The Question of the Power Play

Why is it that cricket captains throughout the world routinely delay taking the batting power play (BPP) until well into the final ten overs? The final ten overs are known as the slog, and getting 8 or 9 and over - the expected outcome of the BPP - has to be achieved regardless, without the need to have batters in the circle.

In too many instances the BPP ends up costing the team the momentum in the final ten, ie. the Pakistanis last night, NZ when chasing in Chch. It's not easy scoring runs when you're a new batsman, especially when faced with a ring full of fielders, as they are the BPP is on. Why not take it earlier? To my mind the best use of the BPP was by India in Chch a couple of years back when Y Singh went ballistic and S Tendulker scored a bucket load of runs. It was taken in the 23rd over.

Twice this series the New Zealanders have been let down by delaying the BPP. Firstly, when both K Williamson and S Styris were set in Chch. Had they taken it in the 35th, and it not work out, there would have still been ten overs with the field back for the others to try and chase the total. If the idea is to take it when B McCullum comes in, then why didn't they do it then? Instead they waited until the end, and it choked us. Then when J Franklin and B McCullum were going great guns in Napier. Two hitters, both with their eye in. Sure, it worked with N McCullum at the end, but you're expected to strike at 100 in the last ten, anyhow.

Let the field stay back in the final ten overs, which it always did, regardless of wickets, so the new batsman can hit singles for their first ten balls without having to panic. If New Zealand are going to score big totals, which is the only way they will win the World Cup, then they are going to have to show some cojones and rethink their BPP strategy.