Fourth Innings Blues? No More!

The Sydney test is interestingly poised as South Africa finish the 4th day of on-going Sydney Test 314 short with 9 wickets in hand. Ricky Ponting has put Australia’s top ranking to risk by making an enticing declaration. And there is every reason to believe that Proteas will approach the last day’s play with an eye on making a clean sweep.

Historically, daunting last innings targets have been difficult to reach for most teams. In the history of Test Cricket, spanning more than 125 years, score of excess of 300 in fourth innings has been posted only 104 times. Many a times, the burden of chasing down a stiff target gets to teams having best of batting lineup. Deteriorating pitches play on the minds of the batting side. But of late, it is no more the case. In 2008, there have been 9 instances of teams scoring more than 300 in last innings, sometimes the heroics failed to save the match, but on few occasions bating teams earned honorable draw and on two occasions India and South Africa fashioned memorable victories against the best team in the world.

Last year, New Zealand, with hardly any world class batsman in their rank, scored more than 400 in the last innings, twice against England. In their home season, West Indies scored more than 300 in their second essay, once against Aussies and once against a strong bowling combination of Vaas, Murali and Mendis. That they could salvage a draw only once is another matter. Even the minnows BanglaDesh gave Sri Lanka a scare as they made 413 in their last innings although they lost by over hundred runs. Cricketing world witnessed two fascinating run chases in the last month of last year when India and South Africa easily overhauled daunting 4th innings targets.

A clear trend can be seen in these figures. Teams no longer get overawed by the stiff targets. Even if they lose, teams are giving a fair crack at 300 plus targets. Earlier, sheer weight of the lead used to drown the batting team psychologically. Now it is not always so. What has brought about this change?

Some of my friends believe that this the impact of ODI and T20 Cricket as batsmen have become more attacking. But I don’t think this trend has anything to do with the influence of limited overs cricket, because it is not easy to sustain the attacking play for more than a day with different climate conditions. Has the bowling standards the world over declined? While it may be so, the real reason in my opinion, lies in the condition of pitches all over the test playing nations. In the subcontinent, 4th and final day pitches used to be so dusty so that it was impossible against the likes of Kumble and co. But now the pitches are so well prepared and so slow that spinners are hardly getting any help. Bouncy tracks in Australia used to develop cracks which bowlers could exploit. But it doesn’t seem to happen these days although Ponting must be hoping that the pitch offers something to his bowlers tomorrow.

Win the toss, bat first and crush the opposition under the weight of huge score. This used to be mantra of most teams. But captains now have to find new strategies for winning. May be taking the groundsmen into confidence to catch the opposition on vicious pitches. Or else, some more successful run chases might be in store this year too. Hopefully, the first in this year comes up tomorrow!