India at least 5 years behind in their 50 Over ODI strategy

[prudent_kreeda]

If we analyse the recent match scores, 4 man field restriction outside the circle between 10-40 overs , and evolving mindset of aggression from the word GO  by some of innovative thinking teams like ENG , AUS  -  one thing is sure -  We are at least 4-5 years behind in our batting strategy.  

We are still thinking of starting slow , and then build on it . While this strategy has some merits while chasing but it is ill equipped when batting 1st .  Nowadays  one should aim to score minimum 300 when batting first  and ready to be chasing 300+ while batting second.

Reputation , indespensibilty perception of a player , fixed preferred batting order for a  batter irrespective of match situation etc . should be thrown out of the window and management should lay down certain do & don'ts  for batters. As we see now , almost all international ODIs are played on batting beauties and par score is 300+ most of the time .

Hence new strategy should revolve around getting 300+ whether you bat first or second. 

What can be some parameters to achieve this ? 

1. There should be more aggressive batting in the first 10 overs . Does not mean going Blaast  every ball. But an intention to hit . This may make the bowler to err in line & length and hence a poor ball. Assuming there is not much swing on offer which is the case on most occasions. If its swinging , may be we can have an exception.

If our openers bat the same way -  need to change the personnel. Have atleast 1 guy who is dasher . Better to have left -right combo if we have good guys at the top.

Try to select a batter who is good in playing  attacking shot to balls on the stumps - esp. someone who can place it on the onside for runs and also good at playing back of the length balls for runs both on the off and on side. Someone who can play shots to balls on the stumsps and good at picking the gaps should be the opener having maximum chance of success. 

2. ULTIMATUM to each batter till No.7: 

 a.He should be able to score at least 1 boundary every over. 

 b.He should be able to score at least 4 single every  6 balls .

 c.  Target to score 1 boundary and  atleast 3 singles every over by  the batters on crease.

 d.   if this target is missed in 1 over , cover the target in next over .

Idea is ideally one should have score of 50*4 +50*3  = which should be 350 score. But practically you may only achieve 85% success .

So one should be able to get 170+130 = 300 most of times .

Anyone who cannot meet these parameters consistently should be out of the team. With this , players will start to adapt themselves to reach this target and be better at their game .

Problem is India has some demi gods and they want to play their own way . So a MSD will do tuk-tuk for 25 balls , putting all the pressure on others in the mean time to up the run rate.

Pandey wants to play at No.4 only and wants 10-12 balls to get going . Rohit won't take singles and rahane - same issue at the beginning and later on cannot get boundaries . 

If MSD wants to do tuk -tuk for first 25 balls - not acceptable, 

If Pandey wants atleast 10-12 balls to start  - cannot do that .

 

What 1 boundary per over will also do is -  it will not make batters to go all out attack and get out . This may even temper them down and help them to be more consistent. Also since you are getting about 6-7 runs per over , there is no pressure on lower batsman to hit each & every ball.

This will take some time but surely it will lead to finding right guys into the team and also an improvement in the present members batting.

 

Once this becomes the focus point for batters , India will be striving to reach 300 on more occasions and with the current set of bowling of Bhuvi , Bumrah, 2 wrist spinners -  we will have more chances of becoming a very very good ODI side .

 

This will mean change of personnel / improvement  among current team members: 

1. MSD , RAHANE -  will find it very difficult to retain places.

2. Rohit - will have to change a bit and try to get more singles.

3. May need to look at KL or PANT at opening slot if required.

4. RE LOOK AT NO.7 - Axar / Jaddu/ASh  may not fit the bill.

5. Invest in Youngsters who have the aggressive game and give chances - so that their game improves and they become more consistent .

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

 

   

 

 

 

 

[G_B_]

come on man

 

number 1 in the world 9 straight wins

 

 

[prudent_kreeda]

2 minutes ago, G_B_ said:

come on man

 

number 1 in the world 9 straight wins

 

 

    I will take even 7 out of 10 if its in SA & AUS .

[Forever Indian]

Why such a big Essay on a Friday? 

[prudent_kreeda]

9 minutes ago, G_B_ said:

come on man

 

number 1 in the world 9 straight wins

 

 

  Results apart ..   What i was implying was a strategy wherein some of the weak points can be get rid of.

  Does it help if MSD tuks -tuks for almost 20 deliveries ? Does not try to play aggressive shots against spinners initially ?

 Does  Rahane helps team cause if he cannot get boundaries after 15 odd overs ?

 Will it not help team india if Rohit reduces the dot ball % ?

Why the glory boys of top order batters play more deliveries and allow the run rate to creep up ? 

 

hat s what  strategy should be . Some one else may come up with some totally news suggestions. I am all for it so long as some of the existing ills are cured .
 

 

[prudent_kreeda]

4 minutes ago, Forever Indian said:

Why such a big Essay on a Friday? 

    Weekend ko hi time milta hai bhai.  

[The Realist]

Eng have the likes of Jason Roy at the top crunching boundaries for fun while in contrast Rahane can barely clear the inner circle with his malnourished physique

 

[prudent_kreeda]

9 minutes ago, The Realist said:

Eng have the likes of Jason Roy at the top crunching boundaries for fun while in contrast Rahane can barely clear the inner circle with his malnourished physique

 

    Thats what i was implying ..  If we see How Jason gets those boundaries . He can hit the balls on the stumps to onside boundaries with ease . Kind of gives direction to the ball with a short jab with power .

In addition plays freely on the offside if ball is out side the off. 

India should also try to find one of the opener playing in that mould.

 

[sandeep]

1 hour ago, prudent_kreeda said:

If we analyse the recent match scores, 4 man field restriction outside the circle between 10-40 overs , and evolving mindset of aggression from the word GO  by some of innovative thinking teams like ENG , AUS  -  one thing is sure -  We are at least 4-5 years behind in our batting strategy.  

We are still thinking of starting slow , and then build on it . While this strategy has some merits while chasing but it is ill equipped when batting 1st .  Nowadays  one should aim to score minimum 300 when batting first  and ready to be chasing 300+ while batting second.

Reputation , indespensibilty perception of a player , fixed preferred batting order for a  batter irrespective of match situation etc . should be thrown out of the window and management should lay down certain do & don'ts  for batters. As we see now , almost all international ODIs are played on batting beauties and par score is 300+ most of the time .

Hence new strategy should revolve around getting 300+ whether you bat first or second. 

What can be some parameters to achieve this ? 

1. There should be more aggressive batting in the first 10 overs . Does not mean going Blaast  every ball. But an intention to hit . This may make the bowler to err in line & length and hence a poor ball. Assuming there is not much swing on offer which is the case on most occasions. If its swinging , may be we can have an exception.

If our openers bat the same way -  need to change the personnel. Have atleast 1 guy who is dasher . Better to have left -right combo if we have good guys at the top.

Try to select a batter who is good in playing  attacking shot to balls on the stumps - esp. someone who can place it on the onside for runs and also good at playing back of the length balls for runs both on the off and on side. Someone who can play shots to balls on the stumsps and good at picking the gaps should be the opener having maximum chance of success. 

2. ULTIMATUM to each batter till No.7: 

 a.He should be able to score at least 1 boundary every over. 

 b.He should be able to score at least 4 single every  6 balls .

 c.  Target to score 1 boundary and  atleast 3 singles every over by  the batters on crease.

 d.   if this target is missed in 1 over , cover the target in next over .

Idea is ideally one should have score of 50*4 +50*3  = which should be 350 score. But practically you may only achieve 85% success .

So one should be able to get 170+130 = 300 most of times .

Anyone who cannot meet these parameters consistently should be out of the team. With this , players will start to adapt themselves to reach this target and be better at their game .

Problem is India has some demi gods and they want to play their own way . So a MSD will do tuk-tuk for 25 balls , putting all the pressure on others in the mean time to up the run rate.

Pandey wants to play at No.4 only and wants 10-12 balls to get going . Rohit won't take singles and rahane - same issue at the beginning and later on cannot get boundaries . 

If MSD wants to do tuk -tuk for first 25 balls - not acceptable, 

If Pandey wants atleast 10-12 balls to start  - cannot do that .

 

What 1 boundary per over will also do is -  it will not make batters to go all out attack and get out . This may even temper them down and help them to be more consistent. Also since you are getting about 6-7 runs per over , there is no pressure on lower batsman to hit each & every ball.

This will take some time but surely it will lead to finding right guys into the team and also an improvement in the present members batting.

 

Once this becomes the focus point for batters , India will be striving to reach 300 on more occasions and with the current set of bowling of Bhuvi , Bumrah, 2 wrist spinners -  we will have more chances of becoming a very very good ODI side .

 

This will mean change of personnel / improvement  among current team members: 

1. MSD , RAHANE -  will find it very difficult to retain places.

2. Rohit - will have to change a bit and try to get more singles.

3. May need to look at KL or PANT at opening slot if required.

4. RE LOOK AT NO.7 - Axar / Jaddu/ASh  may not fit the bill.

5. Invest in Youngsters who have the aggressive game and give chances - so that their game improves and they become more consistent .

 

I have been talking about the need to change ODI batting strategy since before the last world cup.   For example this thread.

[wanted_desi]

One Reason: Rohit Sharma

 

 

[Laaloo]

41 minutes ago, wanted_desi said:

One Reason: Rohit Sharma

 

 

He has been better recently. If he does play like this, he is indispendable.