The match being played today on 31st of October between India and Australia is the 2918th match in the history of one day internationals.  Even though close to 3000 one dayers have been played not even a single double century has ever  been recorded in the history of one dayers.  In List A matches as many as 9 double centuries have been scored.  A D Brown holds the record for highest score in List A Matches when he scored 268 for Surrey against Glamorgan.in 2002.  In fact A D Brown holds the distinction of scoring two doubles centuries, the first coming in 1997 when he scored 203 for Surrey against Hampshire.

One may argue that runs scored in List A Matches do not have much value as it comes against weaker bowling attacks, but these days good bowlers are so rare in international cricket  that you can count someone like Muralidharan on your finger tips. The fielding standards in List A Matches and international matches are same.  The only advantage a batsman enjoys while playing List A matches, is that the pressure on a List A Player is far less when compared to a player who plays international matches in front thousands of spectators and with millions watching it live on their television sets.

A few reasons for batsmen not getting double centuries in one dayers are:-

1. Mental Block:- Scoring a double century should be easy these days with 20 overs of power play, weaker bowling and pitches suited for batting.  Conquering the pitch and bowlers for a batsman is no big deal, but conquering the mind is the biggest deal and that is what matters the most.

2. Batsman are conscious of their batting average:- Once a batsman scores a big 150 plus, his next target is to bat out the innings.  A batsman would rather prefer to be 185 not out, then get out for 195 trying for a double hundred.  A big hundred and a not out that boosts batting average in a big way.  That will take care of their failures in the future till they get another big innings. On 16th Feb 1996 Gary Kirsten after facing 159 balls against minnows UAE could only end up unbeaten on 188 and that too when his team were batting first to set a target.  If you consider the quality of opposition and their bowling and the number of balls Kirsten faced, he should have easily got a double hundred, but he never took the risk of getting out in pursuit of a double century.  Mathew Hayden too had a golden opportunity against New Zealand at Auckland on 20th February 2007. Batting in the first innings of the match, Hayden faced as many as 166 balls but yet ended up on 181 not out.  Usually Hayden hits big sixes in Test Matches and it is a known fact that even his mishits clear boundaries comfortably.  Here Hayden had the advantage of playing on New Zealand grounds which are among the smallest in the world and with no big names in their bowling attack.  Hayden should have well got past 225 considering the numerous advantages he had but ending up on missing a double century and Australia losing the match as well.

3. Batsmen kept off strike by partners and denied double centuries.:- Sachin scored an unbeaten 186 of a mere 150 deliveries  against New Zealand on 8th November 2009 and had a great chance of getting double century, but Ajay Jadeja kept him off strike by facing 4 deliveries in the last over.  Similarly in a match played on 16th August 2009, Charles Coventry of Zimbabwe was 191 not out at the end of 49th over but he got to face only 2 balls in the last over and finished on 194 not out thus being deprived of a double century by his partners.

If you look at the above factors scoring a double century lies more in the mind than anything else and once a double century is recorded in one dayers a lot more will follow.

Regards

Satish

• Written by N R SATISH.
• In category Cricket.
• 15 years ago.

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