TACT AND TACTICS

 

TWO different approaches towards batting were on display in the first Ashes Test at Perth. The two-day shoot-out saw Australia pummelling England with a remarkable turnaround in fortunes. After a chaotic collapse that saw 19 wickets falling on the first day, Australia turned up the heat on the visitors in the run-chase with a fabulous counter-attack led by Travis Head. His batting approach simply changed the perceptions about the pitch and caught England bowlers unawares. Earlier, the first approach was full of fear and insecurity of the batsmen.

 

Whether it was due to the reputation of the Perth pitch or a mental block should be assessed well by both teams before a judgement is passed on the surface. The difference between the two batting approaches might be the answer the fans are looking for instead of putting all blame on the pitches on offer. If Perth provided the batsmen a trial by pace, then a few days ago the Kolkata pitch saw India and South Africa batters struggle against spin. It eventually ended up in an embarrassing loss for hosts India in their own backyard, on a pitch of their own liking. Though the pitch was blamed for its excessive turn, there were clear flaws in the batting technique of players in both teams.

 

Those were brutally exposed in the three-day finish, leaving the fans wondering whether the modern-day batsmen are short of tactics needed to counter spin in a Test match. Lack of tact and tactics was on display at Perth as well as at Kolkata for a better part of the Test matches. Until sanity prevailed in the minds of some batsmen, like Travis Head and South African captain Temba Bavuma, there was upper hand for the bowlers on pitches aiding their trade. It brings into picture the importance of having two plans for a game. Bavuma employed his Plan B in the second innings, bringing into play defence as a weapon. He stayed put despite wickets falling around him. In the end, the SA skipper’s dogged half-century paved ways for their most-cherished victory in a Test on Indian soil. It was change of tactic at the right moment that helped Bavuma master the conditions and pitch. It needs a sharp mind and clear thinking to take such decisions. A few years ago, another South African had used the same tactic by going against his natural instincts. The swashbuckling A B de Villiers, realising the need of the hour, suddenly shunned his attacking style and started a ‘blockathon’ to preserve his wicket.

 

His determined defence ultimately proved too solid for the Indian bowlers as SA came out of the precarious situation to earn a draw. A contrasting tactic was seen at Perth when Travis Head sensed the need for a counter-attack to change the one-dimensional nature of the game. He was scathing on the bowlers but was never reckless. The quick-fire century simply took the wind out of England’s sails. Ultimately, it was the victory of a change in tactic. The message is clear.