SPECIAL REPORT T20 as a format has evolved in a rather interesting way over the last decade, breaking conventions and prophesies of what it will turn out to be. The importance of slower bowlers in the shortest format has undeniably been the biggest surprise. The ongoing ICC World T20 provides ample proof that spinners aren’t an extinct species and more importantly they aren’t there to simply speed up the over rate.
But unlike the regular use of spinner as containers, they have been utilised as wicket-takers in this tournament. It was a given that they will play a key role in Bangladesh; but not many would have placed their bets on the extent to which they have really worked. The four semi-finalists – India, Sri Lanka, West Indies and South Africa have relied heavily on their slower bowlers to make their way to the next round of the competition.
There were doubts as to how Mahendra Singh Dhoni would actually do with the services of just two pacers. He chose to adopt a Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi approach by fitting in the best bowling line up, and not the most balanced attack. And fortunately for him, it has paid good dividends. Amit Mishra and Ravichandran Ashwin have made wonderful use of the assistance from the pitch and have been courageous enough to toss the ball time and again.
Maybe Sri Lanka too have a clue lying in here and might be prompted to bring in Ajanta Mendis, Sachitra Senanayake and Rangana Herath together against the West Indies in the first semi-finals. With Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara and Angelo Mathews being the reliable pacers, it might just be a good gamble to drop Thisara Perera or a specialist batsman like Lahiru Thirimanne.
The most surprising of the lot, however, has been the re-emergence of Imran Tahir. It is tough to recollect the last time a South African team relied so heavily on a spinner for their success in a tournament or a series. But, with their batting, except a one-off show by AB de Villiers, turning out to be ordinary, it has been Tahir’s guile along with some superb bowling by Dale Steyn that has taken them so far in the tournament.
West Indies too have done commendably well despite an average show by Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels. While Darren Sammy and Dwayne Bravo have provided crucial late bursts with the bat, it is the spin twins of Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine who are keeping a check on their opposition batsmen.
It also makes the analyses simpler as to what was the reason for the failure of the teams who couldn’t make it to the semi-finals.
Australia, New Zealand and England had just one frontline spinner to the services. To make matters worse, none of them were used as wicket-taking options. Pakistan, on the other hand, had an envious line-up of spinners. But their failure to take full advantage of the conditions led them to be edged out by the West Indies
Bangladesh, too were expected to perform better in home conditions. But the failure of Shakib Al Hasan and Abdur Razzaq to take wickets by the bagful left the team deserted without a single victory.
The tournament so far has provided some good entertaining cricket, where the batsmen have been challenged, where the captains have braved to set fielders at short leg and silly point. It has proved that T20 cricket is showing more maturity with its evolution. It can’t simply be bang-bang cricket. With contest comes entertainment. And when the character is tested, does a hero emerge.
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