Cricket World Cup: Teams have used powerplays well

So far, batsmen have had the upper hand in the World Cup. That’s what you expect from the subcontinent but in my opinion that is what should happen in all World Cups and one-day games. There’s been some success for the bowlers but largely that’s been the Test-playing nations against the associate teams.

One-day cricket needs to be about good contests between bat and ball. It shouldn’t encourage mediocrity. When you are playing in world cup games, the conditions should be such that will reward excellence whether you are a batsman or a bowler.

I have said it earlier and will reiterate — teams with good fast bowlers will do well in the subcontinent. Australia’s match against New Zealand is a prime example of that. I won’t say New Zealand’s batting order is weak, but they were just blown away by pace. Tait just blew away New Zealand. He was intimidating and fast. New Zealand’s batsmen appeared keen to hang around on the back foot and flash the bat. Real pace will do that, and win you matches. That’s where Australia are outstanding.

Australia have lost Doug Bollinger, but that won’t have much effect on the team’s fortunes. Bollinger was something of a “spare part” in the squad and was unlikely to get much playing time. Australia have a red-hot pace attack in Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson and that will keep them going strong in the tournament.

One big loss is Dwayne Bravo. West Indies are really going to miss him. Their bowling attack is now severely depleted without Bravo, because they now only have two strike bowlers in Kemar Roach and Suleiman Benn. Not just his bowling, but Bravo will be missed for his fielding, batting  and also his enthusiasm. That’s a massive blow.

Tactically, I think most teams have used the batting Powerplay well, though there has been a pattern to it. It seems as if most teams are trying to take their batting powerplay just after the ball is changed after the 34th over. This seems because the ball being harder after the change is easier to hit away. 

What I would suggest though is that teams should not always waits for 34 overs to be bowled and if they are losing wickets they may have to take their batting powerplay a bit earlier because this is no point in waiting to take your batting powerplay later when you have lost too many wickets and the batsmen at the crease are incapable of taking advantage of the powerplay.

The writer is a former West Indies speedster