An SOS..

For many years, a species known as contest thrived in the cricketing world. The past decade has caused it much harm endangering its greatest and most endearing qualities..This species was best appreciated when quality batting (a) came up against quality bowling (b) on sporting tracks (c)..Sadly there has been extreme aid provided to empower 'a' resulting in batting records aplenty while there has been a dearth of the latter two over the decade which has pretty much meant that this species is tending towards extinction...Yes..the quality bowlers have dwindled but even mediocrity has a chance to survive if conditions are favourable..

Case in point is the latest concluded ODI between India and South Africa at Gwalior.. a powerful batting line up goes in to bat after winning the toss (its like winning a lottery)...Once this is done..especially in sub continent conditions (read docile and lifeless pitches, small grounds, lightning outfields), the team that chases (under lights mostly) is doomed...Barring a rare collapse from the team batting first, the one chasing is fighting a losing battle most times..Now, the species called a contest cannot really hope to thrive in such hostile conditions..
The contest means there is a balance between bat and ball throughout giving either a good chance...but present day rules and conditions have nullified all that the ideal contest seeks and provides..Bouncers are out, grassy tracks are passe, powerplays are in, grounds are smaller, free hits are in vogue..basically the bowler is not really respected..bowlers have started to pray for some divine intervention or atleast some use of brains by administrators...nothing has happened so far..Test matches were a ground where contests thrived the most...ODI's until this decade provided a fair chance but the advent of T-20's has almost snuffed out all hopes..

People have been raving about Tendulkar's innings..If seen from the right angle..one can realize this was rather inevitable..small grounds, hopeless pitches and a toss which clearly favours one team almost always (in most countries) have made these matches more academic...Records are broken but so is the nature of a true contest..Until the issue of the tracks is fixed and they made more sporting to strike a balance between batting and bowling, records like these will keep tumbling but the chance of watching great contests i.e. balanced games (read such as wc 1999 semi final b/w aus and SA) keeps dwindling...imagine all you sachin fans the scenario- world cup final india vs aus in mumbai- day night game...aus win the toss and bat..amass 350..match over ..done and dusted.. you don't want this to be a possibility..the species 'contest' certainly doesn't want this happening as it will be the final nail in its coffin..it is sending out an SOS constantly and periodically..hope the ones who matter heed it!...