Quote:
Originally Posted by acker  Viv had a complete game; power, placement and timing. |
I've no wish to discuss the merits of Viv Richards... but I would say this: the complete game is what Peter Foy once wrote about when discussing a Len Hutton innings of two parts. This first consisted of seeing off a dominant bowling attack (leaving anything that could be left, playing in a technically sound manner to maximise his chances of survival any time he HAD to play the ball). The second consisted of building a big innings (the next day, when the conditions had changed, the ball had softened and the game situation had swung towards the batting side).
I'm not questioning Viv's ability to do the same... what I'm suggesting is that the complete game consists of being more than "power, placement and timing": one must have the discipline to leave the ball (for extended periods if need be); one must have the technical proficiency to linger on the back foot and counter lateral movement with soft hands, deft touch and a remarkable ability to play the ball late; one must have the ability to play straight (and play even cover-drives straigher rather than squarer) and the ability to open the face and work the ball square of the wicket; one must have the swivel pull (and not the flat footed swat) in one's armoury; one must be able to dance down the wicket and work a spinner into gaps against the spin. One should perhaps be able to loft shots over the infield where large gaps are left (say at long off and long on).
I'm sure there's even more that could be added to the list... but I really don't see why "power" should figure... and I suspect we'd disagree about the true measure of "timing and placement": to me, that is something best demonstrated by the batsman who dances down the track and works the spinner into a gap square of the wicket against the spin, or by the late cut that counters lateral movement with ease... but I suspect you'd be more impressed by the wielder of the willow cracking the ball sweetly despite winding up with a high backlift and following through life a golfer.
I've nothing against such shots: I especially enjoyed those of the most glorious of West Indian exponents - Courtney Walsh, whose wafts have been the source of many of my most memorable moments as an onlooker.
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