As in every
profession I,the world is hinged on to the single word and that is “Performance”. Everyone be it a
client or spectator always expects a cracking performance which is worth of
money invested in buying the services . In cricket, too we have seen the similar
analogy that due to its top performance
in India it is been the number one game in the country.
Considering
performance on the World scenario its different considering the culture, tradition
and interest among the countries for the game of cricket. England the Mecca of
cricket which has its root firmly
established in the Five day game of Test cricket are not available to gain
grounds in the One day format of the game
. They have different options
available to considering the amount of interest in football The English Premier
league has over there. The Aussies love
every game they play and has a history of stalwarts in cricket like Don Bradman,
Dennis Lille and many more. West Indies which is a compilation of small islands
was a force to reckon with be there pace batteries like Garner, Marshall or
there attacking batsman like Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards. The sub continent has
also seen the rise of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka which with its passion for
the game created a market for the game which start earning big bucks for the game and made the game more professional.
The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Akram and Sangakkara are revered
international scenario. New Zealand also have always showed how
the minnows with all its passion
and fun in the game can turn the
game to be one of the favorites to win the game on International scenario. Many small
nations with influence of these giants even though struggling in their home nation due to economic or political
turmoil are still fighting and making a mark
in the cricket , these includes Bangladesh, Zimbabwe , Ireland. Even the
South Africans after their return have always progressed each tournament with a
humungous progress in every department of cricket.
The game is now
being compartmentalized in three formats:
1.
The traditional Test Cricket
2.
The
shorter format of One Day International (ODI)
3.
The Neomodern
Bang Bang format of T20 Cricket.
The smallest format
of the game has brought a big change in the game of cricket. Due to nature of
the game to score as much possible runs in 20 overs , this attitude has rubbed on to both Test
and ODIs . Now we are watching
result oriented matches in Test, with side batting in the last innings try to
accelerate their run rate In the penultimate overs and try to win the match
instead of a dull draw. We are seeing
more 300 runs being scored by individuals.
The fielding has also improved considering every runs counts.
Even its impact is
seen in the ongoing World Cup where sides are posting a total of 400 not once
but many more times. Now the statistics which
analyst looks out for are strike rate at which he scores the runs and fastest fifty,
hundreds and more recently the double hundreds. The Indian Premier League (IPL)
has also impacted the kind of swash buckling play by many cricketers like AB De
Villiers, Brendon Mccullum , Virat Kohli,
Chris Gayle and many more.
The major impact is
the innovative techniques which every batsmen have developed to counter the
pace of 150 kmph deliveries. The Dilshan
scoop, The ABD slog ,Dhoni’s Helicopter shot
has all Changed the game from its
traditional text book style of playing
in the V.The broader blades of the cricket willow and stand
& deliver without feet
movement has lost the charm of the old
day cricket. The nimble footed
cuts, shots with back foot and front foot are losing shine to the glare of bang
bang cricket.
With bowling arena,
the game has been cruel to them with change in format. Using two new balls from
both ends, restriction on bouncers, very less room for wide, more fielders in
the inner circle , THE Free Hits has been
nightmare for the bowling fraternity. Cricket should give some room to
improve the rules in the game otherwise the pace bowlers and spinner may become
an extinct species in the world. Still
the art of fast bowling is not dead because of bowlers like Mitchell Starc,
Trent Boult who with their swings and toe crushers Yorkers still are a game for
the batsman. The art of spin may be
dying but the veteran like Vettori still show why he such a great spinner with
the way he restricts the batsmen to score and take wickets at regular intervals .
The fielding of
every nation has notched a bar higher with every tour. The brilliant catches at the boundaries are breathtaking.
The slides and the relay throws are the
innovations which make to view fielding exciting. Interestingly, the higher catches
are being spilled by fielders and some breath taking catches are held on with regularity.
Over all the
performances have notched higher and making the game of cricket exciting. Considering the tight clashes of the minnows
among themselves is increasing the intensity of the game. They should be given
more chance in the international arena to play against the test playing nations
so they improve. The first win by Afghanistan has been the icing on the cake in
the ongoing WC since it shows the grit of their players to overcome all odds
and go for a win . Ireland has shown
their consistency with win against West Indies that they are force to reckon in
the future. India with their disastrous tri series in Australia
has picked up with excellent performance in all departments of game and in the
race of defending the title. Pakistan
with the initial hiccups is again showing why there fast bowlers have the raw
talent to turn on any game against the strong team in the world. South Africa is a worry with their inability to
chase against good teams. West Indies with their second rung team under their
new captain is losing the sheen in the World Cup. New Zealand is the real dark
horse which can bring on surprise to the world. The way Trent Boult is hurling
and swings the ball with the not kind hearted
Brendon Mcculum opening counter attack is just worth watching. Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene have
shown why they are class in batting for Sri Lankan dominance. The minnows even though are not playing well but are playing a
strong heart against the Test playing nation and will up their performance in the days to
come. England has once again shown that the place where cricket was born and the colonists spread the game everywhere has lost there space in the World Cup. Tigers of Bangla has done something unbelievable has defeated the Poms with thunder .
Overall, exciting
days ahead with top notch performances coming ahead in the knock out
stages and for cricket ahead for the glory of the
gentlemen game.
