Well then, on Day 4 of the first Test match currently going on in Rawalpindi, literally everything changed. Zak Crawley of England leaves Joe Root’s side with a daunting task on day five as he is dismissed by Australian captain Pat Cummins (R). England were set a formidable target of 430 runs to win. Only minutes before the lunch break, Crawley’s fall set the team up in a dire position at 1-5.
The morning started with Crawley, who had defended well against the new ball, trying to play psychological games with the opposition captain. Then, right around midday local time, Crawley walked down the wicket. His plan was simply to stunt play, in the hopes that he could prevent Australia from cramming in another over before the break. This tactic, though, elicited a mock reply from Cummins, who while brandishing a wry smile mimed tying his own shoes.
In a master stroke of psychological warfare, Crawley bluffed and didn’t flinch, pretending to be completely nonplussed by the bowler’s shenanigan. As defenders surrounded him, Cummins stepped back to re-establish his pivot foot. He followed that up with a dream delivery, flashing past Crawley’s outside edge and forcing the opener to return to the pavilion with his paltry single.
Legendary Australian batsman Matthew Hayden summed up beautifully his interpretation of the specious mind games currently taking place between the two.
“The sporting gods are a sinister bunch.” – Matthew Hayden
Former England captain Alister Nicholson went on to describe the occurrence as “the theatre of Test cricket.” He continued to the point about how much psychological warfare dictates games at this elite level.
“Test cricket and the theatre of it at its absolute best.” – Alister Nicholson
With five sessions remaining in the Test and England’s score at a precarious 1-5, the pressure mounts as they continue their chase. Tonight’s Crawley dismissal may have dug into the team’s morale the most. It further hones in on the tactical aspect of Test cricket, where every single run and wicket is crucial.
The Charity Shield has given us a glimpse of the intense rivalry between England and Australia. Here, mental acuity is every bit as important as physical dexterity. As the players come into the final negotiations, both sides need to play their cards wisely. Victory will ultimately hinge on their ability to carry through these plans with meaningful results.
