Batsmen Winning The Battle Over Bowlers
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday November 20, 2007
ASPIRING honour board painters should keep their brushes at the ready given the impressive batting form on display already in this year's Pura Cup.
Simon Katich, who smacked a biggest-since-The Don 306 against Queensland last month, has continued his good form, adding a century and 63 not out in Adelaide as the Blues defeated South Australia. In four innings, Katich has amassed 536 runs at 178.67, setting the Blues captain up for a big summer.Yesterday, Katich's 307 feat was inscribed in the SCG honour board, another mention among many of the finest to play the game in this state.The honour board reveals the growing dominance of bat over ball at the SCG. Katich's effort against the Bulls is the eighth double or triple century since 1998-99, a rate of just on one a season. In stark contrast, it took 40 years, from 1959-60, when Ray Flockton belted 264, to 1998, for the previous eight double centuries to be scored, suggesting big scores are coming at about five times the rate they previously did.In his record innings, Katich, neither a big man nor a big hitter, reached the fence 30 times and ranged over it, or the rope at least, nine times. The left-hander said pre-season gym work had made a difference to his strength. Better bats, however, have made a difference to the outcome.Blades are bigger and lighter, significantly so since he made his first-class debut 12 seasons ago."There's no doubt the bats have improved out of sight, and that makes our job a lot easier when you know you can hit the ball and, even if you mis-hit it, it still goes to the fence," Katich said. "That's definitely a big factor."Katich is still absorbing his feat against the Bulls. "I certainly didn't set out on that day thinking I'd get remotely close," he said. "It's amazing how things pan out in a day of cricket. Even to this day it blows me away that it happened."The SCG wicket, Katich suggested, was another factor, no longer providing spinners with the same level of assistance."It's probably holding together a bit better," he said. "That wicket we played on the other day was an absolute belter; it was a pleasure to bat on, and I definitely thanked the curator afterwards."But it's not just the SCG providing the runs. And it's not just batsmen scoring them. Although the season has only just begun, five centuries have been struck by bowlers or bowling all-rounders, compared with four scored the previous summer. The unlikely centurions are the Blues' Matt Nicholson, Jason Gillespie (SA) and Chris Simpson (twice) and Ashley Noffke (both Queensland).Noffke is chasing Katich at the top of the summer's first-class batting ladder, continuing his fine form with 82 against Victoria yesterday.Noffke has 27 first-class wickets at 16.04 this summer, while his batting figures have won the paceman new-found respect: 388 runs from six innings at 77.60.Bob Simpson, a key figure in Katich's renaissance, said he believed the quality of bowling had declined with more bad balls bowled and less skill imparted on the good ones. "The wickets are very good, and I also think the bowling is not as good as it used to be," he said"Very, very few people swing the ball these days, and every side used to have a swing bowler, and there are also very few good wrist spinners around. I think that makes a huge difference."Katich has a chance to continue his great start to the season when the Blues begin a four-day game against Tasmania at the SCG this morning. Teenage batting prodigy Phillip Hughes is expected to make his debut after being named in the 12-man squad.
© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald