England V India

[chrisp_1927]

Re: England V India

All for ballsy attacking cricket when it's required, and I'm always happy to defend a player who 'has thrown his wicket away' . But sometimes the game situation demands you dig in. Sometimes that's for half hour when a top bowler has helpful conditions, or like yesterday when you need to dig in and bat out a draw.

I look to someone like AB deVilliers, more skill and talent than anybody in that England side when it comes to clearing the boundary (or in any other facet of batting). But he also had that ability and desire to dig in and block for hours if a game needed saving. Not wanting to lose, and making it hard as possible for the opposition to finish you off is part of being a great player

Throwing away games like that are just going to lead to drawing/losing series that could have been won.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: England V India

All for ballsy attacking cricket when it's required, and I'm always happy to defend a player who 'has thrown his wicket away' . But sometimes the game situation demands you dig in. Sometimes that's for half hour when a top bowler has helpful conditions, or like yesterday when you need to dig in and bat out a draw.

I look to someone like AB deVilliers, more skill and talent than anybody in that England side when it comes to clearing the boundary (or in any other facet of batting). But he also had that ability and desire to dig in and block for hours if a game needed saving. Not wanting to lose, and making it hard as possible for the opposition to finish you off is part of being a great player

Throwing away games like that are just going to lead to drawing/losing series that could have been won.

They were talking about how A B DeVilliers had something like three innings in the top ten most defensive innings in test history on Test Match Special yesterday. I rate DeVilliers right up there among the best attacking batsmen I’ve seen and if he was willing to put all of that to one side and graft to save his side from defeat, i can’t see why the England team can’t at least try to bat out for a draw.

[chrisp_1927]

Re: England V India

They were talking about how A B DeVilliers had something like three innings in the top ten most defensive innings in test history on Test Match Special yesterday. I rate DeVilliers right up there among the best attacking batsmen I’ve seen and if he was willing to put all of that to one side and graft to save his side from defeat, i can’t see why the England team can’t at least try to bat out for a draw.

Totally agree. I always think those backs to the wall performances must be good for team spirit aswell, especially if a couple of tail-enders have batted out a few and you can really get around them as a side.

[Hilts]

Re: England V India

Don Bradman the greatest batsman of all time only hit 6 6s in his entire career. (All in Test Matches he didn't hit a single 6 in any non Test 1st class match)

It's incredible how things have changed.

Of course trying to reverse sweep or scoop the likes of Larwood with no helmet and the old bats would be insane.

[The Bloop]

Re: England V India

Elsewhere South Africa have declared against Zimbabwe on 626-5. Its only lunch on day 2.
Wiaan Mulder 367 not out, 33 short of Lara's record.

[Lord Worcester]

Re: England V India

A lot of teams follow their leader, and I think that is certainly true of this current England test team. The arrogance and ego within this team, and the lack of collective self-awareness, I find quite remarkable. There are plenty of examples of it over the last couple of years but the 2 that I continue to find astonishing are the insistence on bowling first - irrespective of anything - and the continued selection of bashir. And the more people mention either / both the more stokes seems to double down, and stick the proverbial 2 fingers up to the watching world, but particularly the press and pundits. I love test cricket but I bet I am not the only one genuinely falling out of love with the current England test team.

[Lord Worcester]

Re: England V India

Elsewhere South Africa have declared against Zimbabwe on 626-5. Its only lunch on day 2.
Wiaan Mulder 367 not out, 33 short of Lara's record.

Surprised. Thought they would give him chance to pass it.

[The Bloop]

Re: England V India

Surprised. Thought they would give him chance to pass it.

He's the captain, so made the decision himself.
By the sounds of it the bowling is pretty lame, so maybe he thought he shouldn't break the record when it's against such a weak attack.

[Lord Worcester]

Re: England V India

He's the captain, so made the decision himself.
By the sounds of it the bowling is pretty lame, so maybe he thought he shouldn't break the record when it's against such a weak attack.

Fair enough. Didn’t realise he was current captain.

[delmbox]

Re: England V India

He's the captain, so made the decision himself.
By the sounds of it the bowling is pretty lame, so maybe he thought he shouldn't break the record when it's against such a weak attack.

but then surely it could be argued that by definition any attack that an individual can score those kinds of runs against is weak? :sherlock:

[The Bloop]

Re: England V India

but then surely it could be argued that by definition any attack that an individual can score those kinds of runs against is weak? :sherlock:

You could equally argue that you or I could score 401 runs in an innings. Id have to do it in boundaries though, as im likely to pull a hamstring going for a run and be run out 😊

[delmbox]

Re: England V India

You could equally argue that you or I could score 401 runs in an innings. Id have to do it in boundaries though, as im likely to pull a hamstring going for a run and be run out ��

I'd be dead within an over

[Lord Worcester]

Re: England V India

Bashir picked again in starting 11 for 3rd test. Wow!

[Hilts]

Re: England V India

Bashir picked again in starting 11 for 3rd test. Wow!

I've got to be honest Im more annoyed about the chances Crawley gets. Hes played many Test matches and only averages 31.

He scores a century then a bunch of failures.

Hes not good enough.

Pope to a lesser extent is also lucky. Follows a similar pattern.

[Lord Worcester]

Re: England V India

I’m with you on both, but the only thing I would counter is that they have both performed against the best opposition - admittedly very infrequently. Bashir on the other hand is simply not good enough. His selection is nothing but complete stubbornness - in my view.