Bowlers need to innovate, says Bond

HYDERABAD: Reetinder Singh Sodhi's paddle shot, which sailed over the wicketkeepers' head for a six, against Shane Bond left the Delhi Giants' paceman in a quandary. He was seen vigorously shaking his head in disbelief and when quizzed about it after the match, Bond had no ready answer for it.
"This game is a bowlers' graveyard. The small boundaries are frustrating for a bowler.It is a severe test for a bowler's skill," he said. "I know that the game is meant for more action and people come out to see sixes being struck regularly but as a bowler it is a testing time out there," the former New Zealand quickie said.
"It is a real challenge for the bowlers and we need to keep on thinking of how to innovate and stop the batsmen from slogging the ball over the fence," Bond added.
His counterpart in the Ahmedabad Rockets team, Jason Gillespie too was equally supportive after having been at the receiving end himself as the Giants' traded in sixes to pile up a competitive total.
"For a bowler it is a nightmare. Even good balls just disappear into the stands as the batsmen goes after a bowler. However, it doesn't mean that a bowler can't do anything. He has to be stick to the basics and ensure that the ball falls into the right areas consistently," the Australian said.
"The 60-yard boundaries are good news for the batsmen and the spectators but not so good news for those who live by the cherry."
But Bond has some good news for his ilk. "This is a batsmen's game and hence the pressure is on them to hit runs. In a way the expectations from a bowler are comparatively lesser and this gives us a chance to experiment a wee bit while enjoying the game," he said.
Both the stars were upbeat about the ICL and its future. "I have received quite a positive feedback from Australia. There are many players who are interested in being involved in it not only in Australia but also in England. There is a lot of buzz about the ICL around the world," he said.
Bond, who quit the game to be a part of the ICL, said: "It is great to be involved in the league. It is a fantastic opportunity to play here during the winter break at home. There are still quite a lot of inquiries in New Zealand from players who want to be involved in the game."
Gillespie rapped the BCCI for banning the ICL players from domestic cricket. "I feel the ban is ridiculous. The players are highly talented and very eager learners. It is a joy for me to assist them in their growth. The country is losing out on these players," he said.
Bond echoed Gillespie's sentiments. "It's a privilege for players like me to interact with the youngsters and pass on some of the things I had learnt about the game. They are so very involved in the game and so highly motivated that it makes me even more eager to help the team do well," he said.