anotherdouble
Journeyman Pro
This is a perfect example of how the swashbuckling batting in the shorter formats of the game can be detrimental to building a score in the 5 day version
The Cricket Thread
- Thread starter fundy
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Swinglowandslow
Well-known member
Yes. I am useless at cricket, and having once been under attack by a medium/fast bowler where I hardly saw what was happening, I have great respect for test batsmen , etc.
But, for years, I have never understood one thing. —how strokes are made at balls bowled nowhere near the stumps when your side is fighting for a draw in a match you cannot possibly win. All your side can do is survive to stumps and thus gain a draw.
In those circumstances surely each batsmen job is to only make a stroke when the ball might hit the stumps. If it is missing, make sure the bat is nowhere near the ball. Stay there, just stay there.
Is that so hard to do.?
Not saying that was the scenario in this Test, but over the years I’ve seen such undisciplined batting.
Probably the reverse is true with England. Such is the obsession with scoring quick runs that they chase after far too many deliveries they should be leaving.
That’s fine when you’re chasing a win. But when things aren’t quite going your way there has to be a Plan B, that being to steady the ship, take the sting out of the opposition attack, and stop the rapid fall of wickets.
England don’t seem to be capable of doing that, or simply opt not to.
The Squirrel
Well-known member
Yes the strategic thinking was abysmal.
In this match Aus had one truly world class bowler - on top form too as should have been obvious after just first spell of the match. But he’s a quick with the limited stamina that brings. He’s not going to bowl at you for an hour and a half. No reason not to simply see him off whenever he was bowling. Nothing wrong with having the attacking mindset but saving it for the 3rd and 4th seamer - you might even hit them out of the attack forcing the top bowler to become exhausted and nullified through overwork. You can be positive AND smart about it….
In this match Aus had one truly world class bowler - on top form too as should have been obvious after just first spell of the match. But he’s a quick with the limited stamina that brings. He’s not going to bowl at you for an hour and a half. No reason not to simply see him off whenever he was bowling. Nothing wrong with having the attacking mindset but saving it for the 3rd and 4th seamer - you might even hit them out of the attack forcing the top bowler to become exhausted and nullified through overwork. You can be positive AND smart about it….
Swinglowandslow
Well-known member
Exactly. Thinking seems in short supply.
Maybe it’s a national trend now in this Country. People seem hidebound in that suggesting a situation needs an alternative action, in view of the actual circumstances, is quickly rejected.
“ I can’t do that. I have to do this….”..when ringing a business with a problem, for example.
There was a phrase used in test match batting, even in club cricket in the opening spell, when I was younger. Don't play at a ball if you don't have to. That's the summary of your post. It's a simple sentence.
That's what the likes of Boycott would be saying and was certainly his mantra throughout his career, same with Alistair Cook and many others. Too many seem unable to manage that, don't have the discipline. Dot balls are fine in test cricket, you don't lose points for them.
There will be cricket forums all over the country having similar grumpy threads today
. Not sure any of us brought up with cricket in the past will ever fully embrace or accept this style of play. I went to An Evening With Aggers and Tufnell earlier in the year. He did a straw poll of those in favour of bazball and those who would prefer a more circumspect style of play at times. It was a landslide, not for bazball, but there weren't many under 50
Neilds
Assistant Pro
England get thrashed in the first test, a number of batters, including the captain and the 'star' batter, struggle to get into double figures (if they actually scored at all). There is a Lions match before the next test which, luckily is a day/night pink ball match - the same format as the next test. As well as being an ideal opportunity for the struggling batters to get some extra, meaningful practice, some of the test team have not even played a pink ball match.
Do any of the team who are likely to play in the next test take time to play in the match? Of course they don't! Stokes and McCullum are so pig headed, they think their method is the right one, despite being shown time and again that the best way to get better at cricket is to play cricket, not to play golf and go down the beach. They may have been a shining light when they came together but their methods have been found out and we are going backwards - how we are still ranked 2nd in the world is a joke.
Do any of the team who are likely to play in the next test take time to play in the match? Of course they don't! Stokes and McCullum are so pig headed, they think their method is the right one, despite being shown time and again that the best way to get better at cricket is to play cricket, not to play golf and go down the beach. They may have been a shining light when they came together but their methods have been found out and we are going backwards - how we are still ranked 2nd in the world is a joke.
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
Because they still keeping winning test series’s - so they must be doing something right over the period of test series
Neilds
Assistant Pro
True, we have beaten all the giants recently - including Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and the Windies. Only the 4-1 win against India (at home) and the 2-2 draw away are series of any note in the last couple of years.
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
Have also beaten New Zealand , Won in Pakistan , and draw against Australia
That’s why they are rated as 2nd
A lot of the top teams have similar records home and away
simsini
Well-known member
England’s blind loyalty to Zak Crawley could sink the Bazball project
Out-of-form opener is given full backing by Brendon McCullum after Perth pair in decision that could decide the Ashes
www.telegraph.co.uk
The perfect article to explain Bazball. Crawley should be nowhere near this team, he's a bang average county opener and nothing more. He's only in the squad because he's a good golfer playing off 1. Anyone that doesn't play golf doesn't get a look in.
simsini
Well-known member
My XI for the next test...
Justin Rose
Tommy Fleetwood (c)
Tyrell Hatton
Aaron Rai (wk)
Matt Fitzpatrick
Marco Penge
Harry Hall
Laurie Canter
Matt Wallace
Dan Brown
Jordan Smith
Justin Rose
Tommy Fleetwood (c)
Tyrell Hatton
Aaron Rai (wk)
Matt Fitzpatrick
Marco Penge
Harry Hall
Laurie Canter
Matt Wallace
Dan Brown
Jordan Smith
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
England’s blind loyalty to Zak Crawley could sink the Bazball project
Out-of-form opener is given full backing by Brendon McCullum after Perth pair in decision that could decide the Ashes
The perfect article to explain Bazball. Crawley should be nowhere near this team, he's a bang average county opener and nothing more. He's only in the squad because he's a good golfer playing off 1. Anyone that doesn't play golf doesn't get a look in.
What’s all this golf nonsense about
Players don’t get picked based on anything to do with golf
Neilds
Assistant Pro
It's a subtle dig about how the squad is perceived to be playing too much golf and not training enough when on tour.
simsini
Well-known member
It's pretty well known that they can't be bothered to practice cricket much, they just go and play golf instead. They were even playing today on what should have been day 4 of the test. This Bazball era cannot end soon enough.
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
Surely that’s down to how the coach wants to work - the Aussies also play golf
simsini
Well-known member
Yes, but players don't get picked for Australia because their dad plays golf with the MD of the cricket board.
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
And no one in England is being picked because of golf
simsini
Well-known member
Obviously, Zack Crawley just gets picked because of his ability.
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
Obviously, Zack Crawley just gets picked because of his ability.
He gets picked because he style of attacking cricketer is what the coach wants
People may not be a fan of the way he attacks too hard and it means that he has too many low scores but it’s got sweet FA to do with golf
