The British author and historian C. Northcote Parkinson
once wrote (later made famous as "Parkinson's Law")
that "Work expands to fill the time available
for its completion". Meaning as a corollory, one
supposes, that no matter how much more time
you're given, you aint gonna get anything extra
achieved. Our current cricket season seems intent
on once again proving the truth of Parkinson's Law.
When the Powers That Be changed the Division One
format to 45-overs-a-side from the tried-and-trusted
40-overs, the natural assumption of everyone
involved was that scoring would increase. Totals
would go up proportionately (or, some felt, even
disproportionately - since the extra 5 overs
might well translate to an extra "5 slogging
overs" rather than just "building" overs). But
all had reckoned without good old C.Northcote.
So far there have been 34 games played under
the new 45-overs-per-side format; thus, there
have theoretically been 68 opportunities for
a First-Division team to bat 45 overs (but
only theoretically - in actuality, obviously,
it is much closer to only 34 such chances, by the
teams that are batting first only; and
maybe even less, since some games have been
played with a reduced-overs format due to weather).
Even so, the numbers are instructive, not to
stay stunning - the total number of times
45 overs have been actually been batted this
season is... 4!
Those 4 occasions are:
1) Milwaukee United vs United
2) St Louis vs Rivercity
3) Milwaukee United vs Flames
4) Bears vs Purdue
As can be seen, only 3 teams have managed this
feat so far - Milwaukee United has done it
twice. Special mention must be made of
Pak Gym however - who have twice totalled over
270 so far, but without actually batting out
the full 45 overs either time!
Having been present on both occasions when
Milwaukee United achieved this feat, I think there
were a couple of factors in common. Both games
were played on astroturf at Whitewater - a good
batting track. Both times Milwaukee started slow, a
solid start with singles and twos provided by their
openers, keeping wickets in hand for late order
hitting. And both times that late order surge was
provided by some fleet-footed and tireless running
allied with some incandescent strokeplay from their
brilliant late-order duo, Satya and Bhavneet - who
must both surely be among the best allrounders in the
league. (Against United this duo smashed 120 runs in
the last 12 overs - Bhavneet bludgeoning 3 sixes in
his unbeaten 81, and Satya 4 sixes in his unbeaten 48.
Against the Flames they reversed roles to similar
effect - Satya hit 1 six in his 51 while Bhavneet
smacked 3 more in his unbeaten 45, as this time 126
runs came off the last 15 overs of the innings). And
both times, with that frenetic late-inning charge
coming from solid batsmen who were well set,Milwaukee
United still had wickets to spare at the end.
It is interesting to ponder what has led to this flood
of all-outs from Division One batting sides - many of
these same teams, after all, often had wickets in hand
in past years when their alloted 40 overs came to an
end. Could it be that, subconsciously, some teams are
being more aggressive than usual as they think they
need to set higher targets this season... and are
losing wickets more rapidly as a result? Or has the
bowling and fielding improved this year? Or might it
just be an early season statistical anomaly, with
batsmen not yet hitting the proverbial mid-season
form, and with everything due to return to normal
fairly soon?
Each team will obviously have to find its own style to
maximize their 45 overs - Milwaukee United seem to
have found theirs earlier than most, which has led to
their fast 3-0-1 start. There are signs that other
teams are beginning to adjust to the new format too,
though - 3 of the 4 occasions teams batted their full
45 overs came this past weekend. (Before this weekend,
the full 45-overs had been batted one single solitary
time in 26 matches, a quite staggering statistic). 15
out of 18 teams have still never batted their full
45-over quota yet, however, so there is clearly more
adjustment to come.
Once the league as a whole adapts, it will be
fascinating to see if the scores are indeed higher in
45 overs this season, than they were in 40 overs last
season. Or if an old British historian will once again
be proven correct - and it will only be the time
(overs) available that will have increased, with the
actual production (runs) seeing no change whatsoever!
By Sadiq Yusuf
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9 comments:
Nice analysis Sadiq. You rarely see 'sensible' opening batsmen in the leauge. Every one wants to hit the bowler out of the park right from ball one, more so in Div 1. Most of the teams I have seen have batsmen who dont seem to mind the situation they are in when they walk in to bat. No worries about the asking rate, wickets in hand, they just play their shots. They eventually get out, as there aint no Sehwags or Dhonis in here.That mind set is reason number 1 for teams not being able to play all 45 overs. An intersting analysis would be to see how many teams have actually played all 40 all last year consistently.
Sadiq bhai, nice article - IMO it takes a lot of time for 45 overs esp. in away games, 40 over format was just fine and as you have concluded after your research, rarely anyone is playing out 45 overs.
You missed out Pak Gym playing 45 overs vs Wildcats at Hanover last weekend (we did get all out on the last ball though!;), but it still counts as playing all 45 doesn't it?).
Against us, I don't think anyone has played more than 34-35 overs as yet, so I still don't know what it's like to be on the field for 45 overs ;).
-Raheel.
Great analysis and article Sadiq. I personally think that it would a better measure if we did a similar analysis at the end of the season. Most teams are still figuring out their respective strategies to play out 45 overs.
I believe that the team that bats 45 overs (batting first or chasing) will win 8 out of 10 times this season.
Athreya
United was also all-out off the last ball of the 45th over against Tigres.
Great article. Keep this up, Guys
Wildcats played 44 overs against Muslim Gymkhana. In return, Muslim Gymkhana also played 43 overs during the second innings.
Saad
It's not Parkinson's Law, the word we're looking for is "procrastination" ;). People putting off work when they find out there's more time available for it - as a student I have a lot of experience in that dept!
-Raheel.
impressive win by pak, having score only 153 runs and protecting it despite 45 overs.(phx. only 88 runs)they can win with their defense as well.
looks like the team to beat!
everyone is going to be gunnin for them, they have to bring it each and every week.
Faisal
It's a shame to see how some of the division one team carry themselves on the field of play. it makes one think these guys have been playing cricket for 5 days in a row and they are tired.
They wanted to play 45 hhhhhhhovers and they bearly could play 40 before.
Batsmen needing water after 2 or 3 over and the have not run 10 runs yet?. and then every over after. i don't know how they don't want to "pee" after every couple overs. Taking out their batting gloves after every ball faced..WHY???.
Fielders walking after the ball from around the 30 overs fwd. Total disgrace this is!!!
No wonder no one wants to watch these boring guys play cricket. If my wife see me play cricket like these ??? she will definitely burn all me cricket stuff.
Could be a reason for people not wanting to umpire Div 1 games cause the last like 9 hours???.
I think i am going to join the umpire team and trust me these batsmen who are delaying the game will be back sitting in the sun out for obstruction of the game.
As for the fielders the will only get to bat how many overs the bowl after their 3hrs and 15 mins is up.
MCCCCCC do something about this cause you allowed them to play 45 when all of us know they could bearly play 40 and sometimes maybe 35??
Cricket lover
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