CHRISTCHURCH: Former New Zealand captain Glenn Turner has said that the Indian batsmen, particularly the younger lot, must learn to plan their innings, “otherwise they will continue to falter and fumble.”
Turner one of the leading openers of the world during his days, said in Dunedin on March 2nd that he felt the Indian batsmen were batting in the one dayer against New Zealand as if they were engaged in playing a local league match.
Turner, a director of sports in Dunedin said he would like to have word with Sachin Tendulkar pointing out how the youngster should start his innings. “No batsman, however skillful had got to go for strokes early in an innings,” he said.
Conceding that natural talent should not be curbed, Turner said, “No batsman will succeed if he enters the crease with the sole purpose of bang and bang.”
Cricket manager Bishan Singh Bedi agreed with the former Kiwi Skipper’s observations and wanted him to have a word with Tendulkar straightaway but Turner said he would do so soon.
Tendulkar was originally considered Orthodox material ideally suited for tests. But his inclination to go for strokes early enough in his innings labeled him more suitable for one day cricket, but that too has not worked.
Tendulkar’s subsequent failures have mounted pressure on his young shoulders. Bedi however said he felt Tendulkar should be left alone. “Praise has not gone into his head. But it certainly brought more pressure on him,” Bedi said.
Turner described Martin Crowe’s century as well planned and lucky. Well planned because he waited for loose deliveries. Lucky because he took calculated risk after getting his eye in and swept the ball pitched even on off stump.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 9, 1990
