Message Board - Cricket: Time For Test Re Think ???
6 Jan 2010 by paul kelsey
Are we really trying to save this test, after watching the shot KP got out to yet another very loose one for a so called number 4, in all fairness it would have been a bad shot in a twenty twenty, why dont we bat him in his best position at 6 or 7 in test cricket until he learns how to build an innings and play for the team instead of KP.
Sorry but a big waste of a big talent
6 Jan 2010 by jackbit
He his a one of, he cannot play anyother way, he will win more than he loses. As a person he comes across as elevenpence in a shilling but he would be in my team.
6 Jan 2010 by Ken Barber
Did you notice how several of KP's batting strokes came cross rather than attacking directly. He needs to watch his own replays, analysis his own game and correct his own action. I agree, he is not a team player and thinks of number one first and the team second!
Its amazing how we can look really strong and in control one minute and the next on the back foot.
All the same, it has been enjoyable viewing for the most part!
KK
The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under who’s shade you do not expect to sit.
6 Jan 2010 by barry glynn
KP just may be getting worked out a little bit. But he is a talent and is capable of a truly match winning innings.
Batting him at 6 or 7 is non starter.You dont bat one of your best players that low. As for him hitting across his front pad, that is the way he bats. Viv Richards did the same and he didnt do too bad.
As for playing for himself, nobody did that more than Boycott and he played technically very correct. Batting has changed a bit anyway, reverse sweeps etc. Personally I wouldnt want to back to the days where 250 runs in a days Test cricket was considered exciting.
Nothing stays the same forever Ken!
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
7 Jan 2010 by Vic Demain
I don't watch much cricket these days but whilst having afternoon tea yesterday in the club, I did see both Strauss and Pieterson get out to what I thought were poor shots.
1 thing that we need to bear in mind is the game situation. It is all very well saying that is the way he plays, however, it was early in his innings, also England needed to bat time.
Most top level sport is played in the mind, dealing with pressure, having plans and working out how best to execute those plans. One wonders what the game plan was after tea yesterday.
Like jackbit, I would always want Pieterson in the side and like BG, I believe batting him at 6/7 would be a waste as often he would be left with the tail and we would not get the full benefit of his talent.
Sorry Barry but Sir Viv was the best I ever saw a genius with fantastic hand eye coordination and to me the comparison doesn't hold out.
Ken, I very much enjoy your analysis - not a cricket coach in a former life were you? - we were always taught use the full face of the bat and hit it back where it came from. This after all was a test match, with England backs against the wall and the shot selection was very interesting.
Trouble is one mistake and your gone, if he had hit it, we would all have said great shot but he missed it and will be rightly across all the papers and even on PC.
7 Jan 2010 by Ace
Big kev playing across the line, head falling away ohhhh no!. Straussy tamely defending neither forward or back!. reckon morning is crucial if we get past that we may hang on!.
As for the Aussies what odds would you have got for that in the morning against Pakistan?, you just knew they would conjure up a win!.
7 Jan 2010 by Ken Barber
Hi Vic, I never watched cricket until I met my wife..... Been married 25 years now ..... Bless her. But both her brothers were on the Lords training staff around the same time as Beefy and the family ate, slept and breathed cricket. Now I enjoy armchair cricket, especially the Ashes!
It is nice to see Cooke hitting some form again! Lets hope the likes of Prior and Bell continue to improve!KB
The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under who’s shade you do not expect to sit.
7 Jan 2010 by barry glynn
Im not saying KP is in Viv class, yet. But there is a similarity. No one else in world cricket could have played that innings against Warne at the Oval and that talent has not gone away.
I think 4 is ok for him. You must have your best batteerss inn the top 5.
Bowlers are now trying to bowl to his strength, i.e on middle cos they know he plays around his pad. I think he will come good before this seriess is over. But all batters have poor runs of form. Dennis Compton onnce averaged 7 on a tour to Oz and he could bat as well.
I was also taught to use the full face and when I did my coaching course a long time ago, that was the way it wwas then. But as I said before, nothing stays the same forever and top players noww praactice a lot of differiing shots that wouuld have been taboo or never thought of years ago.
Smith plays even more across his front pad but he is a very succesfull test opener, extremely ugly to watch but effective
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
7 Jan 2010 by Ken Barber
Talking about unorthadox strokes..... what about when KP changed hands while the ball was in mid-flight and hit it for four!
KB
The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under who’s shade you do not expect to sit.
7 Jan 2010 by barry glynn
Yes Ken, even Viv would have struggled to play that one, takes incredible hand eye co-ordination.He is probably ambidextrous. Brian Close, England and Yorkshire,(showing my age again) played golf to single figures left handed and right handed!
Also played pro football, makes you sick eh how naturally talented some guys are eh?
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
7 Jan 2010 by jackbit
All the players whip it of the stumps through the leg side with the full face of the bat thats were the hands and wrists come in. you do not bowl leg and middle to good players they will murder you.
7 Jan 2010 by barry glynn
Jackbit, I didnt say leg and middle did I? You try and consistently whip someone like Steyne when he iss getting shape through midwicket off middle, you are asking for trouble.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
7 Jan 2010 by barry glynn
Bl00dy hell!!!
What a match! Who says cricket aint exciting 
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
7 Jan 2010 by trubs
Phew! Glad I backed the draw! Never in doubt!
7 Jan 2010 by barry glynn
Trubs
Backed the draw eh? Had more faith than me then!
Good track though
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
7 Jan 2010 by jackbit
Barry only a fool would try to whip it through midwicket if a bowler is taking it away. Viv would whip um through midwicket from outside offstump but not when it was moving away.
7 Jan 2010 by Vic Demain
Proper test match cricket, well done Collingwood & Bell.
7 Jan 2010 by paul kelsey
Well said Vic thats exactly how our 4 and 5 should bat top effort
7 Jan 2010 by barry glynn
Players do make mistakes and bottom handed players do come a cropper occcasionally , doesnt make them fools. Players like KP,Smith, Collie play across the line a lot but also score a lot of runs that way as well.
Not many balls piitch on middle and move away that much anyway,not in the air anyway.
Anyway, thats how KP got out yesterday so I suppose he is a fool then 
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
7 Jan 2010 by jackbit
As i said good players whip it through mid wicket of the stumps
7 Jan 2010 by barry glynn
Or they hit it straight. the fact is, its not how, its how many but for most normal mortals, if you hit through the line of the ball, you cut down the error percentages
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
8 Jan 2010 by Steve63
Good to hear Sir Botham giving big praise for the groundsman, and well deserved too, always had a little for the bowlers if they worked for it but played true for the batsmen. credit all round.
Don't talk to me about Contractors Wonka, I am one myself......
8 Jan 2010 by barry glynn
Yeah, good track.
Must be nice for a groundsman to get some public praise, after all, there so many"experts" ready to jump all over them normally.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
8 Jan 2010 by pacman75cricket
Also good to hear Graeme Smith praising the groundsman on a few occasions
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