WHY INDIA PREFERS TEST MATCH GRIND TO FISCAL ‘RANGE-HITTING’

A couple of Bertie’s college friends now runs a successful cricket coaching academy.

- 

When the old love for the maidans resurfaces, Bertie pays a visit to their academy just to watch young cricketers practise. Last Sunday, when Bertie was sitting in the shade watching the kids toil, one particular batting drill caught his eye. He was later told that it was called ‘Range Hitting’. The idea was to try and hit every ball for a six, irrespective of where it was pitched.

This was completely the opposite of what Bertie was taught as a kid. The mantra then was always to hit the ball along the ground, and if anyone hit it in the air, he would be met with a volley of affectionate words from the coaches. The errant batter would then have to run around the ground in full batting gear. The exhausted kid would be told that even the great Don Bradman had hit only six sixes in his entire Test career, and if hitting the ball in the air was what he liked, he should play tennis-ball cricket.