County Championship Division 1 Thread 2016

[KipperJohn]

Well, not fair on Rashid, but Plunkett and Patterson have runs too (fca 25&16).

When Bairstow and Root play, its fairly common I believe for him to come in at 7 and even 8... for England he has batted 9 to 11 a lot.

Just shows you how ridiculous low order batters are nowadays when armed with a heavy bat and a bit of chancers luck. not that its aimed at Rashid, that comment, but the others you mentioned.

Gone are the days when bowlers just bowled. They practice their batting skills much more these days and are expected to contribute.
I'd put down their higher averages to a bit more than just chancers luck.

[sussexpob]

I'd put down their higher averages to a bit more than just chancers luck.

Its a generalisation, ill give you that, but its largely true I find.

Tailenders dont have any better technique now, in fact id probably say its worse. But tailenders also dont hang around to ponder on that, they much rather take advantage of attacking fields and throw a big heavy bat around then focus on playing themselves in and blocking.

The proof is in the pudding...... just as a summary of SR's of England's lower order batsman in recent times, when a player has made a 50, its largely been in aggressive innings.

Swann had 5 x 50.... all played at over 85 SR
Broad has 11 x 50.... 71 SR
Plunkett has 1 x 50 at 70 SR, the only score in a test career of SR of 45. When he blocks, he doesnt do anything.

Other batsman from Australia
Johnson.... 11 x 50, average sr above 70 when normal strike rate in the 50s
Starc 6 x 50 scored at just under 85SR, normal strike rate in 60s
Peter Siddle.... 1 x 50, scored in 37 balls, normal SR in the 40's

Tailenders only really score runs when they aim to throw the bat a bit. Nowadays with heavy bats, they can make troublesome scores.

[hopeforthebest]

I think the truth lies somewhere in between, certainly at test level. I see most tail enders have better techniques than in bygone days, they play straighter far less wild cross bat shots.

[sussexpob]

I think bowling tactics are a reason too. I find sometimes that bowlers often go for lines to tailenders that dont make the play enough and dont target stumps.

I come back to this example a lot, but Glen McGrath was a real master of removing tailenders. He often served up a few full tosses at the stumps to a tailender early, just to see if he could block it. I remember one ball in the 1998/99 Ashes series where he bowled some ridiculous looping slower full toss to Alan Mullaly, who couldnt hold a bat, and bowled him. No point bowling 4th stump to him because he couldnt hit a barn door, so just put it right at the stumps anyway, you had him.

Not enough bowlers do it. England have particularly bowled poorly to tailenders by bowling too wide and short.

[westoelad]

For the last 10 years, Yorkshire have been blessed with change bowlers who can genuinely bat. Pyrah, Wainwright and Rafiq had hearty averages for their batting positions and at least one County Championship Division One Century to their name. Once upon a time one could argue Rafiq was more a complete batsman than Rashid!

I don't think anyone could argue against the depth and quality of Yorkshire's batting but just a slight doubt about the bowling penetration? Only 2 innings into the season admittedly but opposition scores of 453 and 200+ for2?

[sussexpob]

I don't think anyone could argue against the depth and quality of Yorkshire's batting but just a slight doubt about the bowling penetration? Only 2 innings into the season admittedly but opposition scores of 453 and 200+ for2?

Its a "vintage" attack, and by that we mean old. Brooks/Plunkett and Patterson must be around the 32 mark now, Sidebottom must be nearly 40. And to that Rashid, who has had some stinker years as a bowler in the CC, and it is a bit creaky.

Having said that Sidebottom is apparently went off injured, so they are a man down now.

[Alviro Patterson]

For the last 10 years, Yorkshire have been blessed with change bowlers who can genuinely bat. Pyrah, Wainwright and Rafiq had hearty averages for their batting positions and at least one County Championship Division One Century to their name. Once upon a time one could argue Rafiq was more a complete batsman than Rashid!

I don't think anyone could argue against the depth and quality of Yorkshire's batting but just a slight doubt about the bowling penetration? Only 2 innings into the season admittedly but opposition scores of 453 and 200+ for2?

Yorkshire's start to a season is often steady rather than a flyer, but in the past four years they have stepped it up as the season progressed. Sidebottom went off injured today after rolling on his ankle, operating with a bowler light against a solid Warwickshire batting line up is not ideal.

Pre-season preparations have been interrupted with a friendly against Derbyshire abandoned and only one day of play against Leeds/Bradford University. Of the current bowling attack, only Brooks and Patterson have got any meaningful overs in and that was against the MCC in Dubai. Sidebottom has been wrapped up in cotton wool, while Plunkett and Rashid have been on England duty. Naturally bowlers are going to need overs under their belt before getting into full flow.

Yorkshire did have Hampshire 125-5 and 210-6 last week, but they batted deep and had the luxury of saving the game in glorious sunshine and on a wicket which became increasingly flat.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bresnan is missing, though he hasn't always been as penetrating as other options. Willey may get a chance next time around.

[Alviro Patterson]

Its a "vintage" attack, and by that we mean old. Brooks/Plunkett and Patterson must be around the 32 mark now, Sidebottom must be nearly 40. And to that Rashid, who has had some stinker years as a bowler in the CC, and it is a bit creaky.

Having said that Sidebottom is apparently went off injured, so they are a man down now.

Vintage in numbers maybe, but nowhere near spent. Brooks was a latecomer to County Cricket, Patterson spent most of his career as a squad player and Sidebottom has been consistent since joining Yorkshire in 2011. Rashid has overcome his bowling problems and yet to have hit peak form.

Then there is David Willey in back up, the 18 year old Matt Fisher already bowling mid 80mph, Will Rhodes and Tim Bresnan once he recovers from injury. Add the promising left arm spinner Karl Carver into the mix and that is another bowling attack Yorkshire can field if they wanted to.

[Durhamfootman]

I remember one ball in the 1998/99 Ashes series where he bowled some ridiculous looping slower full toss to Alan Mullaly, who couldnt hold a bat, and bowled him. No point bowling 4th stump to him because he couldnt hit a barn door, so just put it right at the stumps anyway, you had him.

I watched Alan Mullaly hit 6 after 6 onto the roof of the pavilion at Darlington for Leicester (I think) against Durham, so fairly sure he knew how to hold a bat. I have no doubt that he didn't have sufficient technique to handle Glenda... not many bowlers did.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Though arguably, Yorkshire adding Bres, Willey or Rhodes to the attack will do more to extend the batting than add penetration to the bowling.

[sussexpob]

I remember one ball in the 1998/99 Ashes series where he bowled some ridiculous looping slower full toss to Alan Mullaly, who couldnt hold a bat, and bowled him. No point bowling 4th stump to him because he couldnt hit a barn door, so just put it right at the stumps anyway, you had him.

I watched Alan Mullaly hit 6 after 6 onto the roof of the pavilion at Darlington for Leicester (I think) against Durham, so fairly sure he knew how to hold a bat. I have no doubt that he didn't have sufficient technique to handle Glenda... not many bowlers did.

His first class average 8 must really hide a remarkable batting talent.

[westoelad]

It's a classic case of glass half full or glass half empty depending on your point of view. Fact is Brooks is a fine strike bowler and Patterson an economical one. Equally fact is Sidebottom is 38 year old and both Plunkett and Bresnan are injury prone. Rashid has a SR of 59,which are not the figures of a strike bowler. Yorkshire's batting means they are still a formidable outfit but clear favourites for the championship? Middlesex look a stronger all round outfit to me.

[Durhamfootman]

I remember one ball in the 1998/99 Ashes series where he bowled some ridiculous looping slower full toss to Alan Mullaly, who couldnt hold a bat, and bowled him. No point bowling 4th stump to him because he couldnt hit a barn door, so just put it right at the stumps anyway, you had him.

I watched Alan Mullaly hit 6 after 6 onto the roof of the pavilion at Darlington for Leicester (I think) against Durham, so fairly sure he knew how to hold a bat. I have no doubt that he didn't have sufficient technique to handle Glenda... not many bowlers did.

His first class average 8 must really hide a remarkable batting talent.

perhaps it was just his day when I saw him. Or perhaps Melvyn Betts and Jonny Wood were feeding it into his arc... whatever the reason he was giving it some welly that day

I saw Mullaly on the telly a couple of years ago.... I think he lives in Oz now... and something in the back of my mind makes me think that he makes his money from something unexpected, but I have no memory of what it is/was.... Damn this useless memory

not that it really matters, of course

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wasn't it Mullally who hit a quick 20-30 off the Aussies in that Melbourne game that England won by about a dozen runs? Got a feeling he hit a six off Glenda. Got McG's dander up.

Better check. That could be false memory syndrome. Maybe we never beat the Aussies.