Bowling lesson from the IPL: Class is permanent

Twenty20 is a batsman’s game, but Munaf is nevertheless enjoying himself. He has had a decent outing with the ball, his team have been trendsetters of sorts in the tournament, and it has allowed him to unearth a few interesting secrets about his international opponents — such as the recipe behind Smith’s fat-free frame.

The Indian paceman, who says he hasn’t missed a single match on TV, is convinced that Glenn McGrath’s effectiveness in T20 is related to his aura. And he narrates how Warne counted 10 different variations to a young spinner during one practice session that made even Smith and Shane Watson gape in admiration.

Logic is defied when retired veterans such as McGrath, Warne and Shaun Pollock bowl the most outstanding spells, with economy rates of around six while bowling to some of the best batsmen in the world in a format that supports power-hitting. When you add Muttiah Muralitharan and Anil Kumble to the mix, it suggests that big names do matter in this format.

Delhi’s success has been as much because of McGrath as it has been because of Sehwag and Gambhir, Mumbai’s resurgence has Pollock to thank while, despite their losses, Bangalore have looked a much better side since Kumble joined them.

Batsmen have concentrated on playing out the spells from the big guns, concentrating on preserving their wickets and then launching on attack on the other bowlers. Kepler Wessels, coach of the Chennai Super Kings, agrees.

“Even the young bowlers try and hit the same length but big names get away without being punished too much because they have exceptional skills, and the experience of having negotiated the toughest conditions on a consistent basis. Trying to compare youngsters with the effectiveness of the big bowlers would be too harsh,” he says.

It’s emerging from this IPL season that the trick in T20 is to stock experienced bowlers, even if their are on the wrong side of 30. “There’s no substitute for experience. It’s good to have some youth but you need someone with experience to guide through,” Warne stresses.

Muralitharan, too, drives home the point. “We know how to react and deal with any situation that arises. It’s very important to have experienced bowlers in the side.”

Tomorrow is a clash of bowling’s big names — Muralitharan’s Chennai versus Warne’s Jaipur. Both teams are filled with batsmen who have attacked with abandon during this tournament, but how they handle the star bowler of the other team could determine the outcome.