NO DOUBT Russell Domingo will be keeping an eye on the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the next six weeks or so. Like all ambitious and committed coaches, he rarely misses an opportunity to learn something new — and there’s plenty of innovation on offer among the eight franchises.
International and IPL cricket are worlds apart, however. You won’t find many international players prepared to admit it publicly, but the pressures are vastly different. For an Australian or South African representing an Indian franchise, the fear of failure is almost nonexistent.
Personal pride plays a big role, of course, but with another game just two or three days away, the opportunity to correct mistakes is never far away. Which is exactly why we see so many outlandishly dazzling performances from the top players. It may be a multimillion-dollar business, but it is the business of entertainment as much as it is the business of winning. Players are not just given licence to let their hair down, they are encouraged to.
Things tense up a little in the final few games before the play-offs, and there’s no doubt about the teams’ collective desire to win … or is there? When the head of the Board of Control for Cricket in India is wanted for questioning with regard to match manipulation and illegal gambling, perhaps there is doubt.
But let’s assume that 99% of all aspects of every match are clean and straight for the moment. What are the messages Domingo and the rest of the coaching and management team are being inadvertently sent? Different teams have different tactics according to the assets available to them. But certain things can’t be ignored. Like the Chennai Super Kings using Faf du Plessis down at No5 or No6.
And the King’s XI Punjab recognising David Miller for the punitive, destructive match-winner that he is — and giving him the opportunity to do what he does best.
AB de Villiers is in a tricky predicament at Royal Challengers Bangalore because Virat Kohli is the captain and the only man in the world game who might reasonably be regarded as an equal. He also happened to have staked his reputation on Yuvraj Singh and begged the team to buy him at the auction, which leaves de Villiers coming in at No5.
It appears to be common cause among every former player and coach who has felt the inclination to comment, that the Proteas got their tactics horribly wrong at the International Cricket Council Twenty20 World Cup last month, but the beleaguered Domingo has refused to concede any ground. Sarcasm and spite were used during his justification, which was understandable but a pity nonetheless.
He would rightly have concerns about admitting the batting order and the bowling line-up were wrong. Using de Villiers to bat only the last half-dozen overs was justified on the basis of statistical information that he scores more runs in the final few overs. So does everyone. Lionel Messi scores more goals in the final quarter of a soccer match than he does in the first three quarters. It doesn’t mean you leave him on the bench until the final 20 minutes.
Domingo will feel that he’s damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. He can’t afford to admit the tactics were wrong because he feels he’ll be scorned if he does. Fortunately, he has a lengthy break to stay out of the limelight and ponder things.
But when he does emerge, before the tour of Sri Lanka, he would be well served to acknowledge the sheer number of voices and the gravitas of those who spoke out against the tactics. Apart from captain Du Plessis, there wasn’t a single voice in support of the “Domingo way”. Not publicly, anyway.