Alright folks, let’s get straight into it. Sharjah pitch, right? Heard all the legends about how tricky it is for us bowlers. Grabbed my worn-out shoes, the trusty old red ball, and headed down there yesterday morning. Sun was already baking the place, felt like walking into an oven the second I stepped onto the field.
First things first, I did my usual stretches – shoulders, back, legs. Gotta keep the old engine loose. Took a long walk across the wicket itself. The surface? Felt… crusty. Dry as old bones in spots, especially down towards one end. You could see patches where the grass was thinner, almost like bald spots. This ain’t your smooth county ground turf, no sir.
Started my run-up slow, just trying to feel the ground under my feet. Planted my front foot for the first delivery – felt the surface give way just a bit. Not much, but enough. Threw it down aiming for off-stump. Ball? It practically bounced twice! Shot through crazy low, well under the bat. Okay, lesson one: this deck ain’t bouncing true.
Next few attempts? Just embarrassing. Tried forcing some speed, muscling it.
- Pushed too hard: Ball flew wide down leg side, felt ridiculous.
- Tried a slower cutter: Just sat up begging to get smacked.
- Went for spin: Barely gripped, skidded on flat like it was on ice.
Felt like a proper rookie out there. Sweat pouring, getting frustrated. Took five. Wiped my face, stared at that dusty pitch. Saw how that crusty bit near the good length area had these little cracks opening up. That was the spot. Remembered some old-timer talking about Sharjah’s dust bowls.
Changed my plan completely. Stopped trying to be fancy, stopped trying for raw speed. Focused entirely on that rough, cracked area. Shortened my run-up a touch, kept everything smooth. Aimed for that patch, not just trying to hit a line. The secret sauce?
Hit that crusty zone hard and seam upright.
First ball pitched right on the money – that cracked bit. Boom! The seam bit into the dry patch. Instead of dying or flying, it kicked up awkwardly, beating the bat completely. That was it! Found the trick. Kept hammering that same spot, over and over.
- Just back of a length: That sweet spot where the surface was unreliable.
- Seam dead straight: Letting the pitch do the dirty work.
- Less muscle, more accuracy: Letting the Sharjah crust create the surprise bounce.
Suddenly, I wasn’t fighting the pitch anymore; I was using its grumpiness against the batters. No magic deliveries, just boring, repetitive accuracy aimed right at its weakest point. Simple? Yeah. Effective? Completely. Sharjah doesn’t need heroics; it needs smarts. Beat the surface at its own game.
