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[ProCricketer1982]

It's not just the 400s though, despite commentators saying it for years, it seems to me like one of the first times when 300 genuinely isn't a particularly good score a lot of the time.

300 is a ridiculous score too tbh. scoring runs is just too easy

[uknsaunders]

Going off topic a bit

[Manormanic]

It's not just the 400s though, despite commentators saying it for years, it seems to me like one of the first times when 300 genuinely isn't a particularly good score a lot of the time.

But in fairness, the same factors of great pitches, short boundaries and mismatched sides still apply in that instance, and in any event we're only talking about three such scores being chased down - all three on postage stamp grounds against what are pretty poor attacks for the standard.

[Manormanic]

300 is a ridiculous score too tbh. scoring runs is just too easy

Ah c'mon, in any league you must know of grounds that have a reputation for high scoring or short boundaries.  Whilst advances have undoubtedly been made, the current tournament is in many instances only like your games on those grounds...

[uknsaunders]

Club wickets are miles better than 30 years ago. Most clubs didn't have covers back then, now few don't. We all play on drier decks where the ball comes onto the bat and moves less. 30 years ago, most decks were interesting to say the least even at First Class level. My youth was spent playing on green tops and a good batting track white in appearance was a rare joy. Youngsters now wouldn't last 5 minutes on a sluggish green top against a clever old seamer bowling little cutters. They would spoon the first good length ball straight in the air or leave a nice big gate for the off cutter, as they pushed with hard hands.

I'm sure decks will get better and better over the coming years as even part time groundsman turn an art into a science.

[FvanN]

And that was against an (albeit diminished) West Indies, rather than Afghanistan.

Is it about technique and skill, or attitude and intent?

I think its a bit of all 4. You have to have some kind of technique & in my case a little (all be it very little) bit of skill and you have to have the attitude & intent to want to perform well at any level. I always hear people say 'bat for the team'.. I'm the opposite I believe that guys should take the responsibility and bat for there own pride and self respect.

I do agree with what's been said about the English mentality of teaching the art of batting, the most electrifying English batsman of recent times learnt his trade in South Africa after all (sorry could not resist)

The WC will breed a newer better batsman for the future at all levels and does make things exciting. It will just take a while for us to all adjust our mind set that 300 is the new 250.

[arsenal123]

I'd say in the last 3-4 years in our league that 200 used to be a decent score, now teams are looking at 250.

[ProCricketer1982]

Club wickets are miles better than 30 years ago. Most clubs didn't have covers back then, now few don't. We all play on drier decks where the ball comes onto the bat and moves less. 30 years ago, most decks were interesting to say the least even at First Class level. My youth was spent playing on green tops and a good batting track white in appearance was a rare joy. Youngsters now wouldn't last 5 minutes on a sluggish green top against a clever old seamer bowling little cutters. They would spoon the first good length ball straight in the air or leave a nice big gate for the off cutter, as they pushed with hard hands.

I'm sure decks will get better and better over the coming years as even part time groundsman turn an art into a science.

Nick has it spot on. Wickets now are so flat at club level and int level that players are able to play through the line and don't really have to even think about swing, seam etc. That combined with bats, boundary size and fielding restrictions is the only reason scores are now high, both at club and int level.

as arsenal says, 200 used to be a 'top' score, now tbh you won't win the league unless you can post 300 regularly. try posting 300 on a wicket that offers seam, swing with good boundaries and no fielding restrictions.