Outside The Line

"Guardians" In Almost The Platonic Sense

Nice to see the MCC showing an open mind and allowing Kevin Pietersen to play his switch-hit lefty circus shots. It didn't require much courage or foresight on their part to see all the possibilities inherent in the new accelerated medium, ... but still, a tip o' the hat to them.

I'm just waiting to see if any critics of the decision come out and publicly denounce Pietersen himself "for forcing the laws to be changed just for him" or something of the sort. I doubt they will, but I remember hearing those same charges often labeled against Muralitharan, back in his peak controversy days.

I do wonder if there will be a double standard there, because their cases are virtually identical -- both players caused officials to amend the laws of the game, not because they were breaking them, but simply because they stood outside them. They showed the law books to be insufficient, incomplete... and they showed us how far the chasm can stretch between what we think we know about the game, and what we actually do know.

Meanwhile, Oceans Away

It may not have been that obvious while the IPL was in full flow, but Outside the Line was also following the action from the rest of the cricket world. (Yes, we don't just ignore everything we don't like, cover our ears, and pretend it doesn't exist. You listening, English blogs?) Here are some random thoughts:

• I can't say I'm ecstatic about another set of interminable, lopsided one-day series, but okay, fine... it's clear that the corporates and the pushers paid they cash in advance and they won't rest until they squeeze every second of available ad time out of their investment. I get it.
     
  But as long as we're just playing out the clock till the FTP is finally over in 2011, why not use the time to experiment a little? Someone has the right idea...

• Congratulations to the English team, by the way, for taking three-and-a-half years and 72 games to realise their best batsman should be batting at no. 3. Well done, guys.

• After having to withstand the likes of Aamer Sohail and Greg Chappell on a daily basis -- and coming close to shoving a lawn dart in my ear a few times just to make them stop -- it's nice to hear proper commentators again, as I found out while checking out some highlights from the Sky telecast of the England v . New Zealand series.
     
  The Sky team have definitely got their flaws, but at least they can get the little things right... you know, like "conjugation" and "subject/verb agreement". You come to miss those after a while.
      
  
• Jumping oceans (and continents), re: the Australia v West Indies Test series, we're now just a few hours away from finding out how badly the Australian empire has crumbled in the year since McWarne retired. The mere fact that the series outcome is still up in the air on the fifth day of the last Test is already an ominous sign .
     
  I haven't had a chance to watch any of the action, but I like what I've read... top-order collapses, dropped catches, opponents brimming with confidence. Very unlike the Evil Empire, and still music to my ears. Even if they eventually come out with another buzz-killing victory, anytime they're forced to mouth the words, "Thank god Simon Katich was at the crease", you know things haven't gone quite as planned.
     
  
• Memo to Dwayne Bravo:
     
  This is it, brother. Your time. You say you're for real? You say you're more than just a fielding allrounder? Well, here's your chance. Prove it.
     
  Champions get centuries, on fifth day pitches, to set fourth-innings chase records. Shiv did it once. Ask him about it sometime. (Maybe as you stroll out to the crease with him?)
     
  Sure, you could keep cruising on those forceful 40s, the 3-wicket hauls, and the killer smile. But we both know you're worth more than that. You're a kinesthetic freak -- anyone who's seen you merely jumping to catch the ball in the field can attest to that. You're practically the reason why super slo-mo was invented.
     
  Time to step it up, D.