Opinion Piece - Lude-crous.

*This is the second of three posts. First, I'll post a short match report that would be published immediately after the event. Secondly, I’ll post an opinion piece on the match that I would have more time to build a story of the match. Finally, I’ll post how I recorded the match and went about writing it.*

 

Star-studded Melbourne lose to Lude-crous Adelaide in BBL04 opener.

Tim Ludeman smashed 92* off 44 balls to send the Melbourne Stars crashing back down to Earth.

The Adelaide side are filled with players who aren’t major, internationally known stars – minus Kieron Pollard, the star attraction and perhaps Shaun Tait– but instead are very good at the role they play in the team.

The book Moneyball is based on the story of major league baseball side Oakland Athletics purchasing unfancied, non-high profile players whose statistical data stacks up amongst the best in terms of productivity.

T20 is perfect for Moneyball. The game is decided by so many minute factors that every tiny, statistical data that proves productivity means a colossal amount. Hence, players can make a career in this format alone.

In every competition around the world, there is examples of Moneyball style sides beating the more illustrious star-filled T20 teams.

For Adelaide, the batting doesn’t look strong yet looks can be deceiving. In opener Craig Simmons they have the story of last year’s BBL03 competition, including a monstrous 39 ball century whilst playing for winners’ Perth Scorchers. 

In the middle order, they have Travis Head, Brad Hodge – the second highest run scorer in T20 history – and Kieron Pollard. Head is a highly promising young batsman whilst Pollard and Hodge are as good as it gets in a T20 middle order.

Alongside Simmons, they have Tim Ludeman who in BBL02 was a highly effective opener. Last year, the Strikers went for Englishman Alex Hales to replace Ludeman at the top of the order which ultimately didn’t work. 

However, Ludeman was handed the chance to open in the current competition and taking his chance would be an understatement.

Ludeman’s innings broke the back of the chase in the power-play as he raced to an 18 ball half century with Craig Simmons trudging along to a lowly 15 ball 30 as the opening pair racked up 83 in just 32 balls.

Travis Head joined him and watched from the non-strikers end as Ludeman drove, pulled, flicked and smashed his side to victory against a shell-shocked Stars bowling side.

The Strikers weren’t fancied to win the game as Melbourne batted first with prolific opening duo Cameron White and Englishman Luke Wright facing up against the Adelaide bowling.

Wright - the second highest scorer in BBL history – started well with a four off his first ball but then struggled to up the tempo sufficiently as he eventually departed for 45 off 37 balls to be the second Stars wicket after White was caught early in the innings for 6.

Kevin Pietersen strode to the wicket at number 3 mic’d up and wearing a helmet cam and soon reminded Australia of his talents as he hooked his 2^nd ball for six over fine-leg via a top edge to evoke the memories of The Oval 2005.

Although not fluent throughout, this was more of the Pietersen of old as he pulled out switch-hits, lofted drives and pulls over the boundary to steady the Melbourne innings before holing out for 66 off 46 balls with four sixes.

Who knew Pietersen needed a mic, helmet cam and the big-build up to act less ‘disinterested’ in his cricket?

Despite Pietersen’s innings, Melbourne lost wickets far too regularly to post a substantial total. In fact, the Englishmen within the Stars line-up combined for 111-2 off 83 balls whilst the rest of the line-up only managed 37-5 off 37 balls.

The wickets lost ultimately cost Melbourne the chance to score a 170+ total but that still wouldn’t have been enough thanks to Ludeman’s superb knock.

Perhaps Moneyball is the way teams will lean in the future. The choice to open with Ludeman rather than hang on to a marquee signing such as Alex Hales epitomises the Moneyball philosophy.

As far as Adelaide are concerned, they’re hoping their data-filled team can continue conquering the star-filled teams and claim BBL glory.