January 11, 2009

It was 3am on a saturday night and sleep beckoned but I just wasn’t feeling like shutting down just yet. Then I remembered the Australia vs. South Africa 20/20 game was going to start in an half hour and that would amuse me until the eyes drooped into slumber.

Boy was I glad I caught the start of that game! 65,000 people at the MCG is Cricket’s second most heartening sight behind a pumped up Eden Gardens and tied with a first day crowd at Lords. A tiny Australian debutant opened the batting for Australia and took the breath away with his batting. I have never seen bat speed like that in world cricket. The only thing that comes close is Baseball. That’s not to say baseball players have more skill, but to say that their power hitters are unparalleled. David Warner, though, has skill, touch, temperament and serious bat speed. He really is a find for Australia, the first player since 1877 to represent them internationally without playing a first-class game.

If he has a weakness, it appears to be against spin. He doesn’t seem to have the ability to manhandle quality spin like say Yuvraj Singh does just yet, but I am sure he can sort it out. He thrives on quick wickets with true bounce - like the one at the MCG. After a 19-ball 52, the next 37 runs took 24 balls, mainly due to the introduction of spin. Regardless, Warner is going to be good for Australia and good for cricket.

If the video analysts are doing their job, they’ll notice that Warner lines his “virtual crease” about 15inches ahead of the actual one. I assume he does this because he believes in his bat speed and likes to “meet” the ball early for maximum impact. That’s why well disguised cutters and slower balls are likely to be effective against him, along with quality spin.

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