Long Island Chess in Whites

First ball Wide and two full-tosses, part of the plan? Maybe...

    As my time in New York winds down and the South African squad prepared to board their chartered flight to St.Vincent in the Grenadines, the reflections are only just beginning. Quite an experience it’s been, and never to be forgotten.

    The gripping, tip-toe to victory against Bangladesh at the Nassau County Stadium was amongst the top three most enjoyable T20 Internationals I have witnessed. 113-6 plays 109-7, how good is that? I’d take that over 260 vs 250 in the IPL any time, every time.

Over a century ago there was a saying that Test cricket was “men playing chess dressed in whites.” I never thought that would apply to T20 cricket but, in the Long Island environment each run became as important as a pawn in the closing moves of a chess match.

    T20 strategy has evolved to be about preventing fours and sixes, but here it was about building dot balls and preventing singles. It was riveting. If you watched and disagree, let’s do so amicably. Selfishly, I’d love to see more pitches and outfields like these but, commercially, I understand that’s not feasibly sensible.  

Amongst the many highlights of the day was delivering the Western Province 1997 B&H tracksuit to MoC loyalist, Ed Knowles. During the memorabilia ‘auction’ two months ago Ed was first to target a memory of the old B&H day/night matches before he emigrated to the States. So, it’s finally made its way across the big water and into Ed’s hands. And onto his back, briefly.

    Really loyal MoC readers may recall my delight at meeting up with another paid subscriber for a beer on a rooftop bar in Mumbai during the 50-over World Cup last year, his name was Jonathan…Knowles. Yes, they had inadvertently not revealed their brotherhood but there was no confusion in ‘lot 248’ today. Brilliant to see them both together.

They had the charm and grace to share a photo of two brotherly beers in a ‘dive bar’ somewhere on the outskirts of JFK Airport, Jonathan returning to London and Ed to Minneapolis. I think?

So, is winning ‘badly’ a bad omen, or a sign of a team with a special ability to cover its flaws? You decide. I think South Africa busked, blagged and connived their way past Bangladesh today, and that is exciting. Much better than bullying, big-mouthing and barging to victory, as teams have in the past.

    The most consistent line and length bowler, in all formats around the world over the last two years, has been Keshav Maharaj. He can bowl 20 consecutive deliveries into an area the size of side-plate, even at the last mini-second of a batsman’s movement in the crease.

    He was required to defend just 11 in the final over. He bowled a leg-side wide first ball. And two high full tosses towards the end of the final over. Many said he was lucky. I suspect that many of the many have no idea how cleverly Maharaj reads the game and executes his plans. I suspect Maharaj may, actually, have bowled every ball exactly where he intended them. Or almost exactly. I suspect he had a plan, and it worked.   

You may well have seen this already, but it’s worth another look. New York Times covering cricket is exciting enough, but perhaps their way of reporting results might catch on? It actually makes sense…