The sub-plots of T20 Cricket
Twenty20 cricket is often criticised as lacking in tactics and nuance
Tariq Engineer
25-Feb-2013
Twenty20 cricket is often criticised as lacking in tactics and nuance. Writing on Yahoo, Joy Bhattacharyja, who is on the management team of Kolkata Knight Riders, uses a fictional situation based on real events to prove that there are, in fact, plenty of mini-battles being played out on the field even in the shortest version of the game.
Kallis has just been dismissed by Ishant for 26. KKR are 52 for 2 in 7.2 overs. As the next batsman walks out, the coach gives him his target -- to try and get 30 more in the next four overs without losing more than one wicket. Kallis also stops just short of the dugout to give the new batsman, Manoj Tiwary, a quick low-down on the pitch: "It's playing true, not stopping, so you can hit the ball on the up -- but Ishant is getting some bounce. Watch for the new slower ball he has; he holds it with a cross seam."
Meanwhile Sangakkara has recalled the brief in the team meeting on Tiwary. He is a ‘bolter' - he likes to dab the first couple of balls and quickly take a single. With that in mind, Sanga brings his best fielder, Duminy, back to point positioned slightly back of square, because that is where Tiwary likes to dab it.
Tariq Engineer is a former senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo