It's the economy, stupid

Slowly, the bowlers are gaining the upper hand in the Indian Premier League. Winning scores that in the first week or two were above 200 are now barely 150. Wonder how popular that is with the crowds? Sriram Veera has done a good job of analysing why.

Today the bowlers got their ultimate revenge as Kolkata Knight Riders, who you may recall began this tournament an awfully long time ago by bowling out Bangalore for 82 chasing 223, were skittled for 67 by Mumbai Indians. Not only was it 67 all out batting first but it was in just over 15 overs, a run-rate of 4.36 an over.

There were some immensely economical bowling figures in there, with Shaun Pollock taking three for 12 in four overs and Dominic Thornely two for seven in three. Mohammad Hafeez, with one for eight in four overs, has the tournament's best economy rate but Thornely and Pollock have respectively the best rates for two-fers and three-fers.

In the reply, Sachin Tendulkar was out for a three-ball duck but Sanath Jayasuriya ensured that the Mumbai side needed only 33 balls to chase the target

Comments

[Patrick Kidd]

Sanjay,
Fair comments. I suppose the differences between the IPL and Twenty20 are 1) the money being invested in it, which distorts the market, 2) the demands that it be more than a domestic competition and instead be part of the international calendar, and 3) the fact that the ICC has got involved with quashing its competition.

You make a very valid point about the failure to develop Asian talent in this country. I support Essex, where the late Joe Hussain did a lot to bring on London Asian cricketers - with three of them now in the Essex squad - but we need to see more Asian players in first-team county cricket especially in the Asian hotbeds of Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Yorkshire. I completely agree with you that there is something wrong when so many Kolpak South Africans are taking the place of British-born Asians. You make a very valid point, in fact. When I get the chance I shall do an article on this as you suggest.

Despite what some may feel, I love Indian cricket. Just think it is a shame that such sumptuous talents as Dravid, Tendulkar and Kumble are wasted on hit-and-giggle. The big difference between Twenty20 Cup here and IPL is that the former has never been taken too seriously. The IPL is now forcing the ECB to make a frivolous diversion something more important, and I think that is a shame.

[SanjayN]

Fair enough, Patrick. But why can't the IPL be considered competition for England's current Twenty20?

T20 has been played in England for many years now but we never witnessed bloggers and their readers discuss the dangers (I agree, real) it poses to Test cricket with such sustained, and obvious, venom. The criticism of the BCCI, while often justified, should not extend to all things related to Indian cricket. Sarcasm is a skill but it sounds vulgar when overdone.

As an Asian, and I suspect this is true for many other Asians, the IPL offers a domestic competition to be excited about. It can't possibly be county cricket where counties (with very few exceptions) deem Asians to be not good enough for their second XI, never mind the 1st team. No real attempt to get them to show up at games either. But have you ever wondered how Edgbaston turns into an Indian fortress when India play an international game there? Do you think Warwickshire have ever thought about tapping into that audience? Since Dilip Doshi turned up in the early 80s, I have not seen one Indian/Pakistani play for the county, yet there has been a shocking stream of South Africans, the majority of whom show up as English qualified thru some bizarre law.

And so we will watch IPL where we are discovering hitherto unknown local talents. You won't see them at clubs like Warwickshire and Leicestershire. Apparently, not too many Asians live in those areas and they lack talent but your Tim Groenawalds and Du Preezes of the world fill county cricket.

I'd like to see ONE article on this topic from the English press. Please, enough of the IPL bashing when the ECB is selling rights to a foreigner!

The point I'm making is that the IPL is being played in India, and it's a million miles away. While it has some influence on the global game, there are far greater cricketing issues right here at home that requires due consideration.

[Patrick Kidd]

Si, If you go looking for offence or snideness to take in everything you read, you will find it. I didn't intend to criticise Indian crowds with my remark but the IPL has been based and hyped upon big scores and six-hitting being everything (why else bring the boundary ropes in so far) that I wonder whether new fans, of whatever nationality, will appreciate the beauty of bowlers dominating for a change. A comparison could be made with rugby, which is going out of its way at the moment to try to speed the game up with new laws that reduce the influence of the forwards, yet we had a game last week in England, Gloucester beating Bath 8-6, that was a long way from flowing rugby but in its own way was an excellent match to watch.

I admit worry - and have done elsewhere on this blog - about the IPL because I fear that Test cricket will lose its position as the optimum form of the game, and the one that the ICC should put most of its resources into protecting and promoting. That is not bitterness, though. Simply fear.

As for any English attempt to "trump" the IPL, naturally a reaction has to be considered although our own Twenty20 Cup in terms of entertainment doesn't need to do anything to compete. It is important that the IPL has competition, which is why it is a great shame that the ICL has been so mercilessly trampled upon by the BCCI and ICC, but I don't want any Twenty20 competition in this country to dominate. First-class and Test cricket still has to be the main thing for me. That's why I say on the podcast that it is important the ECB are taking a couple of years to get their response right.

As for the prick comment, well yes I'm sorry although I have published much worse comments directed at me and will continue to do so as long as people do the courtesy of including their real email address. I just dislike people making criticisms without giving any evidence. If you were writing a letter for publication in the newspaper version of The Times, you would be expected to give your criticism more consideration and argument. I don't see why commenting on a blog should be any different.

[Si]

You want evidence? "Wonder how popular that is with the crowds?" The snideness jumps out from the page. I bet you have a Lalit Modi doll for voodoo purposes.

My insecurities are nothing to do with the issue. I don't care a jot about the IPL. However I do resent the tone of the coverage by this paper. Clearly the early success of the IPL has a lot of people worried. Some of your past comments and then the recent pod with remarks about the need to trump what the Indians have achieved were well over the line of patriotism. Seems the rise of the Asian bloc (in particular the Indians) has peeved not only the old boys of the ICC but their former school pals who now work in the press.

And “prick”? I wonder if I had used such coarseness my comment would have got published.

[terry]

Well said Patrick. We watch every game every night as it starts at 6pm here which is the same time our bush bar opens. To be honest I am getting very bored with the whole thing and I never thought I'd every hear myself say that about any form of cricket. What amazed me most about last nights game was the complete lack of attempt to hit out at Pollock et al. We here are already talking of 'under the table money'.
Also there is a major lack of team identity out there. I can't remember from one game to the next who plays for what team. Of course this would possibly change if English players were there that we could associate with. We will most probably see next year.
Cheers

[Patrick Kidd]

Si, Thanks for your comment but can you point out one word in this post that displays any bitterness? Be critical, but show some evidence. Otherwise you're just being a prick.

Fair enough, I have been negative about the IPL on several occasions, although I don't think I've ever demonstrated bitterness. Why should I be? There's a Test series going on that is far more worthy of attention. I'll focus on the IPL when something happens that is interesting, in the same way I would with any cricket story that grabs me.

As for this post, though, I intended to praise the economical bowling of Thornley and Pollock, who are early candidates for hero of the month for redressing the balance between bat and ball. I'd suggest that it was actually a positive comment on the IPL; sorry you are so insecure that you took it as bitterness.

[Si]

Why are you bothering to cover the IPL? The bitterness oozes from every article.