T20 age: Narrow loss easier to take

Tight finishes are more common than big margins of victory in the IPL, so it's easier to stomach a two-run loss than it used to be in the days when a narrow defeat would keep you awake for days. Jacques Kallis writes.

Tight finishes are more common than big margins of victory in the IPL, so it's easier to stomach a two-run loss than it used to be in the days when a narrow defeat would keep you awake for days.

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There isn't time to dwell on your mistakes. So many games are decided by less than 10 runs. That means if each member can save one extra run, or find one more single with the bat, you'll win nine out of 10 games!

It's a good theory, but it does not take into account that the same conversation is taking place in nine other IPL squads!

Many of the squads take time to settle down. It's the same in any team sport although some might think it would be easier to play cricket with unfamiliar teammates, but that's not the case in my experience. There are practical things like running between the wickets which depend on players knowing each other to be successful, but there are many other aspects which are equally important, but not easy to define. If you know your teammates, it can raise your performance level. Also, camaraderie means a happy team is successful more often than not.

Hawkeye