The Cricket Thread

[Langford4FBOTC]

Funny game this cricket!

 

[grizzlym]

Clarke doesn't seem to dwell anymore: if he gets beaten, plays a loose shot, gives a chance, he seems to be able to put it behind him and play the next ball with a clear head. He wasn't always like that. Just a pleasure to watch him bat now. Stating the obvious, but he's matured so much and his temperament now matches the ability that was always there.

 

[grizzlym]

Funny game this cricket!

It is. You know, I've been playing lately... hit 42 on the weekend. Can barely move today.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

He certainly hit it properly, it was out of the middle and going for 6...

And it was caught. Poor shot. A good shot would have been hitting it somewhere he couldn't be caught. He hit under the ball instead of over it.

 

[eldorado]

And it was caught. Poor shot. A good shot would have been hitting it somewhere he couldn't be caught. He hit under the ball instead of over it.

Well, it's somewhere in between a great shot and a poor shot then. It's a philosophical debate when only hindsight can tell you that it was a poor shot

The man has to play his natural game, the one on which he was selected. If that shot becomes something on which fielders can start setting traps for him, well, then it becomes something he has to look at.

Otherwise, its just something that happens when batsmen try to play shots through the air. They were only one wicket down at the time. It wasn't 'shut up shop' time. If the ball was there to smack hard, where 9 times out of 10 its a boundary, and only very unlucky to be out, then I will accept that from a batsman who is trying to keep things moving, and not get dictated to by the bowlers.

 

[grizzlym]

Yeah, but in tests I believe you have to play yourself in. I like the old Greg Chappell mantra of playing in the V, getting your eye in, getting settled. Getting caught so early in an innings like Quiney did 'aint good discipline in my book. There was no need to dictate terms or keep it moving in that situation, preserving your wicket, occupying the crease, playing safely. Plenty of time to dominate the bowlers.

 

[eldorado]

I dunno, it looked like a perfectly reasonable shot to play for a ball that was short, and just on the leg side of the body. The unnatural thing would have been to try to defend it; if all the instinct says that when the ball is there, you go for it.

It was a more reasonable dismissal than to do that flash at a wide one.

At this level, I reckon they have to play their natural game until their technical deficiencies become exploited

 

[Henry Jr]

Id prefer that Quiney played positively and got out rather than Ricky stick his bat out a meter from the stumps prodding at a defensive push.

 

[Messenger]

At this level, I reckon they have to play their natural game until their technical deficiencies become exploited

I disagree. It's his first test, he was feeling comfortable, let him play the way he feels best. He got picked on the runs he had made, and he did that by playing his way. It wasn;t like he holed out with 3 overs the play, and hour before stumps is a lot of cricket to play.

An experienced first class cricketer looked at the situation before him and played that shot anyway. I'm all for the natural game argument, but context matters. Damien Martyn threw a Test away nearly 20 years ago playing his natural game.

 

[grizzlym]

An experienced first class cricketer looked at the situation before him and played that shot anyway. I'm all for the natural game argument, but context matters. Damien Martyn threw a Test away nearly 20 years ago playing his natural game.

Agree.

 

[Langford4FBOTC]

An experienced first class cricketer looked at the situation before him and played that shot anyway. I'm all for the natural game argument, but context matters. Damien Martyn threw a Test away nearly 20 years ago playing his natural game.

Unless you're in all sorts of trouble and in pure survival mode, one of the philosophies of good cricketers is to punish the bad ball.... always should be. At first class level, you don't get many of them. Quiney is an excellent player of the hook and pull shot, the ball was a poor one that deserved to be dispatched. His error was that he tried to keep it down where it should have ended up 10 rows back. Sometimes you're stiff, I think he was. It's different from simply playing your natural game and going after balls that probably aren't there to hit.

 

[Langford4FBOTC]

It is. You know, I've been playing lately... hit 42 on the weekend. Can barely move today.

Anyone that reckons cricket isn't a physical game is dreaming. Good on you. I get itchy feet every year.... Until the first 40 degree Saturday rolls around that is.

 

[grizzlym]

Anyone that reckons cricket isn't a physical game is dreaming. Good on you. I get itchy feet every year.... Until the first 40 degree Saturday rolls around that is.

I'm enjoying it. Tell ya, the protective equipment these days is a vast improvement to when we were younger. The intimidation/fear of getting hurt is a thing of the past. Not a part of the game I used to enjoy that much.

 

[Langford4FBOTC]

I'm enjoying it. Tell ya, the protective equipment these days is a vast improvement to when we were younger. The intimidation/fear of getting hurt is a thing of the past. Not a part of the game I used to enjoy that much.

It still hurts sometimes though

 

[grizzlym]

Unless you're in all sorts of trouble and in pure survival mode, one of the philosophies of good cricketers is to punish the bad ball.... always should be. At first class level, you don't get many of them. Quiney is an excellent player of the hook and pull shot, the ball was a poor one that deserved to be dispatched. His error was that he tried to keep it down where it should have ended up 10 rows back. Sometimes you're stiff, I think he was. It's different from simply playing your natural game and going after balls that probably aren't there to hit.

I dunno. Another batting philosophy would be playing that shot, that early in your innings, at that juncture of the game, was ill-disciplined.

 

[grizzlym]

It still hurts sometimes though

Yeah, sure. But you're not batting fearing for your life.

 

[Langford4FBOTC]

I dunno. Another batting philosophy would be playing that shot, that early in your innings, at that juncture of the game, was ill-disciplined.

I think these things really come down to the ball.
If you take Ponting's dismissal as a comparison. Wide ball, didn't have to play, early in his innings and all that. Face of it, equally culpable.
I'd say no. If Ponting's was a half volley on off stump and he creams it low back to the bowler rather than plays it defensively, then he's stiff. But it was a good length ball, wide and moving away.... Not a bad ball and not there to be hit early.
In Quiney's case, if the ball was above shoulder height and heading over off stump, then he should be leaving it alone. as it was, chest height, down leg side, short boundary.... Bread and butter for a good hooker and puller..... You hit those in your sleep. There aren't many really natural players of those shots. He's one, and would put another 9 of those balls out of the park.

 

[grizzlym]

I think these things really come down to the ball.
If you take Ponting's dismissal as a comparison. Wide ball, didn't have to play, early in his innings and all that. Face of it, equally culpable.
I'd say no. If Ponting's was a half volley on off stump and he creams it low back to the bowler rather than plays it defensively, then he's stiff. But it was a good length ball, wide and moving away.... Not a bad ball and not there to be hit early.
In Quiney's case, if the ball was above shoulder height and heading over off stump, then he should be leaving it alone. as it was, chest height, down leg side, short boundary.... Bread and butter for a good hooker and puller..... You hit those in your sleep. There aren't many really natural players of those shots. He's one, and would put another 9 of those balls out of the park.

I've been trying to teach Grizzlym Jnr how to bat. It's quite hard, you kind of forget how much of batting is technique, controlling your natural instincts, and playing one ball at a time. Most kids of my monster's age go for the big legside pull shot, every shot. Anyway, I put the brick behind his feet in the nets so he could back away and did throw downs so he would play straight, then I found myself telling him the Greg Chappell story about playing in the V for the start of his innings. Minimise risk, play yourself in, then unfurl the shots once you're set. Made a lot of sense when ie xplained it to him but could see him battling his instincts.

But it is, to a certain extent, a counter intuitive way to play. Dunno, I'd prefer Quiney didn't play shots like that early on - the fact is you really should never go out on balls like that. If he was in his 30 or 40s, he'd middle it every time, but early on in one's innings that's where the danger is in my opinion. Anyway.

 

[grizzlym]

I love watching Clarke bat. Just awesome these days. I also could watch AB all day too. Beautiful technique. His defensive game is as good as I've seen in ages.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Well, it's somewhere in between a great shot and a poor shot then.

No it isn't. I don't know what sort of cricket people have played on here, but hitting a ball in the air to a fielder has always been regarded as a bad shot, irrespective of how well you hit the ball. Good batting is hitting the ball where the fielders aren't. Now I know a lot of things have changed in sport, but surely we haven't reached the stage where playing an "out" short is regarded as good batting. I think people are watching too much T20.

There's obviously some Quiney fans in here who simply won't accept that his shot to get out was irresponsible, especially when the situation demanded a number 3 get his head down and get on top of the bowlers. You can bet if Michael Clarke had played it, there'd be people on here calling for his sacking.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

I love watching Clarke bat. Just awesome these days. I also could watch AB all day too. Beautiful technique. His defensive game is as good as I've seen in ages.

and ... doesn't hit the ball in the air, straight to fieldsmen. That helps a lot.

 

[Langford4FBOTC]

No it isn't. I don't know what sort of cricket people have played on here, but hitting a ball in the air to a fielder has always been regarded as a bad shot, irrespective of how well you hit the ball. Good batting is hitting the ball where the fielders aren't. Now I know a lot of things have changed in sport, but surely we haven't reached the stage where playing an "out" short is regarded as good batting. I think people are watching too much T20.

There's obviously some Quiney fans in here who simply won't accept that his shot to get out was irresponsible, especially when the situation demanded a number 3 get his head down and get on top of the bowlers. You can bet if Michael Clarke had played it, there'd be people on here calling for his sacking.

You're right, he shouldn't have hit it down Steyn's throat. Bad execution. But to say he shouldn't be playing the hook shot at all is an over reaction.
He selected the right ball to play the shot too. I'd have more of a problem if he was compulsively going after everything short or if they had two men back and it was a long boundary. They may now start to target him in that area and try setting him up with some shorter balls over off stump looking for a top edged shot, which will test him. We'll see. I'm not a particular fan, but he shouldn't be hung out to dry for it.

 

[djboonie]

Gee nitpicking a guy in his first test...

So anyways back to the test match.

The press lauding Cowan's knock today, and also the chancey Clarke. I'm holding back on any over the top praise for Cowan since it's a batsmans deck, and a far cry from what our bats will face in the Ashes. Greta knock, almost chance-less, but lets not go over the top.

Clarke's first 100 was filled with chances and a little luck, but that's what you need against the best pace attack in the world, so I dip my lid at Clarke's mental strength to work through this innings and his sustained concentration.

Top run scorer for the year, 3 double ton's, averaging over 100 for the year. Love the way he goes about it.

 

[grizzlym]

Gee nitpicking a guy in his first test...

So anyways back to the test match.

The press lauding Cowan's knock today, and also the chancey Clarke. I'm holding back on any over the top praise for Cowan since it's a batsmans deck, and a far cry from what our bats will face in the Ashes. Greta knock, almost chance-less, but lets not go over the top.

Clarke's first 100 was filled with chances and a little luck, but that's what you need against the best pace attack in the world, so I dip my lid at Clarke's mental strength to work through this innings and his sustained concentration.

Top run scorer for the year, 3 double ton's, averaging over 100 for the year. Love the way he goes about it.

As you know, I'm not overly impressed by Cowan. But he started to play some shots in this innings and not get caught propping as much. So if he can keep that up I hope he can cement a place at the top of the order. But your point is well made: let's see how he goes on a few different decks etc. His technique when he leaves sometimes makes me very nervous.

And yes, Clarke is immense. Love watching him bat. And his captaincy is great too. We are fortunate in this time when the cupboard is a little bare, particularly batting wise, to have such an imaginative person leading the side. That he's now one of the very best batsmen in the world also helps.

 

[grizzlym]

Oh my, the was clearly an edge behind from Amla and no referrals left... so much for eliminating mistakes. Sometimes.