Delhi Daredevils' bowlers would never have thought of a cricket bat as capable of inflicting such violence. But they experienced it when Matthew Hayden proceeded to whack their attack with his newly designed bat, the Mongoose.
Mongoose's blade is 33 per cent shorter than a conventional bat while its handle is 43 per cent longer. The manufacturers of this bat also claim that it would provide 20 per cent more power and 15 per cent more bat speed. But Delhi's bowlers as well as their fielders would have realised that the new willow, in the hands of Hayden, one of the giants in world cricket, had considerably more power than the manufacturers were ready to admit.
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodians of the laws of the game, found that the bat meets all requirements under Law 6 of regulations regarding the dimensions of a bat. The day is not far off when other batsmen will take to the Mongoose in Twenty20 as well as one-day cricket.
One wonders whether the MCC has looked into the possible impact on bowlers before clearing such a bat. Already mishits from hard-hitters like Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Chris Gayle are clearing the boundaries; imagine if they start using this bat! The only hope for a bowler will then be to bowl and pray that the batsman does not connect. It is indeed surprising how the MCC, which had years ago turned down Dennis Lillee's attempt to use an aluminium bat and the Swiss cheese bat with holes drilled into the blade for aerodynamic purposes, cleared this bat.
The Mongoose bat is attractively priced at $323 (Dh1,185) to ensure that all who play instant cricket acquire one at the earliest. And should this bat establish itself as the bat of the future, many youngsters may prefer not to become a bowler.
As far as the looks of this bat are concerned, it might make people wonder whether a player is walking out to bat or row a boat! Although there is the thrill of watching runs being piled up, lawmakers should be considerate to bowlers as well. It is unfortunate that no one is being allowed any leeway to design balls which make batting tougher. In all fairness, with such bats being introduced, bowlers should also be given the benefit of cricket balls which will swing more than the traditional ones.
The Mongoose's five-centimetre-thick base strengthens the sweet spot, or optimal impact area. Shots from the sweet spot can even hurt a fielder's hand. So, when such bats are used, the lawmakers should also consider allowing fielders to wear gloves. The right balance between bat and ball must be maintained for cricket to remain exciting and human.
