The 'Baggy Shirts' weren't born to run

It must seem strange for viewers to always witness mix-ups between experienced players when running bewteen the wickets is concerned. It really is quite simple. Some players are good judges of the stolen run whilst others are hesitant and unsure, which combined is a direct recipe for disaster – more often than not for their partners!

Watching South Africa and Sri Lanka lock horns at the moment provides some interesting contrasts in this department. The South Africans are generally quite slick but, I’m afraid the Sri Lankang at times must give coach Dav Whatmore sleepless nights. Even their most experienced players seems to launch into the odd suicidal mission.

Captain Sanath Jayasuriya is the main culprit and already one or two of the “baggy shirts” have been sent packing following a disaster of momentous proportions – just ask Marvan Atapattu!

What also amazes me is that immediately following one of these stuff-ups, each batsman, instead of gathering in the middle of the pitch to quietly discuss and correct the problem, stands at either end of the pitch where they engage in a slanging match from 22 yards. Hardly the ideal solution to a festering problem.

Surely the most difficult batsman in world cricket to run with must be South African dynamo Jonty Rhodes. Just to keep up with him is a feat on its own. He keeps it very simple. Always the opportunist, his anticipation is superb and his calls are always early and loud so that his partner knows exactly his thinking.

This is not the case with a couple of the Australians at the moment. Michael Slater is a prime case in point. He has been involved in a number of run outs this summer with the unfortunate victims mainly being Mathew Hayden and Mark Waugh. The latter has gone on record saying that when Slater calls “yes” it doesn’t necessary mean he wants a single, it often translates to “yes”, I’ve hit it in the middle!”

Things at times have got so bad that he has developed a “tongue in cheek” theory that when batting with Slater calling should be forgotten altogether. His reasoning that it lets the fielding team know that you want to do! Imagine the resulting chaos.

The worst pair I have ever witnessed attempting, I stress attempting, to run between the wickets was the opening batting combination of Graeme Wood and Rick Darling for Australia in the early 80’s. They were both very good players in their own right, and both extremely quick between the stumps, but they nearly always found their partnerships halted by some comical cricket.

Their crowning moment that still provokes mirth occurred at the M.C.G. in the second innings of a test match against Pakistan during a run chase. Things had got off to a sedate start for them with runs coming briskly and only eleven near run outs inside the first hour! Then it all happened. Graeme Wood turned one to backward square leg and surprised all and sundry by actually calling. Rick Darling responded and tore off down the wicket. They touched and turned for two, and amazingly both were watching the fielding with no regard for their batting partner, who by now was sprinting flat out back for the second. A collision of almighty proportions occured in the middle with both batsmen being knocked off their feet. The Pakistanis managed to get the ball back to the stumps at one end (it did’nt matter which) and ran out Graeme Wood.

A bonus came the way of the visitors as minutes later, after treatments, Rick Darling also trudged back to the change room with Graeme, nursing a broken arm!

Nice work Boys. Maybe when it comes to some Australians, Mark Waugh has got a valid theory!