Indians identify Andy Flower's foibles
16 June 2001
Andy Flower doesn't seem to be that invincible a batsman after all.
Only the Indians did not know till now how to tackle him. Arguably the
world's best wicketkeeper-batsman, Andy Flower has made a career out
of thrashing Indian bowlers. Nearly a third of his 3000-odd runs in
Test cricket including his best of 232 not out have come against
India. The bowlers simply did not have any clue to stop him.
Not any more. The computer analysis of the batsman's technique and his
scoring pattern have revealed interesting vulnerabilities that the
Indians are all set to exploit. The computer assistance, in the form
of a 14-kg heavy machine which simulates live action and dissects each
player's plus and minus points, could be very harsh and candid in
analysing a cricketer.
And this analysis has revealed that Andy Flower hardly makes a run in
front of the wicket. Of his 83 runs in the second innings of the
Bulawayo Test, 38 came through cuts and glides over the slips while 13
were the result of glides and sweeps behind the wicket. There were
only two runs in front of the square on the onside. On the off- side
he did not have a single run in front of the square.
"We now know the best way to deal with him is to make him drive," says
Nandan, a former Karnataka Ranji Trophy player, who has been assigned
by the Cricket Board for using the machine and the software, produced
by a company called Phoenix for the next six months and help the team
with his feedback.
On the first day of the second Test yesterday, Ashish Nehra put it
into practice and saw immediate results. Andy Flower would present a
dead bat to all his fast skidding deliveries. There was no chance for
him to cut or glide him down the legside off his pads.
The Indians had their lessons in the Nagpur Test of last year too.
Only they didn't learn it quite well. On a docile, sleeping beauty of
a pitch at the Vidharba Cricket Association ground, Flower made 232
that included 28 fours. As many as 20 of them were hit behind square.
This on a pitch where you would not expect a batsman to cut or flick
so prolifically since the ball was rarely fizzing off the track.
In all, 78 of Flower's runs were a creation of flick and sweep while
45 runs came through cuts and glides on the offside. The computer
software has become very popular with the team with almost every
player keen to examine his game and learn from the mistakes. "Not
Sachin Tendulkar though," says Nandan "He is a genius. Probably he
doesn't need this input into his batting."
"It is just a make-up of a cricketer. Some cricketers just do not like
being confronted with their weaknesses. It could be a blow to their
mental make-up. Sachin could be classified as one in this category,"
said Nandan.
The video of a player's innings could also be used to motivate him. V
V S Laxman smashed no less than 44 fours in that outstanding knock of
281 against Australia in Kolkata earlier this year. He has been
presented with a cassette of all the fours he hit in that knock to
pump himself up.
"Just a look at that smashing innings of his, where he thrashed the
bowlers like (Glenn) McGrath, (Jason) Gillespie and (Shane) Warne
could act as a great booster to his confidence, especially before
going into a match," says Nandan who also works as a deputy manager at
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore.
This computer assistance, first used in the home series against
Zimbabwe last year, was given a formal shape in February this year.
"So far the contract is for only six months. After this series, it
will be renewed," Nandan said.
© PTI