What is a genuine no 3? Isn't it just another opener ready to go in an shore things up if you lose an early wicket? I think the top 5 should really be fairly interchangeable. People get a bit caught up in the fact that 'I've always batted no. 2' mentality. At the end of the day if your a good player you should be able to bat effectively anywhere in the top order.
And yet you’re wrong. Opening and 3 in draw Cricket (tests) are specialist positions. Openers are able to deal with the moving ball, leave well, select the right shots consistently and able to bat for long periods consistently. A three is someone who can do this and push on a bit (aka, generally better than your openers as they can do that just as well AND play a more expansive game.
Root sadly as much as people here don’t like to admit it, is very very poor vs the moving ball (he’s consistently found out by it).yet, when the ball is older and you’re looking for ‘busy’ players to tick over at 4+ with little risk.. he’s your man.. making him actually a dam good 4/5
We can keep pretending Bairstow (another good 5/6) and root will solve the top order issues or we can be honest and admit that our systems and formats are simply not producing the types of players required.
Hameed was literally the only opener since cook to surface and the coaches ruined him with their demand for more shots and attacking play.. now he keeps getting out. Australia have done the same to renshaw.. he scores runs in shield because it’s crap but against decent bowling.. will get found out.
That’s your issue. Our game isn’t very good so players like hales, Roy, Lyth and others can bat top 3 and will score. Yet, if you put them vs good bowlers not on a road they’ll be toast. They will also lack consistency and the ability to adapt to different pitches and situations as they generally play one way (shock horror, like England generally do now).
Personally I think it’s gone too far to fix and so test cricket will simply adapt to being a slightly longer ODI (4 days, regularly over in 3 if it’s not a road). Simply because, our system (don’t care about other nations) won’t produce the technical and mental abilities required.
If you’re a regular 15 yr old, show me where you will learn to bat long consistency at about 45-55 SR ? (Say 100-250 balls) . Show me where a player or tail will learn the skills needed to survive for 3 sessions ...
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Topic: Whither England Now? (Read 9744 times)