Savs lacked planning

By Peter Roebuck

Savs could be the worst fielding side in indoor cricket at present. They allowed extra runs in the field during their first game of the 06/07 indoor season and when it came to themselves lost a few while running between the wickets. Add up all those and you have the difference between losing and being smashed.

There were those two regulation chances behind the wicket that were dropped off Kel. It was the surest way to invite disaster. Grouch has let go a few in the field in this match and I am not sure if Slick’s presence in the field could have counted. He is one of the best outfield fieldsman and you do not catch over hundred scalps in that position without being special. In last nights game he was chasing fly’s, no magic for the new captain.

Along with Arjuna and Grouch, Tom was one of the three senior-most cricketers who mattered for the Savs last night. These three are of timeless quality, the rocks that have braved the onslaught of faster, fitter and stronger indoor cricketers from one decade to another.
Savs must count themselves lucky, for Tom had set himself up for an innings of 30 or 40 runs. He was in a groove and was bisecting the field with his customary precision.

The Savs captain just did not plan well enough. Savs needed to target and create more Opportunities.

Somehow I remain skeptical about the 7 frontline bowlers theory. Do we have an example in world cricket where eight specialist bowlers have mattered?

Savs looked for thoroughbreds when multidimensional cricketers are the call of indoor cricket. The likes of Tucan and Pocket Rocket and Apu, are able to don different hats in the fluid world of indoor cricket quickly and they were sadly missed.

Remember: single dimensional talents are easy to mark and sometimes a solitary arrow is enough to bring them down to earth. But if you are a chameleon, you can sneak in and move ahead with the furtiveness required in indoor cricket and this is what was lacked in last nights one sided game.

One keeps hearing that this Savs team needs more time to turn round the corner. They would surely not be able to do so if the legs and spirits are as tardy as that of the present lot.

No doubt the captain will look forward to the return of the chameleons. Another loss like last night may result in the new Captain stepping down and Hollywood regaining his long held desire to lead this famous team to a finals victory and to hold the trophy that Arjuna and Brucie so desired.