One aspect that has, perhaps, passed some by is the quality of the decks we've had this summer - fair to both bat and ball and they have allowed us to have proper Test matches with the ultimate benefit of free entry on the 5th day. The question is this - for Test cricket to thrive around the world we need this to be replicated in all parts.
One aspect that has, perhaps, passed some by is the quality of the decks we've had this summer - fair to both bat and ball and they have allowed us to have proper Test matches with the ultimate benefit of free entry on the 5th day. The question is this - for Test cricket to thrive around the world we need this to be replicated in all parts.
Indeed was going to mention this too ...who needs IPL/white ball/20/20 etc if you can have 5 days of red ball the way we have had in the last 4 tests...but of course as above you need the surfaces..it does make me think that India/IPL might feel their influence in the game is threatened
I've raised this previously and you certainly can't be categorical after one game but I'm really not comfortable with Buttler keeping and captaining - the workload (and it is more of a mind than physical thing) is at its worst in T20s and on days like today when we've fielded first and he has to go straight out to bat.
Setting aside my concern that he is an introvert, how many players have to 120 plus times - be the voice and energy out there in galvanising the fielders and getting in the head of the batsmen, prepare and concentrate on catching the ball/take a stumping, run to the stumps to take throws, run to field the ball and shy at the stumps on occasions, think about field settings, think about bowling changes, regularly run mid over to consult with the bowler and then back again to your fielding place and at the same time make sure that the team isn't taking too long to bowl the overs? Then, at the end of the innings, race off the pitch, whip the pads off and put on more protection and different pads and then be in the right mental state to face world class bowling? No chance whatsoever to gather ones thoughts.
I'm struggling to think of anyone who has done that at the very top level. Not Dhoni. Not de Koch. Not Paine. McCullum for a few games possibly but he gave up the gloves to captain. Sangakkara opened just once and kept in his T20 international career and 21 times in ODIs but not in the last seven years of his career and didn't captain the side in those. Anyone else? Apart from The Hundred (and I'm not sure if he does do so) where else does Buttler keep, open the batting and captain the side in franchise cricket?
Buttler might be a super hero and be capable of doing it. And it might be easier for him in ODIs because he won't be opening. But those same things that occur when fielding in T20s will do so in an ODI - but, potentially, more than 300 times instead of 120. The jury really is out for me because you want each player to give themselves the best possible chance in each discipline be it batting (especially opening), bowling, keeping or skippering the side. And Buttler is having to do three of them.
There is one other solution and that is for Buttler not to open and someone like Salt to do so instead. But that's probably another discussion.
Talking about keepers, if I had a pound for each and every mistake that Karthik has made keeping in the course of his career I would be a very rich man. He really isn't very good.
I've raised this previously and you certainly can't be categorical after one game but I'm really not comfortable with Buttler keeping and captaining - the workload (and it is more of a mind than physical thing) is at its worst in T20s and on days like today when we've fielded first and he has to go straight out to bat.
Setting aside my concern that he is an introvert, how many players have to 120 plus times - be the voice and energy out there in galvanising the fielders and getting in the head of the batsmen, prepare and concentrate on catching the ball/take a stumping, run to the stumps to take throws, run to field the ball and shy at the stumps on occasions, think about field settings, think about bowling changes, regularly run mid over to consult with the bowler and then back again to your fielding place and at the same time make sure that the team isn't taking too long to bowl the overs? Then, at the end of the innings, run off the pitch, whip the pads off and put on more protection and different pads and then be in the right mental state to face world class bowling?
I'm struggling to think of anyone who has done that at the very top level. Not Dhoni. Not de Koch. Not Paine. McCullum for a few games possibly but he gave up the gloves to captain. Sangakkara opened just once and kept in his T20 international career and 21 times in ODIs but not in the last seven years of his career and didn't captain the side in those. Anyone else? Apart from The Hundred (and I'm not sure if he does do so) where else does Buttler keep, open the batting and captain the side in franchise cricket?
Buttler might be a super hero and be capable of doing it. And it might be easier for him in ODIs because he won't be opening. But those same things that occur when fielding in T20s will do so in an ODI - but, potentially, more than 300 times instead of 120. The jury really is out for me because you want each player to give themselves the best possible chance in each discipline.
There is one other solution and that is for Buttler not to open and someone like Salt to do so instead. But that's probably another discussion.
I would not have Butler keeping in 20 overs. I doesn't matter in 50 overs when he bat's lower down.
Talking about keepers, if I had a pound for each and every mistake that Karthik has made keeping in the course of his career I would be a very rich man. He really isn't very good.
There's another pound. Irrelevant that he eventually stumped Moeen, the fact is he dropped the ball - again!
I've raised this previously and you certainly can't be categorical after one game but I'm really not comfortable with Buttler keeping and captaining - the workload (and it is more of a mind than physical thing) is at its worst in T20s and on days like today when we've fielded first and he has to go straight out to bat.
Setting aside my concern that he is an introvert, how many players have to 120 plus times - be the voice and energy out there in galvanising the fielders and getting in the head of the batsmen, prepare and concentrate on catching the ball/take a stumping, run to the stumps to take throws, run to field the ball and shy at the stumps on occasions, think about field settings, think about bowling changes, regularly run mid over to consult with the bowler and then back again to your fielding place and at the same time make sure that the team isn't taking too long to bowl the overs? Then, at the end of the innings, race off the pitch, whip the pads off and put on more protection and different pads and then be in the right mental state to face world class bowling? No chance whatsoever to gather ones thoughts.
I'm struggling to think of anyone who has done that at the very top level. Not Dhoni. Not de Koch. Not Paine. McCullum for a few games possibly but he gave up the gloves to captain. Sangakkara opened just once and kept in his T20 international career and 21 times in ODIs but not in the last seven years of his career and didn't captain the side in those. Anyone else? Apart from The Hundred (and I'm not sure if he does do so) where else does Buttler keep, open the batting and captain the side in franchise cricket?
Buttler might be a super hero and be capable of doing it. And it might be easier for him in ODIs because he won't be opening. But those same things that occur when fielding in T20s will do so in an ODI - but, potentially, more than 300 times instead of 120. The jury really is out for me because you want each player to give themselves the best possible chance in each discipline be it batting (especially opening), bowling, keeping or skippering the side. And Buttler is having to do three of them.
There is one other solution and that is for Buttler not to open and someone like Salt to do so instead. But that's probably another discussion.
The captain is in charge. (Or, at least, should be). So if the captain determines it's in the team's best interest that he opens the batting as well as keeping, then that's how it should be.
In reality, Buttler is best placed to know whether he has the talent, experience, confidence and talent to concentrate on 120 deliveries and still be able to open the batting with confidence, clarity and competence unimpaired, then that's what should happen. I think he has played enough to know whether his plan should last to the second - and possibly subsequent - match of his reign.
It's interesting to note - although not a direct parallel - that the first T20 world cup was won by a wicket keeper captain; and that England's only T20 world cup win came with a wicket keeper opening the batting.
I've raised this previously and you certainly can't be categorical after one game but I'm really not comfortable with Buttler keeping and captaining - the workload (and it is more of a mind than physical thing) is at its worst in T20s and on days like today when we've fielded first and he has to go straight out to bat.
Setting aside my concern that he is an introvert, how many players have to 120 plus times - be the voice and energy out there in galvanising the fielders and getting in the head of the batsmen, prepare and concentrate on catching the ball/take a stumping, run to the stumps to take throws, run to field the ball and shy at the stumps on occasions, think about field settings, think about bowling changes, regularly run mid over to consult with the bowler and then back again to your fielding place and at the same time make sure that the team isn't taking too long to bowl the overs? Then, at the end of the innings, race off the pitch, whip the pads off and put on more protection and different pads and then be in the right mental state to face world class bowling? No chance whatsoever to gather ones thoughts.
I'm struggling to think of anyone who has done that at the very top level. Not Dhoni. Not de Koch. Not Paine. McCullum for a few games possibly but he gave up the gloves to captain. Sangakkara opened just once and kept in his T20 international career and 21 times in ODIs but not in the last seven years of his career and didn't captain the side in those. Anyone else? Apart from The Hundred (and I'm not sure if he does do so) where else does Buttler keep, open the batting and captain the side in franchise cricket?
Buttler might be a super hero and be capable of doing it. And it might be easier for him in ODIs because he won't be opening. But those same things that occur when fielding in T20s will do so in an ODI - but, potentially, more than 300 times instead of 120. The jury really is out for me because you want each player to give themselves the best possible chance in each discipline be it batting (especially opening), bowling, keeping or skippering the side. And Buttler is having to do three of them.
There is one other solution and that is for Buttler not to open and someone like Salt to do so instead. But that's probably another discussion.
The captain is in charge. (Or, at least, should be). So if the captain determines it's in the team's best interest that he opens the batting as well as keeping, then that's how it should be.
In reality, Buttler is best placed to know whether he has the talent, experience, confidence and talent to concentrate on 120 deliveries and still be able to open the batting with confidence, clarity and competence unimpaired, then that's what should happen. I think he has played enough to know whether his plan should last to the second - and possibly subsequent - match of his reign.
It's interesting to note - although not a direct parallel - that the first T20 world cup was won by a wicket keeper captain; and that England's only T20 world cup win came with a wicket keeper opening the batting.
He is rather "pot committed" to doing that given that he has enjoyed success opening and wants to captain England so I wouldn't expect him to give up the job after one game. As for the note of interest, you are correct those examples are not direct parallels as in neither case did the player keep, open and captain the WC winning side.
Didn't Butler and Roy open in the last t20 world cup with Bairstow at 3?
That was before Buttler became captain though. Maybe they'll switch things, as lets face it all 3 (Buttler, Roy and YJB) are world class power play openers
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Hows that turning out then Butters.
Setting aside my concern that he is an introvert, how many players have to 120 plus times - be the voice and energy out there in galvanising the fielders and getting in the head of the batsmen, prepare and concentrate on catching the ball/take a stumping, run to the stumps to take throws, run to field the ball and shy at the stumps on occasions, think about field settings, think about bowling changes, regularly run mid over to consult with the bowler and then back again to your fielding place and at the same time make sure that the team isn't taking too long to bowl the overs? Then, at the end of the innings, race off the pitch, whip the pads off and put on more protection and different pads and then be in the right mental state to face world class bowling? No chance whatsoever to gather ones thoughts.
I'm struggling to think of anyone who has done that at the very top level. Not Dhoni. Not de Koch. Not Paine. McCullum for a few games possibly but he gave up the gloves to captain. Sangakkara opened just once and kept in his T20 international career and 21 times in ODIs but not in the last seven years of his career and didn't captain the side in those. Anyone else? Apart from The Hundred (and I'm not sure if he does do so) where else does Buttler keep, open the batting and captain the side in franchise cricket?
Buttler might be a super hero and be capable of doing it. And it might be easier for him in ODIs because he won't be opening. But those same things that occur when fielding in T20s will do so in an ODI - but, potentially, more than 300 times instead of 120. The jury really is out for me because you want each player to give themselves the best possible chance in each discipline be it batting (especially opening), bowling, keeping or skippering the side. And Buttler is having to do three of them.
There is one other solution and that is for Buttler not to open and someone like Salt to do so instead. But that's probably another discussion.
In reality, Buttler is best placed to know whether he has the talent, experience, confidence and talent to concentrate on 120 deliveries and still be able to open the batting with confidence, clarity and competence unimpaired, then that's what should happen. I think he has played enough to know whether his plan should last to the second - and possibly subsequent - match of his reign.
It's interesting to note - although not a direct parallel - that the first T20 world cup was won by a wicket keeper captain; and that England's only T20 world cup win came with a wicket keeper opening the batting.