POWERPLAY

Todays cricket is generally dominated by the batsmen. With shorter boundaries, fielding restrictions, flat decks its a bonus to the batsmen. Previously there was a mandatory 15 over fielding restriction with only 2 fielders allowed outside the 30 yard circle. This has evolved and now termed "POWERPLAY".The word itself has an aura of destruction .

In short, its a period of 20 overs which is sub divided into three parts which has to be taken during the course of 50 overs. The 1st division consists of 10 overs being mandatory with two close in catchers and the remaining two of 5 overs in discretion with the batting and bowling team.

When the Powerplay is taken by either team, we are expecting power hitting. Yes only 2 fielders allowed outside the 30 yard circle during the 1st 10 overs and for the batting and bowling powerplay 3 fielders allowed outside the 30 yard circle. Batsmen play a powerplay with an intention to express themselves, play the extravagant shots, clear the short boundaries.

The bowling powerplay has generally been taken in the 11-15 over slot with a few exceptions and all teams have got used to this. Batsmen tend to start a bit cautiously and they accelerate during the middle of the 1st powerplay and carry it on till the end of the bowling powerplay. Its the batting powerplay that is tricky, making it difficult for the batting team to ponder upon when to avail it.

But during this segment batsmen don't have a control over their batting and end up  playing some unorthodox looking shots in order to up the rate. I am referring to quality batsmen . They don't have a presence of mind to last an innings. They are looking for about 60-70 odd runs in these 5 overs. But they should understand that by playing the conventional strokes majority of these runs will be achieved and chances of wickets falling will also reduce. Well I understand if a batsmen spends some time in the middle and then takes on the attack, but going right from ball number one cannot be accepted. The fielding team without realising are putting a lot of pressure on the batsmen by bringing in all the fielders . The batsmen feel it and a couple of dot balls and they start playing all over the ball.

In this WC, the msot effective use of the batting powerplay was probably by India against bangladesh, Ireland against England , South Africa against India. The worst use of the batting powerplay was by India against South Africa and when England crumbled to India .

In the coming matches, I would like to see bowling teams creating a powerplay kind of situation by having about 3-4 fielders outside. Get the batsmen out of their comfort zone and make them play some bad shots. Its worth a gamble during lets say about 25 to 30 overs. Trying it on for a couple of overs isn't  going to hurt and if it works then its going to change the game.

The Powerplay which was seen as an out and out destructive period has now made the batsmen a bit more cautious and the bowlers have become more confident. If they stick to descent lines and lengths the batsmen could well get into the self  "destructive" mode.