Nightwatchmen Not Wanted
From CI:
For some reason India continue with their practice of using a nightwatchman, in perfect light, and perfect batting conditions. And that too a fast bowler who has just finished bowling 27 overs. Ishant Sharma couldn't survive the last six overs. At least India are consistent there: they sent in Ishant against Australia too, in Delhi last year, with the same consequence. Gary Kirsten said then: "Certainly, in all the cricket I have played in my time, and it's no different here, we always ask the No. 3 or 4 batsman if they want a nightwatchman. And it was requested that a nightwatchman be used. This is what happens every single time, in every situation, and there are very few batsmen who don't want a nightwatchman."Er, why ask the batsmen? Why not, as captain, just tell them to go in according to the batting order? Why not, that is, ask them to do their jobs? Batsmen are, to use an old, but still delightful phrase, a bunch of laadsaabs, (derived from Lord-Saheb, I'm sure), used to sitting around in the pavilion, drinking chai, dipping in the odd biskoot, and occasionally ordering pakoras. Tell them to get off their round backsides, and go in and bat. That's what they're getting paid for. It wouldn't hurt to remind them of the silliness of it all when a nightwatchman's wicket falls. One more wicket down, and nothing to show for it.
5 Comments:
ishnat misses out on batting time today, boy would he have blocked all afternoon
NC: Are you up late or early? Its 2 AM in the morning in Delhi, surely?!
up late, but could be up early too. no sleep till napier
Samir, the next time a batsman has been batting for a long while and it is close to stumps, I'd like one of the frontline bowlers to demand a nightwatman to bowl a few overs while he goes into the pavilion and rests up to be fresh the next day.
If that sounds pathetic, then how is it different from what the batsmen are doing?
I know I am preaching to the choir, but your description of them as laatsaab's is perfect.
Grr-dom prevails.
JQ: Sounds like a very good idea!
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