"Tire bowlers out" is in the past mate. That should not be the strategy. I thought Hammed was fine, I actually didn't notice how many balls he took until it flashed in front of me. His defensive shots were followed by a look for a run, not safe for a run, say no and re-set. I feel the same watching Burns. I think if you give Hameed and Burns a good run you will see them grow in confidence and those defensive shots for none will become singles. Sibley was the opposite. No intent to score at all unless it was in his leg side zone. Horrible for your team as you never feel comfortable that he wont get out next ball and not ticking the scoreboard over.
Maybe your white ball heroes could follow McCullums approach and just go nuts no matter the situation. Stick to your strengths...
England have been in the box seat for all 3 tests at one stage or another and only managed to win one. Your bowlers have got you into those winning positions. Id be pretty upset as a bowler if My batsman then made a plan to bat for draw first and then if we are in a position to win go for it.
yes, let's all bat like McCullum (who was great value btw, loved his 300) and watch the side be flashy one day and collapse the next 6 times before someone finally comes off again.. wooo.. that isn't test cricket, that's one day / 2020 / 100 cricket and thinking you're displaying.
There is an absolute need for tiring out bowlers in test cricket, both within one game but also across a series.. Tire bowlers out, they bowl worse, they (and batters/wk) make mistakes, drop catches, lose concentration, then when they come to bat.. they make errors and get out cheaply.. It isn't always about THAT singular innings or knock.. That is one of the beauties of test cricket compare to the random, pot luck one off nature of white ball.
Sure, go out there a nd bat for the win no matter what but just look.. simply look at this England side (I will say again, I don't really think ANY current test side is actually much cop btw).. who, after the top 4 (who aren't exactly great at it either but would be even worse going out there with all this intent etc!) is going to bat time? lets please exclude the random one off freak knocks that ANY batsmen is capable off.. who CONSISTENTLY has demonstrated they are able to eat up 150 balls to help save a game?? Stokes? Bairstow? Pope? Buttler? Woakes? Moeen? Curran? if you're going to ask your top 4 to 'go for the win' then you need to be bloody confident that your 'tail' can see it home if you should need to fight a rear guard action.. If (like England) your batting is dismal, you simply can't just recklessly go for the win as your middle order/tail is so prone to capitulation.
Losing like this is embarrassing for a test side.. It isn't just like white ball where, if people are honest.. who gives a crap from game to game who wins or loses. This is test cricket, each game means more and to keep winning or losing by huge margins isn't good cricket at all.. It just means we are relying on one or two players each game to 'come off'.. that's poor from the players, poor from the coaches, poor from the media, poor from the fans, poor from the ECB, poor from the counties and poor show from amateur cricket too.. all are utterly failing to produce players with both the technical skills but also the mental abilities required to adjust their game or even provide platforms for different skill sets
Anyway, as always it appears most on here just want to see white ball hitting in test cricket. Sad to read and the reason tests are being generally so one sided in their results.. win by an inns and x, win by 100+ runs etc etc. That's fair enough but at least appreciate the skills both technical and mental as well as styles of players being lost to the game from pro level to amateur level and the effect that will have over time on the numbers following and playing this great game.
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White ball has been eminent for a looooong while now and shows no sign of abating this.. From my limited experience of different counties , I would also venture that the quality of amateur cricket at least is poorer than ever.. Even with people playing their beloved win lose, limited overs, power plays, free hit hitting games.... if the quality is in decline, the numbers in decline.. Why do so many firmly believe the future is even shorter, even more dumbed down formats?
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Topic: England v India series (Read 83907 times)