If a batsman plays cricket long enough, opposition bowlers will inevitably figure out a chink in his armor. If the batsman does not adapt, a game can get fairly predictable: think “employ crap left-arm spinner against Kevin Pietersen” (a Dhoni specialty), or “bowl short at every Indian batsmen all the time.” Right now, the big open secret is Ricky Ponting’s affinity for shuffling across stumps and getting hit on his pads. Here are two videos showing the great man in decline, struggling to fend off the sharks who’ve sensed the blood:
This one is almost too tough to watch:
Ducking Beamers: A Cricket Blog 