The ICC World Twenty20 has been as much about the spinners as about the innovations in batting styles.
After Kevin Pietersen created controversy over the switch hit, Tillekeratne Dilshan has invented a shot not dissimilar to Douglas Marillier’s on Zimbabwe’s tour to India. Bowlers like Harbhajan Singh have been shrewd to halt the tall, swashbuckling batsman in KP from going for the switch as was displayed in the Super Eights encounter where England managed to beat India but failed to overcome the West Indies for a spot in the semi finals.
Harbhajan Singh spotted KP going for the shot and did not release the ball at the crease and therefore, showing KP his game would not work against Bhajji. It was a great example of victory of a bowler outthinking a batsman who chose to legally cheat the system.
Now South African coach Mickey Arthur has hinted that his team was open to players trying new things and coming up with new batting styles. He also stated that Herschelle Gibbs, the explosive batsman and once opener, is now trying out a couple of things in the nets in terms of a new batting shot. While he hoped that Gibbs would keep it quiet until the final at Lord’s where South Africa hope to make it, one never knows what is round the corner in this age of innovation.
