da leao： Kamikaze missions on a good batting pitch are usually the prerogativeof the Indian batting line-up, but Wednesday’s one-day internationalsaw the West Indies trespass into that territory as well
Samanth Subramanian30-May-2002Kamikaze missions on a good batting pitch are usually the prerogativeof the Indian batting line-up, but Wednesday’s one-day internationalsaw the West Indies trespass into that territory as well. India,funnily enough, donned the unfamiliar mantle of collapse-instigators,and despite the suicidal streak running through the Caribbean side,India’s bowlers must be given their share of credit.
Carl Hooper against all bowlers – West Indies innings at Barbados © CricInfoCarl Hooper, the West Indies’ highest scorer, got a staggering 29 runsout of 76 in the third-man area, unnaturally high for the one-dayarena, in which a third-man on the fence is a routine placement.Hooper milked three boundaries and a number of singles in that region- shots that could be played only with the ball short and outside theoff-stump.Hooper, however, is a natural innovator, gifted with a quick enoughgrasp of length to glide and cut even not-so-short balls to third man.The remaining batsmen in the West Indian side, unfortunately not asblessed, struggled to score runs against the Indian bowlers’persistent line just outside the off-stump, frustrating themselvesinto throwing their wicket away.
Dinesh Mongia against all bowlers – India innings at Barbados© CricInfoDinesh Mongia’s wagon-wheel hints at a less disciplined West Indianbowling attack. Mongia scored 20 runs in the mid-wicket area, as wellas 15 runs between deep extra-cover and the sight-screen. Both runconcentrations are telling. The West Indian bowlers pitched either tooshort or too full, both cardinal faults on a good batting wicket.Mongia, accordingly, had no trouble in pulling the short balls away tothe mid-wicket fence four times; to make things even easier for him,the host bowlers erred in line as well, pitching on middle rather thanjust outside off as the Indians did. When the West Indians tried tocompensate and pitched too full in the process, Mongia simply drovethem down the ground.At the post-match press conference, Hooper blamed the loss on a senseof complacency among the West Indian batsmen. While that mayundoubtedly have contributed to the defeat, India’s bowlers have everyright to feel that their discipline gave their side a significantedge.