Simpson detects flaw in Sachin's batting

[DesiChap]

Simpson detects flaw in Sachin's batting Ashish Shukla in Bridgetown | April 20, 2007 13:26 IST If runs have dried up from Sachin Tendulkar's blade, it's because he is no longer watching the ball out of the bowler's hand, according to former Australia captain and World Cup winning coach Bob Simpson. "He (Tendulkar) has fallen into what is probably the most common error in batting -- not watching the ball out of the bowler's hand but watching for the ball in areas around it," Simpson has commented in his recent column. "Tests have shown that you can pick the ball about a metre sooner if you watch it right out of the bowler's hand. This is a huge advantage to a batsman," adds Simpson. But the respected former Australian opener has huge regard for Tendulkar's ability and his willingness to learn. "Sachin was a dream to coach. Almost in my first session with him, I noticed he had fallen into the error of moving back to the leg stump instead of middle and leg to cover good length. I discussed with him the disadvantages of such a method and the advantages of what I was suggesting. "We watched a video of him batting in the nets, which confirmed my thoughts and Sachin immediately began remedying it. "For some years after this, even when I wasn't coaching India, whenever I ran into Sachin he would always ask if I had noticed anything wrong with his batting. "If Sachin were to ask me that question today I would say, 'check the video and you will find that even with your defensive shots you are late getting into position'." Simpson then lays into Chappell and terms him a failure both as captain and coach. "Obviously Greg Chappell had problems with the attitude of some of the top players. I found his public declaration of his dissatisfaction over the attitude and commitment of his senior players most disappointing. "His lack of success with the Indian cricket team has come as no surprise to the Australian cricket fraternity. He is admired greatly for his wonderful, graceful and successful batting and I feel he was one of the greatest slip fielders of all time, but his captaincy and coaching did not command the same respect," Simpson said. "During his long tenure as captain of Queensland, they were considered the best team in Australia but didn't win a single Sheffield Shield title. In recent times, he had a long coaching stint with South Australia but with poor results. "Chappell's somewhat autocratic manner was often blamed for his lack of success, as was his perceived lack of understanding that his charges didn't have his golden touch and class as a cricketer." Simpson recalled his stint with the Indian team as a consultant in the late 1990s and said it was overall a pleasure and he advises them to stick to their own style of playing. "I can only speak of the pleasures of coaching the senior Indian players, though there were some frustrations. Whether it was assisting Javagal Srinath to bowl a slower ball, Rahul Dravid to improve his slip fielding or Anil Kumble to hold his action longer to maintain his flight, I was always conscious of keeping it natural. "India, like most countries, have their own style of playing cricket. To divert too far from that is seeking problems, and denying the natural instincts of the individual players," he said. Simpson also criticised the tendency among some countries to ape the Australian system even if that did not suit them. "The whole world seems hell bent upon copying the Australian way of cricket. To me this is wrong and unhelpful to the development of world cricket. "Sticking to the very basics of cricket has always been the successful format of cricketers and teams throughout the world, not fashion, fad and theories, which seem to be the driving forces today," he added

[King]

Re: Simpson detects flaw in Sachin's batting

"Sachin was a dream to coach. Almost in my first session with him, I noticed he had fallen into the error of moving back to the leg stump instead of middle and leg to cover good length. I discussed with him the disadvantages of such a method and the advantages of what I was suggesting."

Everyone has their theories. Simpson is a fantastic cricket coach and has helped a lot of players. Gavaskar advised Rahul Dravid to not do exactly what Simpson advised Tendulkar as above. Rahul Dravid was getting behind the line of the ball very well by moving back towards the middle stump but when you do that the power you impart on the shot is way less as you tend to stop your shot. The moving back towards middle stump is more for defensive players. You can see most aggressive batters don't really get behind the line of ball but stroke the ball when it's just towards the side. This gives the batter a chance to free his arms and also play behind square too. I have seen Tendulkar get behind the line of the ball and hence he is very strong in front of the wicket. Someone like Sehwag or Ganguly that doesn't get behind the ball but get to the side of the ball are excellent square and behind square on the off side. Also when you are right behind the line of the ball and are wristy you can play a lot of balls from the middle or off stump through the leg side. Ponting has an initial movement of front foot but usually ends up just around off stump hence he is way too strong on the leg side and pull shots. It may look simple but a very subtle change in the technique makes a lot of difference to batting. I do feel Tendulkar does not watch the ball closely any more. A lot of good batters don't really watch the bowlers running in. They usually fix their eye about 3-4 feet above to the right (left if the bower is left handed) of the umpire's shoulder. This will ensure the pupil doesn't have to move to focus on the ball when the bowler is running in and is fixed to an area from where the ball is going to be bowled. This also helps the eye in picking up the seam angle quickly with the sight screen behind the ball. This is the technique that the good batters thrive to perfect but it is possible even the best batters can get into the habit of not doing this. A lot of batters can be seen speaking to themselves while the bowler is running in to ensure they are concentrating not on the bowler but that area from where the ball is going to be delivered. Rahul Dravid is a prime example of this and you can see him saying "Watch the ball" if you watch him closely just before the ball is delivered.

[Holysmoke]

Re: Simpson detects flaw in Sachin's batting "Tests have shown that you can pick the ball about a metre sooner if you watch it right out of the bowler's hand. This is a huge advantage to a batsman," adds Simpson. maybe he IS watching the ball out of the bowlers hand, but he is getting older, reflexes getting slower

[Anakin]

Re: Simpson detects flaw in Sachin's batting He's spot on about GC though

[yoda]

Re: Simpson detects flaw in Sachin's batting Can we get this guy to coach us. :shrug:

[Anakin]

Re: Simpson detects flaw in Sachin's batting

Can we get this guy to coach us. :shrug:

I was thinking the same thing, but I'd prefer Whatmore right now as the new coach.

[King Tendulkar]

Re: Simpson detects flaw in Sachin's batting What cos he says batters should watch ball from hand? Facking 5 year olds are taught that. Bull theory on Sachin!