In cricket there are many methods of a batsman being dismissed. Despite the many protestations of batsmen at their own dismissals, there is only one type of dismissal where the batsman can sometimes legitimately claim to be faultless and can lay the blame for their dismissal solely at their batting partner’s door; being dismissed by ‘run out’.
Looking at a scorebook and seeing ‘run-out’ next to a batsman’s name really tells you nothing about the dismissal. Was it a piece of superb fielding, or even unexpected fielding, or was it down to the two batsmen making a complete mess of running 22 yards? Did they run into each other á la Keystone Cops, or was one batsman standing statuesque as the other sprinted 18 yards, then realising that their partner was going no-where, try and turn and go back those 18 yards in a vain effort to regain his ground?
There are very few batsmen who have not suffered the heartache of being run out: by your partner as much as through the efforts of the fielding team. How many times have we seen our partner middle the ball in such a way that that shot deserves a run, mindless to the fact it has gone straight to a fielder? The call of yes is based on the sound of ball off bat, rather than actual judgement as to whether a run is really, actually there.
Some take their dismissal stoically with a zen-like quality, others retain their outwardly calm demeanour as they return to the sidelines, but explode within the confines of the dressing room and yet others will have a tantrum worthy of a five year old not allowed to take sweets off the supermarket shelf as they depart the field of play. We all have our favourite run-outs as spectators or fielders, but very few players would have anything other than nightmares about their own disasters with running.
To readers of a certain vintage, Geoffrey Boycott running out Derek Randall at his home ground of Trent Bridge in 1977 is the most memorable. Boycott had to go on and score his 99th century, to make up for dismissing Nottinghamshire’s favourite son and also to avoid the abuse he would have received walking back to the pavilion himself. And who hasn’t heard the story of I.T. Botham going out to bat with the intention of running Geoffrey out deliberately on tour in New Zealand?
Cricketers spend many hours practising, well not me, but some do apparently. They spend time in the nets, batting against machines, batting against bowlers, or even one-on-one sessions with throw downs. Others spend their time bowling endlessly either to practising batsmen, or occasionally just into the stumps alone. Fielding is often, in my experience, neglected or at least an after-thought, when there may be too many bowlers and too many players standing around. However, if fielding practice is an after-thought then running between the wickets is often completely ignored. We are rarely taught how to call, when to call or even whose call it is. This is something most players pick up only with game experience. How you should back up, carry your bat, run, turn and most importantly judge when to run is often left to individuals to learn on their own time and sometimes at the expense of their partner’s wicket.
The I.P.L. is currently on and you can see both extremes of running between the wicket. There is some very good running there, for example, AB DeVilliers and Virat Kohli put on a master class of running on Monday evening, turning ones into twos and taking advantage of any possibility of over-throws. They show what is possible with very little extra effort. Of course being professional sportsmen they are exceptionally fit and well able to run and still have the puff to strike the next ball cleanly. But still a fine example to all those who wish to maximise their score and push a run-rate upwards. However, the IPL also includes some of the most comical running imaginable. Two batsmen at one end, one unwilling to forego the safety of his crease whilst the other barrels towards him regardless of calls, signals, and as the run-out becomes inevitable, choice words not fit for transmission nor for this column.
Running should be so simple. It is merely 22 yards stump to stump. Even without leaving yourself open to being “Mankadded” you can take a lead of a couple of those yards, keeping the toe of your bat inside the crease as the bowler powers through. As soon as you can, you may take a step or two, although seeing your partner drive one straight back and seeing the bowler deflect the ball onto the stumps can leave you feeling very hard done by. Then if you consider you can make your ground safely at the other end by running your bat in, you might only have to run a dozen yards. Now I do know, myself included, that a number of players will not be hitting their cruising speed until after 12 yards, but even so, you should be safe all things being equal.
The biggest cause of run-outs is miscommunication rather than misjudgement. Misjudgements can be overcome with proper communication. Clear loud decisive calls can over-rule exuberance and give an air of authority and make one sound like you know what you are doing. Poor running will alert the fielding side, often from their slumber, and encourage fielders to be attentive and vigilant. Good running carries an air of inevitability that you will both make your run safely no matter what the fielders do.
Calling is an art in itself. Clear concise and without hesitation is ideal and gives you the best chance of making it safely to the other end. Even knowing what to call is vital. Yes, No and Wait seem to be the common calls and sometimes you will hear all three together with the unwanted fourth call of “Sorry”, but who has not had a call of Go, Go, Go and confused it with No, No, No! Of all bad calling it is the late change of call that causes most difficulties. Not too many junior players have the required turning radius to return safely when sent back...
Some games have very little calling, but rather a look at the partner. If both batsmen are on the same wavelength, trust each other implicitly and have a history of partnerships then a glance can be all it takes. However, there are a number of players who through uncertainty only look at their partner hoping for them to make the call. The glance can be merely an opening of negotiations about a run, but in most cases by the time both bats have silently agreed that they might run, the ball is returned to the keeper or bowler and the chance is gone.
Some players gain reputations about their ability to run the quick singles. As a new batsman joins you in the middle, you are already judging how quick they are going to be between the stumps. This judgement depends on more than just reputation. You sometimes need to know how good their Saturday evening was as well as their fitness. Others come to the middle with excitement in their eyes and haste in their legs. An eagerness to chase a run-rate, to pinch singles, to take or give the strike are all factors that need to be considered when looking at your partner and wondering how they will react.
Most innings will contain a mix of booming boundaries and singles and these singles will often make up half of your runs, plus they have the added attraction of rotating the strike, keeping the scoreboard ticking over and stopping a bowler getting a rhythm against just one of you. Singles may not have the attraction of big hits, but they are just as important. Learn to run properly and see your average score go up and up.
Does your Club teach youngsters and the not so young how to run? How did you learn? Was it just through (often bitter) experience? Have you ever deliberately run out a partner? Was it through revenge or ill-judgement or something more sinister? What are your thoughts on running?