Potentiality of Farveez Maharoof

Dilrook Kannangara

Farveez Mahroof is no doubt a good pick for the cricket team. His clever and considerate bowling provides vital ammunition for the team. Also he is a fine stroke player. His straight sixes are a rarity in Sri Lankan scorecards and wagonwheels. Statistically his strike rate ranks second only to Sanath. He not only got the potential but also all essential ingredients for the making of a completely rejuvenated cricketer in the batting department.

If batsmen are to be ranked on an aggressive scale based on their strike rates, he is our number two!! Of course averages do count and may be more important for the build up of a substantial score. This is when seasoned ODI batsmen and their experience come handy. Also the backbone of a good batting team, in turn depends heavily on higher averages than strike rates.

However, the relative importance of averages has suffered owing to the increasingly higher weightage placed on the strike rate, mainly in ODIs. The old method of picking slow but steady batsmen (from test squads) for the ODI team has long changed; pioneered notably by Australia. Hence the emergence of the strike rate as the single most noticeable trait of batsmen.

Having said that, a newbie with a marvellous hit rate cannot be equalled to a consistent batsman. He may have played a handful of matches with a low average but at a faster run rate. Statistically speaking, average is refined with larger number of observations.

In the case of FM, he is not a newbie as he has more than 60 matches under his belt. He has an average of around 20 runs which doesn’t place him among the circle of ‘batsmen’. However, it is my view that he should be promoted in the batting order. We may be looking at another Sanath, Kalu or a Marvan in the making. FM comes at the tail end and there aren’t very many deliveries he can face. He gets little or no support from the other end and a fall of a wicket means he is stranded.

On the other hand if he is accommodated higher in the batting line-up, he can face many more deliveries devoid of panic and allow him a more natural game. This may drive his poor average to even 30s. He can amply compliment another fast stroke player at the other end. Above all this can groom him to become what he is capable of. Continued hovering at the tail end has proved to decrease even the already acquired batting skills of bowlers. Testing an appropriate spot (obviously not 1, 2 or 3) for FM in matches that aren’t crucial is a good way to set about this.

It should be remembered that Sanath, Kalu and Marvan played low in the batting order initially and they were only a fraction of what they are today. A radical reshuffle brought out the “hidden” talents of these world class batsmen.

Bring on the MBRLs of Sri Lankan cricket; the battle has begun!!