play through the line. As soon as you land in India, it won’t take much time to recognise that the pitch has just had a shave. The only grass you will find will be in lawn near the team hotel. Don’t be surprised at a ball which keeps low, because that one actually bounced a bit. The ones which keep low won’t leave you surprised, they will give nightmares. There are no cracks in the pitches in India. Yes, you read it right! Rather there are pitches in the cracks.

Another interesting aspect is the varying nature of the surfaces in the same country. While Mohali will offer nice carry and pace, the Wankhede might turn square on occasions. Perth could make you jump and hop, while Adelaide could be a batting paradise. So the next time you see one sided results in international cricket do not blame the players alone. You see they are brilliant in their conditions but out of their waters everybody struggles. And those who can perform on tour go on to be the real achievers.