Alternately they could extend their basket of offerings by swaying from, or punching, the short-pitched ball, by bending low and sniffing the turner, by making friends with patience, by embracing a different definition of risk. Indeed, by accepting the fact that the bowler they are uncomfortable against might come at them for eight overs. And then maybe they will go beyond and seek a world where they will have to bat for a day.

Sharma is the more infuriating of the two for he can be breathtaking and almost everything he does suggests that he can be more versatile. Yet, after 39 games he has scored a mere 684 @25.33 (as opposed to an average of 34 from 13 T20 internationals), numbers that do his ability no justice at all. And at a time when he should have been demanding the number three slot for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy opted to come down at number five. For someone who seems keen to take up a challenge it was a strange decision. If he fancies himself at the top of the order he must play there as often as possible.

This is the year in which he must make it happen. He has a lot of quality cricket ahead of him with the Champions Trophy, the Champions League and seven one-day games against Australia. He must erase the question marks he has put ahead of himself and embrace consistency. Otherwise he will remain infuriating and breathtaking.

Suresh Raina has a more pedigreed record in one-day cricket; 1558 runs at 35.4 from 65 matches. Part of the reason is that he appropriated the number three slot but it is a position that brings him fresh challenges. Word has long gone around the cricket world that he dislikes the short pitched ball. In truth, no one really likes it but, as with pesky neighbours, people make peace with it. Raina seems to be a target rather than an adversary for the bouncer at the moment. The off-season, or whatever there is of it, is a great time to find out what is the best way to deal with it because he will get plenty of it in the next few months.

... contd.