Kings XI Punjab may have planned to dismiss Andre Russell all Tuesday (March 26th). Mike Senson and R Ashwin's analytical mind are easy to visualize and the Sunrise Hyderabad face the second day.
Target him quickly with a spin, as did Kumar Sangakkara suggest on Star Sports before the match? Or test it with bouncers? Each option is full of risks which can prove to be expensive.
Punjab, however, reached the best possible option. Old Ageorker! No batsman is enough to avoid the good performer yorker. Russell falls and a Mustafizur is throwing a yorker on the ball of Rehman, one or two seasons are withdrawn, there is no such scene which many people forget. Punjab decided to try an encounter. He had no left arm fast bowler, but he had Mohammed Shami who used to roam around the wickets to make that angle.
The plan worked as gold. Russell's first two balls of Shami were almost the right Yorker, which batsmen could only play for a long period of time. And then the perfect yorker came: about 140 km per hour, dead straight, and Russell to throw it down pretty quickly. The stump was disturbed, and the danger-man went away. Or was he?
One of the biggest mistakes in the most important period was the biggest wicket was rejected by one wicket. Inside the ring, there were only three fielders of Punjab. Neither the captain nor the bowler, or any other fielder, paid attention to this.
Thus, Russell lived on. She was at three out of five at the time of 'dismissal'. It ended at 48 out of 17
Shami then threw five more balls to Russell, which had very different luck. He read: 1 6 6 6 4. There was no change in the plan, but the difference was that Russell knew well what was happening now.
Shami stayed around the stump trying for the Yorker, but this time, Russell was ready. He remained in the crease deeply, turned the yorker trying to turn it into half. And then his ruthless army took power.
Apart from its apparent power, Russell's greatest strength is those goals. He has hit nine sixes in two matches, in all 'V' or Cow-corner fields. There is hardly any fancy stroke or effort. His limit is not as wide as some other batsmen. His plans are as clear as they can get. Nevertheless, the bowlers struggle to stop him, even with the best plans.
This is actually a common symptom with most of the West Indies T20 stars. Think Chris Gayle Think of Kieron Pollard. Think Evin Lewis Or even the latest - Shimron Hetmayer These are not batsmen who hit around the park. They target conventional hitting areas, and do it comfortably.
The problem for Shami on Wednesday was that once he did plan b. No slow ball, no bouncer tried. He was probably very disappointed after a silly mistake. However, by the end of this, the game was slipped thanks to another Russell Blitz.
