5 tactical masterstrokes in cricket

For once, I won’t be writing a long-winded opening paragraph to this article.The reason’s simple – there isn’t a single best way to describe the flashes of cerebral brilliance from exponents of the gentleman’s game. Be it the infamous Bodyline series in 1932-33, designed to counter the free-scoring ability of Don Bradman, or Ashley Giles bowling a negative line to curb Sachin Tendulkar’s immaculate placement, innovations of this sort – though baffling at times – have created a lasting impression of each game in our minds.Mahendra Singh Dhoni promoted himself ahead of Yuvraj Singh in the final of the 2011 World Cup against Sri Lanka. Everyone knows what unfolded next, but the Indian skipper’s logic was impeccable: countering the threat of Muttiah Muralitharan. Sometimes, these moves are borne out of desperation – like the time when Mark Taylor asked Stuart Law to bowl some leg-breaks to the West Indies batsmen during the 1996 WC semi-finals. Australia duly won that game when it looked all but over.While these are the kind of memories that stay with you, the list I have compiled promise to relive some of them.Here are five of the best tactical master-strokes seen in the game:

#5 15-Over Savagery: Jayasuriya-Kaluwitharana opening in the 1996 WC

Sanath Jayasuriya: Plundering runs in the first fifteen overs

The Emerald Islanders revolutionized ODI cricket in 1996 with one experimental move that quickly caught on – taking advantage of the fielding restrictions in the first 15 overs. Now, at first glance, this doesn’t seem to be much of a tactical master-stroke. However, if the “executioners” turn out to be a couple of power-hitting middle-order batsmen, one would have to credit the portly Ranatunga for the squad’s resounding success.

For the record, Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana shared three century stands for the first wicket, as they piloted Sri Lanka to their only 50-over WC win. This strategy was later adopted by the Australians, and is now a regular feature across all teams and formats.

#4 Swinging the Aussies away: Sehwag-Kumble ploy & Ishants success

Ishant Sharma troubled Ricky Ponting for an hour before sending him packing

Seething from match referee Mike Procter’s decision to ban fiery off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for three Tests during the infamous Monkeygate scandal, India went into Perth with an aggressive mindset. They set a 413-run target for the Aussies to chase, and their young pace attack tied them down.

Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey were cruising along at a decent rate, despite the youthful Ishant Sharma troubling the Australian captain with a masterly display of swing and seam. He was about to be replaced, having bowled seven overs on the trot, but his Delhi skipper Virender Sehwag persuaded India leader Anil Kumble to retain the lanky seamer for just one more over.

Ishant responded with a peach of a delivery – it pitched around the off-stump, rose and drew away from Ponting, who tamely edged it to a gleeful Dravid at slip. The Australians never recovered sufficiently from that blow, and India triumphed at the WACA, exacting sweet vengeance for the nightmare they suffered at Sydney in the previous game.

#3 Braddles on the Frontline: Bowlers Batting Ahead

Sir Don Bradman

It takes a lot of character for a leader to help his side regain morale after two crushing defeats at the hands of the Old Enemy. Don Bradman, now leading the side after Bill Woodfull’s retirement, was desperate to win the third game against Gubby Allen’s side, and was hardly the fluent, magical batsman who had smashed 974 runs in the pre-Bodyline series.

He made two significant tactical changes: declaring the first innings with Australia nine down for 200, with Stan McCabe’s entertaining 63 the cornerstone of that score. Allen mimicked the response, with England at 76/9.

The second one occurred during Australia’s second sally at the crease – he sent the bowlers in to bat first on a sticky wicket, and then played the greatest innings of his career: a stylish 270, replete with all the strokes crafted through years of practice, coming at No. 7. It was the first time any side had sent in their lower order to open the innings, yet Australia scripted a remarkable win to turn their fortunes around.

#2 The Tiger Roars: Ganguly promotes Sehwag to open

Virender Sehwag punishing England in 2002

It’s never too easy to split up a successful opening pair – even more so when the duo in question are Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar. But a different stratagem was needed at the top of the order, and with the World Cup looming on the horizon, India had to find answers quickly.

The Indian captain made a decision that was initially deemed unpopular. He moved Sachin to the middle-order, and pushed the curly-haired Virender Sehwag to open the innings by his side. It paid off in late 2002, as the Najafgarh marauder tore bowling attacks to shreds with his uninhibited, incandescent stroke-play.

He then partnered the Little Master at the top, with Ganguly moving down the order, as India enjoyed a fantastic run in the 2003 World Cup.

Since then, Sehwag has achieved much success at the top, though his stocks seem to have fallen of late.

#1 Crowe the Master: Foxing the opposition with spin

Dipak Patel was NZ captain Martin Crowe’s chief weapon at the 1992 World Cup

Not many captains would dare to pick spinners on Australian or Kiwi pitches. In most cases, that would be a wise move – especially since the fast bowlers would be more than a handful on such bouncy, lively tracks. To a leader whose abilities were questioned by cricket officials owing to a nightmarish tour of Pakistan about 2 years previously, the 1992 World Cup offered the perfect backdrop to overcome all of that.

Martin Crowe pioneered several successful moves – the two best remembered ones are the use of off-spinner Dipak Patel as opening bowler, and promoting middle-order batsman Mark Greatbatch to get the Kiwis off to a flying start. His innovations were magical yet logical, and everyone in his side responded to their skipper’s strategy with enthusiasm.

Crowe led from the front with the bat as well, scoring 456 runs in the entire tournament, before New Zealand fell to Imran Khan’s young Pakistan side in the semi-final - a defeat that still rankles the Kiwis even 20 years later. Nevertheless, his idea of regular bowling changes (thus not allowing a batsman to settle down) and New Zealand’s winning streak won the admiration of the locals, crafting another golden masterpiece in the annals of the gentleman’s game.