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[pacman75cricket]

Has anyone experienced this as went from opening to seven & another batsman batted @ 8, whilst allrounders batted 3&4.

Not helped stitched up by opener the previous week runout for 0.

Many thanks,

[smilley792]

Never experienced it myself but that's cos it's totally idiotic.


Opening Is a specialist position, no good opening with a guy that can't play the moving ball. Plus then if he's a big hitter, but already in the shed you'd miss him going in at 5-7
Etc etc etc.


Sounds like the captain hasn't a clue what he's doing.

[stevat]

Yeah, this is daft.  You get some openers who see off the new ball without scoring big, that in itself is a skill.

Also, don't you find you're batting in a different position most weeks, unless you're much better or worse than everyone else?

[imran75]

Exactly the same thing's happened to me. I'm the kind of opener Stevat mentions - see off the new ball without going big. I'm averaging low 30s this season but staying in for 15 or so overs, seeing off the opening bowlers and getting the ball scuffed up.

Mid way through the season the skip decides that he wants to change things around and have a couple of big hitters at the top to move things along a bit. Fair enough I suppose, thinking that the rest of the order will change to make sure we have a back up when both big hitters get out early. Not so. Just a straight swap from opening to 8.

Opening is absolutely a specialist position and it's in no way comparable to coming in at 8 when you need quick runs against mostly part time bowlers. I've found it pretty difficult to adapt (mindset mostly). You don't know when you're coming in, how many overs you have to play with, what the game situation is or any of the things that you get comfortable knowing as an opener.

I just hope that this switch is an experiment rather than a permanent change. We'll see tomorrow!

[farnham_quins_2]

I find that with opening, you get used to knowing your job - i.e see off the opening bowlers while scoring runs off bad balls. You also get used to knowing when you are batting, and with the (hopefully) same 1/2 people every week.

On a Sunday I don't open, and have struggled this season despite the worse opposition. I just hate sitting there padded up waiting to bat, and can't seem to get my mindset right. I feel the need to hit runs straight away and inevitably get out because I don't play myself in (as I do when I open).

I also struggle more if people are getting out around me, seems to disrupt my rhythm.

[The_Bird]

Have you deserved to be opening or have you been put down the order because you haven't been scoring runs?

Have the all rounder's who have stepped up scored runs? 

Sounds like the captain is changing things round to me.

Results matter and if you aren't scoring runs you should expect the skipper to try other things.

[magicman84]

Your captains does not happen to be a bowler does he?

[pacman75cricket]

a few weeks ago it was about giving guys a game.

not done to the bowlers although given youngsters ago.

I also told him a few weeks ago when i missed a game &someone performed that they deserved to open so i went 3 but had showed improve form prior to being run out having seen off opening bowlers the 2 previous weeks although not gone on.

My point was rather that having a specialist @8 would have been better dropping batsman to 2's for form

was on about for a week but don't quite understand.

[ProCricketer1982]

My point was rather that having a specialist @8 would have been better dropping batsman to 2's for form

Ignoring why you were dropped for a minute.. This to me is the biggest thing in club cricket, the amount of players who get shunted up and down the order rather than dropped to the seconds to gain form. No point having a first team (or seconds/thirds/fourths) top order batsmen down the order.. stick them in the right position and if there isn't space in the firsts, drop them down.. and keep going. that's how you build a stronger club AND people lose their 'I'm a first teamer only' tag as they shift around the teams. I went in one game from opening to 8 and it was pointless.. I offer the team nothing at 8 so tbh it was a waste of time. as it happens the team collapsed a little so I got to go in and just bat normally BUT that I'd imagine is an exception not the rule.

[uknsaunders]

I agree on the whole that opening is a specialist position. However, nothing wrong with a bit of innovation. I've stuck a pinch hitter in to open as a method of attacking the oppo early doors. You couldn't just stick anybody in, had to be somebody who liked the new ball and had enough technique to play as an opener. Obviously if the conditions are tough then it's probably a waste of time anyway. I doubt conditions have been that bowler friendly recently.

As for chopping and changing, nothing wrong with challenging preconceived ideas but within a sensible framework. No point putting a nudger in at 8 to do a hitters job. You can drop a batter down the order if you feel you need your hitters in earlier ie. 150-2 off 30 overs. I would hope it's in the context of the game, rather than a preset plan.

[smilley792]

Nothing wrong with opening with a pinch hitter they've just got to be up for it and have the skills to cope with a new ball moving about

I do our clubs pinch hitting. Check out the fall of the first wicket and my strike rate




Unfortunately doesn't always come off.

[pacman75cricket]

Ignoring why you were dropped for a minute.. This to me is the biggest thing in club cricket, the amount of players who get shunted up and down the order rather than dropped to the seconds to gain form. No point having a first team (or seconds/thirds/fourths) top order batsmen down the order.. stick them in the right position and if there isn't space in the firsts, drop them down.. and keep going. that's how you build a stronger club AND people lose their 'I'm a first teamer only' tag as they shift around the teams. I went in one game from opening to 8 and it was pointless.. I offer the team nothing at 8 so tbh it was a waste of time. as it happens the team collapsed a little so I got to go in and just bat normally BUT that I'd imagine is an exception not the rule.

This was my pont 8 offerednothng as not a htter + would have done nothing for playersformor confidence.