CricDigs Blogs

There are very few similarities between cricket and soccer. Marking of a player is one of them. Just like soccer where star players are marked by one or two opponent players to thwart their efforts in scoring goals, the West Indies targeted Kevin Pietersen to prevent him from scoring heavily and stopped him in his tracks. They won the one day series primarily because of that.

Of course that’s a sound strategy and most of the cricket teams resort to that. They set up elaborate bowling plans and field settings to take a coveted wicket. Every oppostion has tried to bowl to Sachin with a well laid plan. Batsmen like him are made the main target. Because the opposition knows once these batsmen get out getting others out will be easier. The cheers are louder and celebrations more joyous when ‘marked’ batsmen are dismissed.

Kevin Pietersen has so many things to his credit to be ‘marked’. He has moved to the top position in ICC rankings (pushed to the second spot now by the Punter). His journey to 1000 and 2000 runs in the ODIs has been the fastest. And his average in 25 tests is second behind Sir Don Bradman. His ODI average is above 50.

There are other players that India should be planning to dismiss, but the dangerman is KP. This man can reverse sweep a bowler no less than Muralitharan for six. KP is in cracking form now and marching towards greatness zealously. He is the man India should be planning to ‘mark’.