Commit to the Plan...

Even if it's wrong

    Aiden Markram’s assertion during the T20 World Cup that it is ‘better to be fully committed to the wrong plan than uncommitted to the right one’ has claimed squatter rights in my thinking ever since. Obsessed is a bit strong, but fascinated would be right.  

    The 17^th over of the Super Eight match against England in St.Lucia keeps coming to mind. England needed 46 from the final four overs and were in trouble in difficult scoring conditions. Ottniel Baartman was given the ball in circumstances in which has recently thrived.

A strong wind was whipping across the Daren Sammy Stadium but Baartman wasn’t interested in forcing the batsmen to play into it. He was going full and straight with long on and long off on the boundary. They would either have to drive or take huge risks playing square of the wicket. The first ball was a knee-high full toss. Never mind, everyone misses their target.

    The second ball was also a full toss. There was no obvious sign of doubt. Both were hit for four. The third ball was another full toss and was heaved away for six. 14 off the first half of the over. No sign of emotion on the bowler’s face. Captain Markram had the look of a man doing a tricky crossword, but under no pressure. The field remained the same, as did the plan.

    Baartman bowls the best yorker in South Africa and he was going to prove it. Even if they were now on an unfamiliar ground in the Caribbean. On TV commentary, Nasser Hussain questioned the wisdom of the tactics. The fourth ball was a full-toss but went for just two. Hussain said ‘surely he has to rethink.’ But the commitment was unshakeable. Markram had a word, just checking. Baartman was going to land his yorker. The fifth ball was a full toss, too. Five in a row.

    The over cost 21 runs and England were suddenly favourites with 25 required from the final three overs. But Markram obviously wasn’t as committed to his plan as Baartman had been, and didn’t give Baartman his final over, the 19^th of the innings. Instead, Marco Jansen, a ‘gamble’ at the death, conceded just seven from it and South Africa won by seven runs.

    Full, unshakeable commitment to a plan is admirable, and it was inspiring to watch Baartman’s iron-clad faith in his ability. The yorker was his best ball and therefore his preference. In tight finishes it is often better to allow the bowler to bowl his most reliable delivery than the best ball for the situation if he is not confident bowling it. Such tiny conflicts have cost South Africa two World Cup final appearances.

    This commitment, presumably, applies as much to off-field plans, like the decision to ‘rest’ Jansen from the two Test-Championship fixtures against the West Indies in Trinidad and Guyana next month. Head coach, Shukri Conrad, said last week that his team would probably need to win seven out their eight remaining WTC matches to have a chance of reaching the final.    

    Winning seven out of eight Test matches, against four different opponents and only four at home, requires total commitment to the task. On the face of it, it would seem an inappropriate time to be resting the most dynamic players.

    Jansen has made the most impact in Test cricket claiming 49 wickets at an average of just 23.59 in 13 matches and scoring 401 runs at 23.59. He contributed massively to winning his debut series against India. His replacement for the West Indies ‘series’, Wiaan Mulder, is an extremely fine cricketer whose praises have been sung here in the past. In his dozen Tests he has taken 19 wickets at 27.11 and scored 326 runs at just 15.52 per innings.

    But times have changed and, like most nations, South Africa’s verbal assurances about the primacy of Test cricket are not matched by its actions. If Jansen played for England or Australia, and they still had a chance of reaching the WTC final, chances are his rest period might have come during the ongoing MLC. But CSA can’t pay him enough to match the dollars on offer in America so, there he is. On the verge of burn-out after 16 consecutive weeks in the IPL, World Cup and Major League Cricket.

    Jansen told me twice during the New York leg of the T20 WC how important Test cricket was to him, the standard bearer and greatest format of the game. He readily acknowledged it as the foremost yardstick by which players are measured. But he reassured me last week that he was consulted by both white ball coach, Rob Walter, and Conrad, and was fully in agreement with their plans.

    As Markram said, it’s better to be fully committed to the wrong plan than not committed to the right one. Or maybe the priority isn’t Test cricket.