MURALI CHUCKS

... it in:

Murali hasn't risen to the challenge

Considering he has taken a stack of wickets, Murali has cut a surprisingly forlorn figure in this series. After a bright start he has faded and in the past few outings Australia's senior batsmen have played him with relative comfort. Only in the first innings of the campaign did the spinner look like dismissing the Australians for a low score. Since then it has been hubble, bubble, toil and trouble.

Admittedly, Australia has won three consecutive tosses and the local demon has not been given an opportunity to bowl on a wearing pitch with runs on the board. Moreover, his opponents have a strong and resilient list of batsmen. Nevertheless, top-class bowlers stand their ground in all circumstances and a part of Murali has stepped back.

In recent matches he has bowled around the wicket, set defensive fields and waited for mistakes to be made or the tail to appear. Although he has claimed 25 scalps in five innings he has been contained.

Of course, Murali has bowled a lot of overs in sultry conditions and in a short space of time and weariness may explain both his state of mind and the raggedness that has crept into his action. Even so, his performance has fallen short of expectations.

Obviously, Murali's relative failure has not been entirely his fault. Often he fights almost a lone battle and in his absence the attack is reduced almost to impotence. He is both his team's strike and stock bowler.

Over the years Murali has met these challenges and overcome them. In this series he has seemed uncertain of himself. Certainly he has not risen to the challenge of playing the strongest team around.

Murali can bowl long spells in withering heat. On the evidence of these matches, though, he wilts in the face of an onslaught. Australia's batsmen have kept him under pressure with an attacking and inventive approach.

Murali is used to batsmen pushing their pads at him. He is used to crowding the bat. He is not used to batsmen taking calculated risks in an attempt to disrupt his rhythm. Nor has he responded well to the assault. To the contrary, he has taken to bowling around the wicket with a packed leg-side field, a strategy that might stem the flow of runs but neutralises his unique abilities.

In his pomp Murali bowled a yard outside off-stick and tried to hit the bails. He was a holy terror. Now he seems willing to compromise his powers in the interests of economy. From around the wicket he is just another off spinner with a solitary trick up his sleeve, the dreaded doosra.

Indeed, Murali has become obsessed with this delivery, dispatching it three times in his first over in Colombo. Accordingly it is no longer a weapon of surprise. Some of the Australians can pick it, so they say.

Murali has gone further in his attempt to save runs. Under pressure he spreads his field, which allows batsmen to take singles at their leisure. Evidently he hates conceding boundaries. Although he says otherwise, Murali prefers the batsmen to defend than attack.

Admittedly he has not been helped by the uninspired fields set, but it's hard to believe that his coach or captain are to blame. Rather, the fault lies with the bowler himself. Murali has not been able to ignore the voices of doubt to be heard inside the head of every sportsman.

Whatever the reason, Murali has lost his edge and has fallen behind Shane Warne in the rankings. Of course, the Australian is fresher and playing for a stronger side. But he does not take a backward step. Murali remains a wonderful player but in these matches he has not shown the competitive courage expected from great sportsmen.

Comments

[Adsy]

Not for one moment am I defending the googly eyed little chucker but jesus... how much more does Roebuck want him to do? Asked on to take half to three quarters of the wickets every match, I reckon he has been just as much a handful as a lot of people have expected him to. Five 5-for's (or close enough) is doing pretty well if you ask me!

[Tony.T]

Actually, now that you mention it, Ads, it does seem a bit harsh. Never the less, Vaas and Zoysa have done reasonably good work and enough to bulwalk Murali. And how many wickets has he got in the lower half of the order? (6 - 11) He hasn't really looked like threatening Ponting, Lehmann, Hayden and Martin. And the Spanker is right, he's been very defensive and been waiting for the Aussies to get themselves out.

[Brett Pee]

Boofa played him o.k. during his 153 in this 3rd test, although he picked up his now mandatory 5 bloody wickets, all against the tail. He seems to pick Murali's funny delivery. And spanky wrote a good 'un there.

[Adsy]

True, I do reckon Putinder Vass has been really good in this series, probably more threatening to our top order than Murali has been. And yeah 90% of his wickets have been gifted by our bottom order.

I think its been a case of our bats reading him though more than him bowling poorly. He ran through us in the first innings of the first test, and ever since then our top and middle order have been able to blunt him, if not dominate him for periods. If I could bowl (term used loosely) like he does, I'd expect to have anyone in trouble. But overuse of the doosra (translated into one thats chucked the other way) and our boys willingness to give him a bit of tap has him in trouble.

[Tony.T]

Funny you should mention that, Brett. The other night when I saw Murali had snagged 5 after taking 2 for 130 odd, I screamed at the telly. Bishy's right -- a thief.

Ads, I like the way they've decided to have a go at him. Just like the Kiwis and Shane Warne. Take a risk and try to slog him off his rhythm.

The doosra though. Shit a brick. That is a fair dinkum chuck.