One Day International Betting: The art of running

Bat and ball / Andrew Hughes / 22 January 2010 / 1 Comments

"Why, Salman, Why?" Umar reflects on his Hobart run out

"Perhaps it is time for Pakistan to hire a batting coach of a younger vintage than current incumbent Intikhab Alam, a coach who can recognise that there can be no room for idiosyncratic runners in the modern game."

As Pakistan take on Australia in what should be a fascinating one day series, Andrew Hughes looks back at the Third Test in Hobart and asks why so many batsmen from the Asian subcontinent seem to struggle with their running

Pakistan were always going to find things tough in Australia. In the event, their batting was adequate, their bowling pretty good, but they found other ways to lose. In Sydney, it was dropped catches, four of them, that turned potential victory into defeat. In Hobart, they added farcical run-outs to the list of self-inflicted wounds.

Admittedly, they were up against it after Australia's first innings. Chasing a hefty total, the tourists lost two early wickets. But they were consolidating, Salman Butt and captain Mohammed Yousuf looking comfortable on an easy paced pitch and there was hope. Two errors of judgement by Butt on the second evening snuffed out their chances.

On 72-2, Yousuf hit the ball through mid-off, ran two and set off for an easy third, only to find that his partner had remained in his crease. Brad Haddin removed the bails with glee. Butt wasn't done yet. On 84-3, Umar Akmal set off for a comfortable single. Butt refused to run and though Akmal turned and made desperate efforts to get back, he failed to make his ground in time.

We can only guess what sort of a reception Butt received in the dressing room that evening. Captain Yousuf saw fit to comment on it at the press conference, saying, "He is a lazy little runner, everybody knows that." Everybody knows it, apparently, but no-one has done anything about it.

Butt isn't the first batsman to get a reputation for poor running between the wickets. The history of the game is littered with them. But it is rare to see such poor running these days. So why is it that so many Asian cricketers of the modern era seem to have problems with this part of their job? Inzamam ul Haq, Saurav Ganguly and even Mohammed Yousuf have all struggled with their running.

Some less than athletic batsmen are not natural runners and regard the quick single as a sweaty chore. There are those, such as Butt, who lose concentration at critical times. There are even those who others suspect are reluctant to risk their wicket and their batting average on an even vaguely risky run. England's Geoff Boycott came into this category.

Where Pakistan and, to an extent, India may have fallen short is in failing to treat running between the wickets as a distinct skill to be practised and mastered. When Australia were at their peak from 1989 until 2005, their efficient running between the wickets was a feature of their game. Admittedly, continuity of selection helps here. Batsmen who know each other well often don't have to call for a run, they can tell at a glance what the other is about to do. Pakistan's scattergun selection policy has not helped to cultivate this continuity.

But the main reason for Australia's proficiency was practice. They worked hard on running between the wickets, just as they did at fielding. Individuals who might have problems were worked on. Perhaps it is time for Pakistan to hire a batting coach of a younger vintage than current incumbent Intikhab Alam, a coach who can recognise that there can be no room for idiosyncratic runners in the modern game.

And lest any England supporters feel too smug, they should remember the recklessness with which Kevin Pietersen gave away his wicket in Cape Town. It is to be hoped that KP is not considered too big a name to receive some remedial training in this part of his game, ahead of the Bangladesh tour.

For Pakistan, the one day series against Australia may have come as a relief. Champions Trophy Semi-Finalists, they will have fancied their chances in this shorter format. But defeat in the first game at Brisbane was a timely reminder of how difficult it is to beat the Aussies on their home patch. Pakistan were thirty runs short of the total they should have achieved and only two of their bowlers, Mohammed Aamer and Mohammed Asif contributed. They need to up their game if they are to reward their supporters at odds of [2.9] to win the second game, in Sydney, on Sunday.

Comments (1)

1. Obaid Ullah Muhammad | 23 January 2010

   Nice :)
   Thank you.