In the first two games of the ongoing India-South Africa three-match ODI series, dew made a massive impact. And it is once again set to make an impression in the final game in Vizag. India were still able to defend the target in Ranchi. However, in Raipur, South Africa chased down a monstrous target of 359.
Ahead of the crucial third game, Ryan ten Doeschate, India’s assistant coach, had this to say on the dew factor coming into the equation time and again.
“The dew is huge here. It is not something we can control, but it is for us to adapt. This is a high-scoring ground with small boundaries. The real challenge is managing the difference between batting first and chasing,” he said.
“We are doing all the practical prep stuff, guys bowling with wet balls. Again, you know, like setting up our store to get a premium score, figuring out how to defend, what is best to bowl with the wet ball when there is dew on the grass.”
Ten Doeschate also shared his thoughts on how the Indian think-tank has tweaked their plans in relation to what could be a good score, batting first. Basically, with dew around, eyeing an above par score. “At the start of the first game, we thought 320 sort of par, and then we put a premium at 350 and we thought that the game in Raipur was the same. We thought 360, even given the dew coming, it was a good effort to get that score,” he said.
“You always want more runs and again the conversations have been around how we can maximise. What we said about guys starting in slightly later on, what are the better options, we just had a good chat around that,” he added.
The other major talking point in the series has been Washington Sundar’s role in limited-overs cricket. The utility cricketer has played 20 of his 28 ODIs in the middle order, averaging just over 21 with a strike-rate of 83.07. Not exactly the figures of a finisher in the 50-over format. In the ongoing ODI series, he has scored just 14 runs off 27 deliveries. Despite the conditions being excellent for batting, Washington has struggled to find his mojo.
In addition to that, the all-rounder is yet to pick up a wicket with his off-breaks. Although it has to be mentioned that the dew has made it tougher for the spinners to make an impression. The assistant coach had this to say on Washington’s credentials in the abridged versions of the game. “In those conditions, you can’t bowl 20 overs of spin. Washington is still learning, he is confident. He has had a very good 12 months. He is working on certain things like with five fielders outside the circle while batting,” he reckoned.
The former Netherlands all-rounder signed off on a light-hearted tone — the team’s bad luck with the toss. “I think we’re one in a million statistically at the moment [the probability of losing 20 straight tosses], so if we can go two million tomorrow, that’ll be pretty impressive. But again, it’s a bit of a joke, but the responsibility or the preparation is to beat whatever is put in front of us and eventually we’re going to win a toss anyway.”
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