From: 9063iyerm@vms.csd.mu.edu (Murali Iyer)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket
Subject: Hick's owes, again
Date: 31 Jul 92 22:01:11 GMT
Article-I.D.: vms.0095E66A.85ACBD60
Reply-To: 9063iyerm@vms.csd.mu.edu
Organization: Marquette University - Computer Services

In article <28JUL199219325965@ctrvx2.vanderbilt.edu>, diwadkva@ctrvx2.vanderbilt.edu (Vaibhav A. Diwadkar) writes:
>
>	- Like you I fear the worst as well.  It does depend though.  Presently
>	its not clear to me whether Hick's failing is thru temperament or 
>	genuine technical failings.  Last summer when Waqar was mowing down

Hick's batting has remained a juggernaut for England selectors and many cricket
fans who have followed his career, even vaguely. I for one have been wondering
what has gone wrong with his undoubtedly good batting leading upto his test
selection. 

Sometime ago, I happened to watch a bit of his batting in the world cup. In the
semi-final game against SA, he made runs but was lucky at the beginning of his
innings. Against Pakistan, the commentators kept saying that he would need some
slices of luck again to succeed with his bat. He did not get the breaks and was
out with not too many runs. 

While watching his batting, I could not help but wonder whether he is feeling 
cramped at the crease. I know it would be ridiculous to even start comparing
myself with a cricketer of test calibre, but I remember a long time ago, an
experience similar to what I think Hick is going thru. During my school days,
I used to bat with gay abandon and with little concern for technique or
orthodoxy. Later, I was selected for a coaching camp at the State Cricket
Association. All this was when I was still 15 or 16. At the camp, there were
quite a few accomplished state school-boy players, most of them playing 
correct cricket. 

Whenever my turn for batting came, the coach used to come to me and tell me how
to grip the bat with the left-hand thumb fore-fingers forming a V in line with
the middle of the bat, how the left elbow should be pointing straight down the
wicket, how my feet should be planted parallel to the crease, how my head
should be down when I make the strokes, and so on and so on. I was either too 
naive or too scared to say "to hell with it" and get on with my turf-scorching 
style. So I promptly tried to bat as the coach said I should bat. 

The result was horribly cramped batting from me. I could not make any
strokesthat I used to make nonchalantly with little thought to technique and
correctness. I was an indigenous player, without need for coaching manuals. And
I was not destined to become a high-calibre player, either. That was obvious to
me, more than anyone else. I played cricket for the sheer joy of it. But the
coaching stunt cramped my style and made me an ordinary bat for nearly two
years. "Bat and pad close together", my friends used to yell after me. :--)

I was reminded of that phase of my cricketing life when I saw Hick bat. Does
anybody know whether Hick was coached/advised by somebody "Great" before/after 
that confrontation with the WI? Otherwise how can we explain the apparent
mental block he is coming up against? I don't mean to carry this
Hick-discussion too far, but frankly, he intrigues me. Hence the question.

-Murali.


                               Murali Iyer 

Analyst/Programmer,                                Home  : (414) 288 8766
Marquette University, CSD                          Office: (414) 288 6890
517, N.14th St, Rm 159,                            1343, W Wisconsin, #331,
Milwaukee, WI 53233.                               Milwaukee, WI 53233. 

Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket