Postcard (4 April 1999)

4 April 1999

Postcard

from Justin Langer

Day two, fourth Test, Antigua Recreation Ground

When Brian Lara walked back to the pavilion this afternoon sanity was returned to this Test match.

He was like a hurricane destroying our bowlers as if they were cardboard houses standing in the middle of the Recreation Ground. I never had the privilege of seeing Sir Donald Bradman batting, but I can't imagine even he could ever have been as destructive as BC Lara was this afternoon. A Test century in 84 balls, and it was simply quite awesome.

In an extract from my book "From Outback to Outfield" I wrote the following on dropped catches.

"Question: What is this?

"It is a little larger and heavier than an Australian dollar coin. It is a faded colour gold with the insignia "Decus et Tutanen" -- meaning "Safety and Honour" -- engraved around the edge. It is currently trading at a phenomenal rate to the Aussie dollar. And it has the face of Her Majesty the Queen on one side and the Royal Coat of Arms on the other.

"Answer: An English pound coin of course.

"And I would have to say, I wouldn't mind having one for every time I have seen a top-class batsman dropped on a low score, only to go on to complete a century, and generally a big century, for his team. It is almost an unwritten law of the game that states: 'When a top-class batsman is dropped early in his innings he will go on to complete a century.'

"I have seen it so many times that I would be a very wealthy man if a pound coin was donated to my retirement fund every time I have seen it happen in this crazy game. It happened in my first-class debut against Victoria in 1990/91 and it will probably happen in the last game of my career if my team-mates aren't all on their toes.

"In that first Sheffield Shield game I watched in horror as Dean Jones was dropped on 12. Another magnificent 222 runs later 'Deano' decided that he had imposed enough torture and edged one to Tim Zoehrer behind the stumps. Since those two horrendously long days in the Perth heat, the trend has continued to a most consistent tune.

"Graeme Hick was dropped on the first ball he faced yesterday and it wasn't until 160 runs later that he decided to give us another chance. Talking in the clubhouse tonight the subject was brought up and the consensus showed that this cricket phenomenon of batsmen 'cashing in' on a mistake, plainly shows how much the game of batting is played between the ears. My dad has been telling me since I was a little boy, 'the game is all in your head son, it's all in your head'. I never really understood what he meant until I started playing first-class cricket.

"Some people say batting has a lot to do with luck, but I find it very hard to accept that it is simply bad or good luck that determines your success. Those dreaded dropped catches seem to switch the player into action to do what they do best, bat and bat and bat.

"Some days even the greatest of batsmen can't be totally switched on to their task at hand. A let-off or reprieve from the opposition must work as a kind of alarm bell to wake the player up for the day ahead. Rarely do you see a top-line player given a chance without making the opposition pay for the mistake. The old adage about catches winning matches, oh how true it is!

"There is no doubt that some days you start batting and your feet aren't quite moving as quickly as usual or you're not seeing the ball out of the bowler's hand like you'd like to be. Especially in county cricket, when it could be your third innings for the week, and your motivation or hunger aren't as high as it needs to be when playing against first-class bowlers, an early unpunished mistake can be the best thing for you. Most good players have pretty big egos, and the thought of not making the opposition pay when they have let you off the hook is enough to get those dancing shoes and focused eyes attuned to what your brain and body know so well."

After today I would be another pound richer.

On 14, Colin Miller dropped Brian Lara at mid-on, a cardinal sin when playing against a player of Lara's calibre. Funnily enough it was about the only thing that went wrong for 'Funk' today. After hitting Curtley Ambrose for two massive sixes he then took the first two wickets of the West Indies innings. It is excellent to see the evergreen Funky Miller enjoying some success in Test cricket. His story is an inspiring one.

Although Lara was brilliant, the good guys are still in the box seat going into day three. As I thought, it has already been a tough match and I believe it will be the team who really wants it the most who will come out triumphant in three days' time.

From Antigua, JL