Not-so-High Scores dont mean Bad Batting

Many batsmen score 40s or 50s but don’t get to hundred. In the right situation, these scores may be crucial.

Even if the main batsmen score centuries in a one day international, these centuries may be of no use if wickets fall around that batsman. This is why, if another batsman scores a 40 or 50 accompanying the centurion, it provides certain stability to the batting line up.

Even in test matches, seemingly ineffective scores prima facie may actually be very useful. Some of these scores, especially in tests may in fact be centuries. For example, in that test in Multan between India and Pakistan, Virender Sehwag scored 309 in the first innings. In the same innings, Sachin Tendulkar scored 194*. This 194, although overshadowed by the triple, was crucial to the Indian innings.

Many players, in ODI cricket play or played this supportive role for the more significant scorers.

Michael Bevan and Andrew Symonds – The Australian batting has consistent performances from their batsmen like Ricky Ponting. But, earlier Michael Bevan always came in later in the order and pushed up the run rate in the later stages of the innings. Symonds has always, hung around the higher run scorers and played some useful knocks.

Tillekratne Dilshan and Romesh Kaluwitharana – Romesh Kaluwitharana often came in to open the bating for Sri Lanka. As Jayasurya piled up on the runs, Kaluwitharana did some hard hitting, scored a quick 50 and got out, to get Sri Lanka a good start. Dilshan bats at number seven for Sri Lanka and consistently scores useful runs late in the innings.

Abdul Razzaq – Razzak is a very important fixture in the Pakistani team. He always comes in late in the innings with about ten overs or so to spare and slogs and significantly increases the run rate.

Craig McMillan and Paul Nixon are other examples of players who play such a role in the team. Low scores don’t necessarily bad batting.-BS