If ever one-day cricket had inspired a script for a James Hadley Chase thriller, Australia’s Michael Bevan would perhaps have been the lead protagonist. He may not have been a typical Chase hero, but Bevan made things almost as exciting. A chartbuster rather than a charlatan, his penchant for pursuing targets dubbing him as one of the best one-day batsmen ever.When Australia batted second with Bevan in the side, they won 75 of their 110 matches, with him averaging 86.25 as compared to an even otherwise incredible 53.56. Out of his 42 half-centuries, 36 were in winning causes and so were five of his six centuries.Having portrayed Bevan in this shimmering light, it becomes necessary then to ask him why Australia’s last three defeats in four tri-series finals have come because of unsuccessful chases. And why five out of their last six losses in ODIs have been against India.“I am perplexed why the Aussie batsmen have failed in situations where they shouldn’t have,” he says. “Michael Hussey is very valuable in that position. Hopes was impressive in the final and he has done well in first-class cricket.”That is Bevan’s immediate reaction but, after a minute of evaluation, he ventures a philosphical answer: “You can’t win every match. The present team has great players, Symonds and Clarke among them, but the pressure of playing continuously at the international level is bound to catch up. Looking at the way the other teams have been lifting their standard, India especially, it had to make a difference at some point of time. Ask about how he used to chase so well, and Bevan says he was just being himself. “I batted that way all my life. There are some players who’re cut out for specific tasks. Now, Australia have Hussey, India have Dhoni. They’re cricketers who are confident. They know what it takes to stay there and win.”Bevan has been spending quite some time in Hyderabad because of his contract with the Indian Cricket League (ICL) as T20 coach. He says he signed up with the ICL on short notice and is convinced they’re doing a mighty good job for the game. As for Australia’s supremacy, he believes there’s going to be another positive twist to their magnificent story.
