EXCLUSIVE
Follow UsIn their first game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) dug a hole for themselves by bowling multiple no-balls, one of which also resulted in Jos Buttler being caught at first slip for 0. That cost them as RR went on to put on 210 on the board resulting in a 61-run loss for SRH.
Head coach Tom Moody too had expressed his displeasure about his bowlers' over-stepping.
Former England spinner Graeme Swann believes if SRH can be disciplined with their bowling, they could be a dangerous side. They take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) next, who are going into this game off the back of an impressive win over defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
“Their biggest weakness - if you bowl no-balls and take wickets early on and they get cancelled out, you've got no one to blame yourself,” Swann said on Cricket.com.
“Imagine how different Buttler's IPL would have been if he had got out for naught in the first game. SRH in that first game really did shoot themselves in the foot.
“It's unforgivable to bowl in no-balls in T20 cricket. Surely, their bowling coach would have said, 'you do that again, and you're out.' If they don't do that, there's not too much to panic.
“They could have easily won the first game. They could have had Rajasthan 3 or 4 down in the first five overs if they hadn't been for lack of discipline.”
LSG openers KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock have been susceptible against off-spin in the past and Swann reckons the introduction of Washington Sundar in the powerplay for an over or two could prove effective.
“All teams invest heavily in their stats department and these match-ups. It wouldn't surprise me [if they toss the ball to Washington Sundar in the powerplay],” Swann said.
“KL Rahul vs Moeen Ali the other night, he was brilliant. He only faced a few balls, used his feet and hit him straight down the ground for six. If there's no turn in the wicket, Rahul is actually a good player of off-spin bowling.
“Quinton de Kock, it's strange because he can score pretty well but he does get out to it and he gets bogged down if there's a lot of dot balls. So, I would look to get at least one over of Sundar's off-spin. If it doesn't work, you can always go back to a seamer. But if does work, you can pick one or both of them up.”
Jason Holder is tipped to return for LSG against his former club. Swann says he will not be surprised if he turned out to be a key player for him.
“To think if wasn't the first pick and was a replacement over the last couple of years. He has shown everyone that he is worth the money. I am not at all surprised that he got picked up for a good coin,” the former England off-spinner said.
“Playing against your old team, you always want to do better. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he is one of their key players. He has come off the back of Test cricket, which may affect his way of thinking and his rhythm going into the game. Rhythm is all-important in T20.”
Since IPL 2021, Nicholas Pooran has endured a poor run of form in the tournament. Having invested heavily in him, LSG would want him to fire. Swann believes, Pooran does not need to look too far, but to Brian Lara, their batting coach, for advice to bring an end to this poor run of form he is going through.
“He's a left-handed West Indian, who has got Brian Lara there as his coach. Surely, that has to be a positive thing. You're not going to have a better player to talk to about how to get out of a rut,” Swann opines.
“These low scores must be playing on his mind. I have seen him in T10 cricket and the CPL, he is a different bloke altogether. He looks like he has not got any burden or pressure on him and just goes for it.
“I won't be surprised if that's the advice that goes his way in the end. You've just got to get that monkey off your back and think there's no pressure, I'm playing in a comfortable environment and go for it.”
