Fast bowlers are renowned to use their body language to advantage at times that may backfire, tough. Alan Donald, Curtley Ambrose, Glen McGrath and more recently Sreesanth used it to good effect to distract batsman and get the better of their lapse of concentration.
At times when it gets overboard it looks awful as well.
In the ongoing India vs Bangladesh one-off Test at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad, Ishant Sharma lost his cool over Sabbir Ahmed for a wee-bit. He was bowling with his tails up and was looking to get a wicket of every ball.
Bangladesh were reeling at 207 for 5 and Sabbir was batting on 18* with Mahmudullah, who was playing well at that time. That was when Ishant was wicket less in the second innings, into his sixth over.
Ishant steams in, bowls it a touch wide, back of a length, Sabbir looks to cut that in front of square but mistimes it. The shot he was looking for was an extravagant cut, probably that is what got Ishant angry. Ishant probably got into the banter looking to get the better of Sabbir’s concentration.
Ishant gestures his eyes to him and then promptly signs him to keep his mouth shut. Ishant’s gesture also suggested, what are you (Sabbir) looking at. You dare not stare.
Not a good precedence for younger cricketers but during a game when you are facing the heat, such events are expected.
Then quietly Ishant walks back to his run-up and gets ready to bowl.
India are in a commanding situation and are now waiting for that moment to happen.
