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Tuesday, May 20, 2008
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Adapting well to T20

S. Dinakar

— Photo: K. Pichumani

Makhaya Ntini.

Chennai: Makhaya Ntini’s bowling is a lot about astonishing energy levels. He jogs to the top of his run-up after every delivery. It is also a lot about aggression and intensity. Deliveries climb into the batsmen from short of a good length, the odd one straightens. He is zestful and lively, if not quick, hustles the batsmen after a bustling run-up.

The 30-year-old South African is also learning to mix his length — critical to success in Twenty20 cricket. A fuller length fetched him a four-wicket haul and a match-winning hat-trick in Chennai Super Kings’ crucial match against host Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday in the Indian Premier League.

Points out V.B. Chandrasekar, Director of Cricketing Operations, CSK: “He has also worked out how to bowl at left-handers in this version.”

Rather, he is changing his game-plan to different left-handers. He thundered in round-the-wicket to Salman Butt, who is fluent on the on-side, and then switched to over-the-wicket against Sourav Ganguly. In the game’s longer formats, Ntini’s natural incoming ball to the right-hander, delivered from wide off the crease, has been productive against the southpaws. Indeed, the left-handers have succumbed to the deliveries seaming away from them.

Ntini’s ploy against Ganguly was a fuller length delivery on the middle stump, denying the left-hander room for his favourite stroke in the arc between point and cover. Ganguly attempted to create width for the shot but found his stumps in a mess. Ntini’s change of length and angle had done the trick.

“Ntini can provide us wickets upfront. He is a strike bowler. And he has a great attitude,” acknowledges Chandrasekar.

The Super Kings would be seeking early wickets — the key to success — from its spearhead in the critical final stretch of the league. The immortal Malcolm Marshall’s disciple brings with him much sunshine and laughter.

And a load of wickets.

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