MSD and the Art of ODI Batting

Michael Bevan was one of the finest ODI players I have ever seen. What made Bevan special was the manner in which he played under pressure. Batting at 5 or 6 is arguably the toughest job to do as a batsman in ODI cricket. If your team's doing well, your expected to step up the momentum almost immediately. If your team's struggling, you need to play the role of the savior. It's a role that few people enjoy and even fewer excel at. Bevan was probably the best of the lot, until MSD came along.

As a hardcore test cricket fan, I've always had my reservations about MSD. These reservations have stemmed out of the age old belief that a wicket-keeper should first and foremost be a good keeper. Whilst it is undeniable that modern day cricket requires wicket keepers to bat and bat well, it should not be at the cost of their primary role. In ODI cricket, however, it is the exact opposite. One of India's best runs in ODI cricket came when a certain Rahul Dravid donned the keeping gloves. It worked well for India because it allowed them the luxury of having an extra batsman in the side. 

What sets MSD apart from the others is his ability to read the game and play according to the situation. When MSD broke into the side initially, he was renowned for his hitting ability, but little else. Whilst he has not lost that hitting ability, his game today is more about picking the right time to explode. Yesterday's innings was a case in point. Until India took the batting powerplay in the 35th over, it looked as if India would end up with a slightly under par total. Dhoni had other ideas. He had started his innings in trademark fashion, nudging and nurdling the ball for 1's and 2's. Come the batting powerplay, he went berserk. His clean striking was a sight to behold and England had nowhere to hide. 

I was also quite impressed with young Umesh Yadav. I certainly hope is that he does not go the way numerous other Indian bowlers have gone. He has pace and whilst he seems a little wayward, the raw material is certainly there. One can only hope that the BCCI do their best to nurture him. It's questionable whether playing him on flat surfaces in ODI cricket is the right way forward.

It is also important that the bigger picture is not forgotten. Even if India win this series convincingly, it is absolutely imperative that the weaknesses exposed in England are addressed.