Hayden, Ponting, Symonds and Jayasuriya are batsmen of international class but they just could not get going on the batting paradise of a wicket in the finals of the World Cup. How was it that whilst Gilchrist was on song, these great players failed to dictate the bowling? A lot was discussed but no reasons were attributed to why they couldn’t. The fact that Gilchrist is the only one whose batting is controlled by his top hand, a proven technique taught by the age old wizards of the game, whilst the others are fundamentally bottom handed players, must surely have something to do with the ease with which Gilchrist plundered whilst others floundered.

A strong top hand allows the free flow of a straight bat which causes the batsman to hit through the line of the ball with contemptuous ease. This way even if he is not on the ball, as long as he is willing to play through the line, he will get away with most shots. It is the bottom hand that makes the batsmen play across and as long as the top hand is in control even if the ball stays low, the arc of the willow will ensure that there is some contact with the bat. The World Cup was won by nothing but a straight bat. It is a lesson that most of our top order batsmen in India should learn.

If what I hear is right and players are paid more to stay on the wicket and not on performance or even timely sacrifice of their wicket to their team, then their very reason for playing cricket should be rethought. The game should go back to being played only by amateurs. That way at least the main goal of playing cricket for the love of cricket and nothing else will be achieved and the fans will know, without an iota of doubt that their team won or lost purely on cricketing reasons.

Just the other day I was into a heated discussion with a few lovers of the game. My point which was being vehemently opposed was that ‘good length’ for a batsman changes with changing conditions and from wicket to wicket. My point was proven right in the finals of the World Cup. The ‘good length’ in Kingston Oval fell back a good foot or two the moment it rained as the ball started to keep low and skid through. It is because these issues are comprehended by only a few of those that have played the game (I myself did not know it till the Nawab of Pataudi pointed it out); players when they are suddenly, without warning, faced with such situations, have no idea how to take immediate benefit of their new circumstances. Thus the ball skidding through towards the latter period of the Sri Lanka innings went from becoming an advantage to a distinct disadvantage. Though Jayawardene actually told his batting partner that the ball is skidding, he along with his teammates could not use this to their gain and the captain was actually bowled playing across the line. This altered state of the wicket would not have affected Adam Gilchrist as he hits straight through the line and instead of smashing the ball square he would simply have gone straighter.

The World Cup was won solely by a cricketer that played straight and it is time that we in India respected this very fundamental essence of batting for only then will we stop teaching our youngsters to become bottom handed players. Everyone cannot be a Sachin Tendulkar and in my view it will be wrong to try and copy his technique. This technique is difficult and harmful to young players and it took all of Sachin’s incredible talent to overcome his bottom handed batting. Even then, amongst the all time greats, he has been bowled the maximum number of times.