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Is 50 the new 40?
By Will last year, at the end of July, 18 Comments »
My colleague and I were watching Kevin Pietersen crash his way to yet another hundred today when a thought popped into my head. Is the new benchmark for batsman to average 50, rather than 40 as it was a decade ago? He disagreed so we settled on the conclusion that, to be considered a “pretty damn good” batsman you’ll be averaging 45 as a minimum.
And it got us thinking back to the dark old days in the 1990s when none (Alec Stewart apart, briefly, I think) of England’s top-order averaged 40, while some lurked in the dismal gloom of the low-thirties. But these days, they’re all over 40 and two - Matt Prior and Kevin Pietersen - are averaging over 50.
On a similar line, if batsmen’s averages are increasing - and I have no evidence with which to support this claim as I’m rambling like a loon - are bowlers’ also inflating? A decade ago, a really decent bowler was said to be averaging under 25. But with batsmen enjoying such shorter boundaries, and the game’s frenetic pace spiralling upwards with each year, is 30 the new 25?
Thoughts welcome.
18 Comments »Purple balls
By Ian last year, at the end of May, 2 Comments »
Just remembered an incident that happened a week or so ago. We were playing against a local team of young lads, who were much better than us. So we were fairly peeved when their first batsman knocked the cover off one through to the keeper and stood his ground. It was one of those edges you don’t really need to appeal for, but given the batsman wasn’t budging, we turned as a team to the umpire. He was the same age and doubtless a good friend. No reaction. Therefore, not out.
Not much you can do, save for the odd choice comment, other than carry on. The next over, no less, his opening partner gloved one outside the off stump to the keeper. I was at extra cover and ran through to congratulate the keeper who had taken a smart catch low down. Again, no need to appeal. But, again, the batter had stood his ground. In fairness to the umpire, who was quite a bit older, he said he couldn’t be sure, but he expected batsmen to walk in a Sunday friendly. So, again, not out.
Bowler goes back to his mark, steam pouring from ears. Next ball, he finds the edge of the bat once more, but this is an inside edge that canons into the firecrackers of our villain and he goes down like the proverbial sack. Eyes rolling, tongue lolling, face as white as Fred Trueman’s backside. Laugh? We nearly wet ourselves.
After five minutes and a magic sponge, he’s back at the crease. Hanging gingerly on the back foot, he steps across his stumps and gets rapped in front. Probably going down leg, but we go up anyway. We hadn’t managed the ‘HOW’ before the umpire’s finger goes up. What goes around….
The first batsman goes on to get 70. Was he justified in standing his ground? I don’t think so. But if he needed it that badly, then good luck to him.
2 Comments »Bell booked in for a career
By Will 3 years ago, at the start of June, 5 Comments »
Ian Bell has been in England’s wing for years it seems - four, to be precise - and has had praise lavished upon him by all who coached and watched him. And today, he made his first Test century without somuchas breaking a sweat. Given the attack he was facing, his celebration was more Atherton than Slater - but comparisons between him and Atherton have been common in the past week or so, and it’s not hard to see why. They’re pretty similar in their textbook techniques, and both are calm at the crease. If you say “Mike Atherton” to most cricket fans, they’ll say “Dogged,” “Amazing concentration,” or “Jo’berg.” But it was only towards the latter period of his career that his shots became limited. He was one of my first cricketing heroes, as I watched him almost from his first Test - and his off-drives and, in particular, leg-glances were always exquisite.
Bell seems similar, but a lot stronger square of the wicket - pretty fierce through point too. Andrew Miller makes mention of Bell’s class, something many observers might feel sheepish about discussing given the opposition. But, as TMS were saying, the runs still have to be scored whatever the bowling’s like: class is class, they felt, and this article seems to agree.
To score your first Test century against Bangladesh may devalue the experience a fraction, and Bell’s understated celebrations were considerably more restrained than Trescothick’s cartwheels, who now has three Bangla hundreds to his name. But Bell is at least in good company. Among his international contemporaries, West Indies’ Ramnaresh Sarwan and South Africa’s Jacques Rudolph both made their first hundreds against Bangladesh, and to judge by his demeanour at the crease, Bell has the technique and temperament to be better than either.
The article also suggest that Pietersen’s time is not now - this is Bell’s, and Pietersen must wait. I’m so confused about the Pietersen/Bell issue that I can’t comment any more. Who’d be a selector?
5 Comments »Stop talking and start making runs
By Will 3 years ago, mid-May, No Comments; be the first!
Strauss was on Sky News today, trying to calm our and his nerves about his total lack of form. Out for 20ish today, and Pietersen made an uncerimonious 1. So - stop talking, and knuckle down and make runs. Pietersen is in danger of not being picked for The Ashes unless he scores some big hundreds beforehand. (more…)
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