Run outs, Call outs and Other outs

Great show – Good to see Paresh scoring those sixes and playing responsibly until the end, in the match against Adroit CC, during last weekend. Sorry to see none of the other batsmen shouldering support here (including myself). Our bowlers did an amazing job. Thamizh/Paresh, hats off to you guys for the last ball wicket and keeping your cool under pressure.

Run outs - Are we becoming team Pakistan, aping them on getting run out ? In the four SBCL matches so far, we have 10 run outs including mine. They are free gifted wickets to our opponents. What it means is that, we are not communicating and ignoring the basics. What the basics say ? It is always the call of the person running to the risky end, to judge the run. For eg. if the batsman cuts the ball to the gully position, the batsman initiates the call, but then the non-striker should decide whether to run or not, as he is running to the risky end. If he is not comfortable, he should shout “no”, immediately. Similarly, if the ball goes to mid on/off, it is the batsman's call and the non-striker should wait for the batsman, to start running. Please start saying yes or no, for every run. Click this hyperlink where, Ricky Ponting gives tips on improving running between the wickets. The fielders are not Johnty Rhodes, but at the same time we should not be Inzamamul Haqs. Some good players are getting run outs and it is hurting our targets and that in turn puts more pressure on our bowlers/fielders. Another tip is here.

Call outs – Another communication glitch, is not making calls when you try to take high catches. I know our team is good in fielding/catching. But rectifying this minor glitch, will help us a lot.

Other outs – I am going to take a pledge on behalf of Praveen, that he is not going to play aerial shots in the leg side until he is confident of his form. He is too good a batsman to get out to these aerial shots. As Paresh is in good form, if Praveen can rotate the strike by finding the gaps and play along the ground, that will help him regain the form pretty soon. Hope to see Praveen score a 40/50 pretty soon, like Paresh did, this Sunday. I know it is just a case of putting mind over matter. Think every ground as Geo Davison Park. You should get your form, pretty soon.