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[ProCricketer1982]

There is that yes, I grew up watching boycs bore the life out of test cricket

He looks a little unsure on picking length or maybe unsure of the wicket?
Almost like he's a little too wary?nervous

And then he suddenly switches on?
Hope he bats all day

I think your nervous comment is correct. Not because he's worried about SA, but because he knows he's under pressure for his place and so goes into his shell. We all know if you go defensive you can make more mistakes, I think that's borne out then with the odd slog that appears. Good pull shot by him just then.

It's not boring though, it's an interesting passage of play. The more shots a batsmen plays the easier a bowlers job is to get them out (unless it's a flat deck like in Aus), so by only playing a 'shot' when it's a bad ball. .you are forcing the bowlers to bowl into your areas etc. They can't just plod away outside off, just as much as you can't jus tleave everything. YOu have to take 20 wickets to win a game. Unlike white ball cricket where bowling is even less challenging because you know the batsmen will be throwin gthe bat so you just bowl negative and wait for it. If you had to take wickets to win the game (ie, if you don't take 10 then you draw), you'd find bowlers would have to attack the stumps more, which in turn.. might produce more shots.

It's great fun when you leave well, defend.. and force a bowler into doing what you want. Just as enjoyable as watching someone like stokes, warner slog/biff on a flat track 4 after 4 after 4.

[Northern monkey]

I think for me it's those slightly wild throw of the bat at the short wide ones?
A little bit of frustration there, a decent batter,(at this level) should put them away
Take the pressure off

Gone!!!!!
He just followed it?

[ProCricketer1982]

I think for me it's those slightly wild throw of the bat at the short wide ones?
A little bit of frustration there, a decent batter,(at this level) should put them away
Take the pressure off

Gone!!!!!
He just followed it?

"a decent batter,(at this level) should put them away"  --- That's the problem.. If you go through world cricket though, there aren't many top order of high calibre. Cook is up there when in form (seems to have stopped moving his feet), Sangakkara has gone, Warner is a freak. Amla is probably up there in the world currently. Not much around of that quality. There are a lot of  make weights and average players around currently.

Poor from Compton as you say.. Shouldn't be following it as a top order batsmen.

[Northern monkey]

Is that wicket dodgy or something?
Taylor looks wary too
It does pop a bit off a length

[ProCricketer1982]

Is that wicket dodgy or something?
Taylor looks wary too
It does pop a bit off a length

nah, it's nibbling about and he's 3ft and the bowler is tall.. it's just getting big on him. Hard wicket to start on if the bowler gets it right. Has been all game, hence lots of 30/40 scores. Never 'in' unless the bowlers bowl a load of crap at you

I'll probably regret this but for me, this is the best test match wicket I've seen in a long time. The only one close was the day/night test wicket that did a bit but not 'too much'. If you bat properly you will score runs.. If you take liberties or don't have the technique then you'll probably come a cropper

[Northern monkey]

Hmm
Taylor just not coming forward
Makes you wonder what cook and hales have gone back to the changing rooms and said about the wicket
There's a bit of doubt there

Yeah, a lot in it if you bowl the right length

[ProCricketer1982]

Hmm
Taylor just not coming forward
Makes you wonder what cook and hales have gone back to the changing rooms and said about the wicket
There's a bit of doubt there

Yeah, a lot in it if you bowl the right length

This is a test of Taylor now.. has to bat long and bat well. Same with root.. a flashy 40 won't cut it

[thecord]

Makes you wonder what cook and hales have gone back to the changing rooms and said about the wicket

I really hope that at Test level you don't get batsmen coming back into the changing rooms telling everyone it's a minefield out there, bad enough in village cricket doing that!

[Northern monkey]

The higher level a sportsman, the more , better excuses they have for poor performance

These lads are batting on the best prepared wickets in the world

[Northern monkey]

Liking this rabadas bowling a lot

[rich041187]

"Tops gone"

[roco]

300 looking good on this wicket

cue a collapse or a stokes/bairstow/ali blitz

[kdale6]

it's a situation for Root to really demonstrate his class here - however he scores it always looks good and it's been touched on that he's been scoring a lot of pretty 50-80s lately but if he can pull England out of a tough spot and put them in a competitive position I think it would do him a lot of good for the year ahead

he may have the perfect foil with stokes at the other end as end, fingers crossed eh

[Aussie In England]

Stokes basically just slogging. Looks good when it comes off, look stupid if it gets you out

[roco]

Stokes basically just slogging. Looks good when it comes off, look stupid if it gets you out

I'd rather stokes play like this as it can save us on more occasions than it will fail us

We need to be less conservative and if we pick these players understand that is how they play in this situation so if we don't like it don't pick them

No different to how warner plays in this kind of situation or gilchrist used to, although gilly was more consistent than most being an all time great