Away to rub off Steyn
Hamilton Masakadza and Solomon Mire are not the names that would ring a bell in India. But the Indian batsmen, superstars and prima donnas in every sense of the word, could take a cue from the two unheralded players. Zimbabwe did something not seen often in a cricket ground - dispatch Dale Steyn out of the park. India will be up against Steyn on Sunday.
Masakadza, a 31-year-old right-handed batsman, had the audacity to step out to the world’s premier fast bowler, who clocks 145 kmph. Unfazed by Steyn’s reputation, the Zimbabwean clouted him for a six over covers to bring his 50 in a Group B game in Hamilton last Sunday.
Mire, a 21-year-old with only six ODIs behind him, was more elegant than Masakadza in his treatment of Steyn. He flicked one with a timing that would have made a Virender Sehwag proud. The result was as effective and Steyn was predictably miffed by the treatment meted out to him by the minnows of the world. Zimbabwean batsman went on to treat him like a Dadar Union Club bowler milking 64 runs from Steyn’s nine overs. Besides the two sixes, Steyn bled nine fours as well.
Not too many Indians have managed to hit Steyn over the park and MS Dhoni (Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Karthik have hit him for a six once each) is the only current Indian batsman to have extracted the maximum from the No 1-ranked ODI bowler. Dhoni, in fact, has hit him for a six twice.
Steyn, in all fairness, has been off colour, since arriving in this part of the world. He could not handle New Zealand’s chilly weather and has been down with cold and flu for some time. The weather, in Christchurch particularly, bothered him and he skipped practice for a few days. On Thursday, he showed up at the nets and bowled with a short runup but did not look sharp.
South Africa coach Russell Domingo said he was not exactly worried about Steyn’s form or health and said the pacer will be available for the India game. “He has had a bit of sinusitis but nothing to worry,” he said, adding that the team and Steyn would benefit with people like Gary Kirsten and Mike Hussey in the dressing room. “Mike and Gary come across as professionals. They don’t impose themselves and flood the players with information. Gary is an experienced coach and knows when to give and when not to give information.”
Domingo said the Proteas have not watched the Indian tapes so far and discounted the psychological advantage that his side may have for their 3-0 record against India in the World Cup. “I don’t know whether it is a psychological advantage or not but we can’t take India lightly. To be honest we didn’t watch India’s game (vs Pakistan) as we had our own game. Our focus is purely on ourselves. We will sit down and analyse the Indian players in the next two days,” he said.
India have not indicated how they have prepared for the South Africans. They have taken a threeday break since their game last Sunday. They would have better utilised the time if they spent the off-days watching the tapes of SAZimbabwe game, particularly the way Masakadza and Mire toyed with Steyn. There is something to learn there.
Masakadza, a 31-year-old right-handed batsman, had the audacity to step out to the world’s premier fast bowler, who clocks 145 kmph. Unfazed by Steyn’s reputation, the Zimbabwean clouted him for a six over covers to bring his 50 in a Group B game in Hamilton last Sunday.
Mire, a 21-year-old with only six ODIs behind him, was more elegant than Masakadza in his treatment of Steyn. He flicked one with a timing that would have made a Virender Sehwag proud. The result was as effective and Steyn was predictably miffed by the treatment meted out to him by the minnows of the world. Zimbabwean batsman went on to treat him like a Dadar Union Club bowler milking 64 runs from Steyn’s nine overs. Besides the two sixes, Steyn bled nine fours as well.
Zimbabwe did not beat SA in that game but they exposed a few chinks in SA’s armoury for teams like India to exploit. They have actually taken the fear factor away from the South African, who till that point, displayed an aura of awe for the batsmen of the world. South Africa is not a one-bowler team but an Australian way of doing things is to attack the strike bowler of the opposition.
Not too many Indians have managed to hit Steyn over the park and MS Dhoni (Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Karthik have hit him for a six once each) is the only current Indian batsman to have extracted the maximum from the No 1-ranked ODI bowler. Dhoni, in fact, has hit him for a six twice.
Steyn, in all fairness, has been off colour, since arriving in this part of the world. He could not handle New Zealand’s chilly weather and has been down with cold and flu for some time. The weather, in Christchurch particularly, bothered him and he skipped practice for a few days. On Thursday, he showed up at the nets and bowled with a short runup but did not look sharp.
South Africa coach Russell Domingo said he was not exactly worried about Steyn’s form or health and said the pacer will be available for the India game. “He has had a bit of sinusitis but nothing to worry,” he said, adding that the team and Steyn would benefit with people like Gary Kirsten and Mike Hussey in the dressing room. “Mike and Gary come across as professionals. They don’t impose themselves and flood the players with information. Gary is an experienced coach and knows when to give and when not to give information.”
Domingo said the Proteas have not watched the Indian tapes so far and discounted the psychological advantage that his side may have for their 3-0 record against India in the World Cup. “I don’t know whether it is a psychological advantage or not but we can’t take India lightly. To be honest we didn’t watch India’s game (vs Pakistan) as we had our own game. Our focus is purely on ourselves. We will sit down and analyse the Indian players in the next two days,” he said.
India have not indicated how they have prepared for the South Africans. They have taken a threeday break since their game last Sunday. They would have better utilised the time if they spent the off-days watching the tapes of SAZimbabwe game, particularly the way Masakadza and Mire toyed with Steyn. There is something to learn there.
