I can hardly remember a game last season where ‘our’ innings wasn’t in effect ‘over’ within the first ten overs. Be it setting a target or chasing a target we always seemed to be behind the run rate. Far to often you could see that the opposition knew this and far too many times (for my liking) post game chats revealed that they couldn’t believe their luck at our approach.
There is little that can be done (certainly in the short term) about ability, although the need to be aware of and develop the skills should be included in both an individuals training plans and a coaches team objectives.
What can be looked at though, and rarely has been in my observations to date, has been planning, communication, adaptability and action.
First up, how often does a Captain check Play Cricket and look at the opposing teams average scored when batting first and second. If they did/do would it include some basic analyse on a) key players contributions and b) the average run rates by overs? Each game is different, but averages and analysis give us an opportunity for some preparation.
Secondly, there is no point keeping this information (if you have it) to yourself. In an ideal world where nets are held after team selection players can be briefed on and work on their potential roles at the weekend, but this is unlikely for most but worth bearing in mind.
There is no excuse though for not getting the team together before the game, in between innings, and discussing a broad approach e.g. 40 after 10 overs (which is really ‘just’ taking the singles and putting the bad ball away), 6 an over through overs 11 to 30 would probably require 1s becoming 2s and a few more risks to hit some 4s, then 10 an over for the last ten overs is going go to look for two 4s and over and singles to rotate the strike, especially is a batter is struggling. Simple on paper but an approach that is clear, understandable and measurable: a good objective and a first innings score of 260 will win you more games than you lose.
Batting second has the advantage of knowing what you need, which has a pressure all of it’s own and can make the clearest of minds cloud over. But we can make a plan and communicate it so we are all ‘on the same page’.
OF COURSE ability plays a huge part in this, at all levels, but within the team target we can all have our own clear objectives.
Whether batting first or second we have the ability and need to adapt. In an era where we rarely play for draws there is little worse than a slow meandering plod towards the inevitable. I am not encouraging or condoning an irresponsible thrash, or expecting age defying feats of glory, or (hower tempting) running a teammate out BUT we can look at: moving a bigger hitter up the order to try and get the run rate ‘back on track’, sending in a quicker runner to try and galvanise some old legs which may (just may) bating within their comfort zone.
A rather huge frustration of mine is that despite all the talk of ‘seeing how it goes’, ‘being flexible’, the reality is that rarely does team watch together, discuss what is happening, read the game and prepare to adapt: little point discussing moving the big hitter up the order if said big hitter is the other side of the ground in flip flops and shorts taking his mates dog for a walk.
The answer lies with the captain, but with help from the coaches who should be discussing this with the players at training, especially the development players, to encourage the thinking and communication that is necessary for this to work.
Maybe teams could appoint someone to look at the statistics each week and give the captains the information to help them!