CLOSE-IN: A Blend of Cunning as Cricket Evolves into ‘Gully Cricket’ (IANS Column)

The impressive and bold debut of the young Australian opener, Sam Konstas, in the fourth Test match against India has set a precedent that young cricketers from Generation Z are likely to adopt. His ability to play what can be termed as gully cricket shots against the world-renowned pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, was truly an eye-opener.

To engage in this unconventional style requires quick reflexes, keen eyesight, and agile footwork—all characteristics of youth. We have seen this in the batting styles of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, along with many other emerging cricketers. However, for a debutant to exhibit such confidence underscores a significant shift that we can anticipate in the future of Test cricket.

The introduction of the 360-degree shot has become a permanent aspect of the game, posing challenges not just for bowlers but also for captains concerning field placements.

The evolution of limited-overs cricket, especially T20, coupled with modern protective gear, has emboldened batters significantly. In earlier times, players hesitated to take such risks due to the fear of injury. The cricket ball, being a solid and round projectile, can inflict severe damage if it strikes a player. However, the advent of helmets and protective padding has transformed the dynamics of stroke play.

The first pioneer of this innovative transformation was Ranjitsinh. His deft wristwork gave rise to the leg glance at a time when batsmen predominantly aimed to hit the ball straight and hard. It is said that the great Ranji, while in school facing fast bowlers, would step back, prompting his coach and principal, Mr. Mcnaughtan, to place nails on the back of his shoes to prevent this behavior. Ranjitsinh’s only defense against being struck on the thigh or leg was to swiftly position his bat, leading to the creation of the leg glance and flick.

The contemporary thick and heavy bats have transformed batting into an art form. The reverse flick, now being executed both on the off and leg sides as well as over the wicketkeeper, is one such innovation. The reverse sweep and glide over the slips is another. All these advancements are made possible due to modern willow, which has significantly eased the process of scoring runs.

Calypso cricket was instrumental in popularizing West Indies cricket. They played the sport in a manner akin to the entertaining style of Brazilian football. However, over time, this carefree approach shifted towards a more structured and planned strategy. Test cricket also underwent this transformation. Interestingly, it is now reverting to its roots of aggressive stroke play. Cricket has morphed into an entertainment platform, and players are starting to realize that to become stars, they must transcend the ordinary and offer something exceptional.

One cannot help but empathize with current cricketers who are mentally navigating the fast-paced modern world while engaged in a five-day game that demands patience and a conservative approach. The dilemma of determining one’s strategy in today’s game can be quite challenging.

Players like Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, and Virat Kohli are all products of an era when T20 cricket was not yet prevalent. They exemplify successful models of Test batsmanship. The challenge they now face is to adapt as match-winners in the shorter format, while contemporary batters struggle to maintain consistency in the longer version.

The observable change is the gradual decline of traditional batsmanship. Cricket is coming full circle. The aggressive nature of the game began in village cricket in England, where a batsman was deemed less manly if he did not take on the bowler. Now, after more than a century, this approach is re-emerging. The essence of gully cricket and its boldness is taking form, as recently demonstrated by Sam Konstas.

Cricket is growing increasingly captivating as teams are more focused on achieving results. This shift is causing matches to struggle to extend over five days. A movement to shorten Test cricket is being actively discussed at the ICC, which would be a grave mistake. Such a change would diminish the last bastion that separates it from limited-overs formats, transforming the game into a mere spectacle devoid of the art of patience and resilience in challenging situations.

In Test cricket, the traditional style of batsmanship remains the key to success. Perhaps, like a fine blended whisky, a combination of gully with guile could be the ideal solution.

(Yajurvindra Singh is a former Indian cricketer. The opinions expressed are personal.)