When you attack too much, runs begin to flow

Summing up the just concluded West-Indies - Australia Test series Ricky Ponting makes an unusual statement.

 

It's the style of play more than anything else. You have to accept that the game may go into the fifth day and you have to be patient. You have to grind an innings out, or in the middle of a bowling spell, not try to attack too much.

 

"When you attack too much, runs begin to flow, and the batting team gets momentum in the game, and it starts slipping away from you.

 

This statement contradicts a common cricketing wisdom that "attack is the best form of defense".

 

So what does Ponting mean?

 

Most probably, Ponting has used the word 'attack' to mean 'experimentation'. In essence he is saying that during a Test match there will be one or more passages of play where the bowling team should just stick to the basics.

 

Bowl a line and length, deny boundary scoring opportunities and field sharply. Then the pressure will mount on the batsmen and they will try to be innovative and take risks. This will provide the bowling team the opportunity to dismiss them.

 

 

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