Sunday, September 04, 2005
The batsmen have been picked up contd...
Australia:
Justin Langer: In swinging ball pitched on or outside off stump. Result: LBW or clean bowled. This is because of the recent Australian attitude of attacking the bowler than waiting for him to bowl to the strength of the batsman. Many a times Langer moves sideways so that the gap between bat and pad is minimum. So if it’s an in swinger, he is plumb in front.
Matthew Hayden: He is not a legendary batsman, as he has to bring down his arrogance and complacency. He used to hit the bowler out of the park, taking advantage of his long stride and his stands. He stands outside the crease, so all the good length balls are over pitched for him. Frustrate him with short of length balls and he will get rid of himself. A catch in the cover or slips can be anticipated.
Ricky Ponting: Very good batsman, but has starting problem due to his shuffle in front of the crease. When the ball is new, and swings a lot, he struggles with good length balls, as he has the tendency of coming onto the front foot always. So he will be forced to edge many of the good length swinging deliveries, mostly to the slip cordon.
Damien Martyn: Another batsman who relies on hand-eye coordination, a pleasure to watch if he is in form, has the most bizarre way of getting out. Give him a loose ball, short pitched wide outside off stump. Instinctively he will bash at it, which can be easily held at third man.
Adam Gilchrist: Again an aggressive batsman, don't give him room outside off stump. He will get frustrated and try to play cross bat shots. Will result in edging. Bowling around the wicket is very effective as he struggles in that line. A catch in the slip cordon can be expected. If he connects properly, a catch at square leg boundary is very much possible.
England:
Marcus Trescothick: No footwork. A good length ball outside off stump will see him through. Needs to put 4 slips at least.
Michael Vaughan: A great batsman, great experience to watch him play. If he is denied chance to play the pull shot in the beginning, he is done. This guy is so desperate to play the pull shot every once in a while, if denied the chance, will pounce at every ball and try execute the pull and many a times, he will drag the ball onto the stumps.
Andrew Flintoff, Kevin Pietersen: No room to play aggressive shots. Frustrate them with the good length deliveries especially on the off stump, they will come after the bowler and get themselves out caught at slips or bowled many of the times.
Andrew Strauss: Another batsman, who loves to pull the ball.
Newzealand:
Stephen Fleming: Plays only to leg side. So bowl only in the offside, he will get out peacefully.
Craig Macmillan- No footwork. Any good length ball will do, but has to get him before he gets settled.
A few contemporary batsmen who have not been picked up, or has evolved:
Sachin Tendulkar
Brian Lara
Jacques Kallis
V V S Laxman
S Chanderpaul (he has to play shots in order to get picked up!!!!)
Chris Gayle
Kumar Sangakkara
The End
PS: These days, if we see the statistics, the tail-enders is contributing a significant amount of runs to the team’s total. This can be due to the fact that, most of the teams underestimate them. All of them think that if they are able to pick the main batsmen, they have done their job, which is not in most of the cases. So these tail-enders are not ever looked into. The teams still go with the good old rule saying york them or bounce them or give them a juicy ball and wait for the next one, it is enough. But I feel most of the tail-enders these days know how to play a yorker or a short pitch delivery. I still don't understand why the same coaches, who coach their tail-enders how to play a yorker or a bouncer, fail to see the other coach also doing the same. Hope they realize this point soon.
Justin Langer: In swinging ball pitched on or outside off stump. Result: LBW or clean bowled. This is because of the recent Australian attitude of attacking the bowler than waiting for him to bowl to the strength of the batsman. Many a times Langer moves sideways so that the gap between bat and pad is minimum. So if it’s an in swinger, he is plumb in front.
Matthew Hayden: He is not a legendary batsman, as he has to bring down his arrogance and complacency. He used to hit the bowler out of the park, taking advantage of his long stride and his stands. He stands outside the crease, so all the good length balls are over pitched for him. Frustrate him with short of length balls and he will get rid of himself. A catch in the cover or slips can be anticipated.
Ricky Ponting: Very good batsman, but has starting problem due to his shuffle in front of the crease. When the ball is new, and swings a lot, he struggles with good length balls, as he has the tendency of coming onto the front foot always. So he will be forced to edge many of the good length swinging deliveries, mostly to the slip cordon.
Damien Martyn: Another batsman who relies on hand-eye coordination, a pleasure to watch if he is in form, has the most bizarre way of getting out. Give him a loose ball, short pitched wide outside off stump. Instinctively he will bash at it, which can be easily held at third man.
Adam Gilchrist: Again an aggressive batsman, don't give him room outside off stump. He will get frustrated and try to play cross bat shots. Will result in edging. Bowling around the wicket is very effective as he struggles in that line. A catch in the slip cordon can be expected. If he connects properly, a catch at square leg boundary is very much possible.
England:
Marcus Trescothick: No footwork. A good length ball outside off stump will see him through. Needs to put 4 slips at least.
Michael Vaughan: A great batsman, great experience to watch him play. If he is denied chance to play the pull shot in the beginning, he is done. This guy is so desperate to play the pull shot every once in a while, if denied the chance, will pounce at every ball and try execute the pull and many a times, he will drag the ball onto the stumps.
Andrew Flintoff, Kevin Pietersen: No room to play aggressive shots. Frustrate them with the good length deliveries especially on the off stump, they will come after the bowler and get themselves out caught at slips or bowled many of the times.
Andrew Strauss: Another batsman, who loves to pull the ball.
Newzealand:
Stephen Fleming: Plays only to leg side. So bowl only in the offside, he will get out peacefully.
Craig Macmillan- No footwork. Any good length ball will do, but has to get him before he gets settled.
A few contemporary batsmen who have not been picked up, or has evolved:
Sachin Tendulkar
Brian Lara
Jacques Kallis
V V S Laxman
S Chanderpaul (he has to play shots in order to get picked up!!!!)
Chris Gayle
Kumar Sangakkara
The End
PS: These days, if we see the statistics, the tail-enders is contributing a significant amount of runs to the team’s total. This can be due to the fact that, most of the teams underestimate them. All of them think that if they are able to pick the main batsmen, they have done their job, which is not in most of the cases. So these tail-enders are not ever looked into. The teams still go with the good old rule saying york them or bounce them or give them a juicy ball and wait for the next one, it is enough. But I feel most of the tail-enders these days know how to play a yorker or a short pitch delivery. I still don't understand why the same coaches, who coach their tail-enders how to play a yorker or a bouncer, fail to see the other coach also doing the same. Hope they realize this point soon.
