Oracle of Delphi
Arnold
Paladin
Shan Jayaweera
KC Hill
Cibbuano
Craig HillThe Benefit of Tailenders who can bat
February 4th 2008 11:48
Only ten to fifteen years ago if the tail scored between fifty to a hundred runs, it was considered a successful wag. After all, the bowlers are meant to to bowl sides out and the batsmen score the runs. Right?!
Not so in today's game. You have batsmen who think they can bowl and bowlers who reckon they're batsmen. The demarcation of roles has become obscured. I'm no fan of batsmen assuming the role of a bowler, howerver, I don't have an issue with bowlers contributing valuable runs to the team's total. It gives a captain a sense of peace knowing if his side is five out it's not necessarily all out. The tail's contribution can mean the difference between a mediocre total, a competitive score and a winning one. We saw this evidenced in the recent Test series between Australia and India. The respective tails, at times, scored heavily.
Another benefit of tailenders who can bat being, the more time a bowler can spend in the middle he gets a better look at how and what the pitch is doing. This allows a bowler to reassess and, if necessary, make adjustments to his bowling plans. It's especially useful if your spearhead bats at eight, as does Brett Lee. If he can survive the early onslaught, it gives him enough time to formulate plans and, hopefully when the time comes, execute them.
So, I think, those who recognised the need for tailenders to improve their batting, deserve a pat on the back.
Not so in today's game. You have batsmen who think they can bowl and bowlers who reckon they're batsmen. The demarcation of roles has become obscured. I'm no fan of batsmen assuming the role of a bowler, howerver, I don't have an issue with bowlers contributing valuable runs to the team's total. It gives a captain a sense of peace knowing if his side is five out it's not necessarily all out. The tail's contribution can mean the difference between a mediocre total, a competitive score and a winning one. We saw this evidenced in the recent Test series between Australia and India. The respective tails, at times, scored heavily.
Another benefit of tailenders who can bat being, the more time a bowler can spend in the middle he gets a better look at how and what the pitch is doing. This allows a bowler to reassess and, if necessary, make adjustments to his bowling plans. It's especially useful if your spearhead bats at eight, as does Brett Lee. If he can survive the early onslaught, it gives him enough time to formulate plans and, hopefully when the time comes, execute them.
So, I think, those who recognised the need for tailenders to improve their batting, deserve a pat on the back.
| 92 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Content on this site is written and mediated by Craig Hill
Go to Craig Hill's home page for information about corporate training courses, university preparation courses and writing services available
Go to Craig Hill's home page for information about corporate training courses, university preparation courses and writing services available
Comment by Harry
Sydney Diary
Personals
Brisbane Diarystar
Zoo Parent