2019 2nd Ashes Test - Lords 14-18 August 2019

[Gethelred]

So than who opens? Anyway he failed dismally on the tour and didn’t make the squad

Khawaja, and I've heard.

 

[Gethelred]

Bancroft's done his job now.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Because they refuse to start early.

No they dawdle like they are having a sleep between overs and Lyon bowled a bucketload today

 

[frankrizzo]

Well we won the day. Bancroft and Koala batted well.

Botham has to be the most boring commentator of all time.

His sooking is fun though, he sounded like archers mum when he was getting bounced. Just you wait till you get yours mean ol Aussies.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Bancroft's done his job now.

Needs to bat another 15 overs minimum

 

[Frank Gallagher]

Because Khawaja's average as an opener is vastly superior than his average at 3.

Usman Khawaja - Performance Analysis by Batting Position - Test Cricket

Khawaja, U T - Summary of performances for each batting position - Test Cricket

www.howstat.com

Granted, it's a smaller sample size, but if you think about it, it makes sense. He doesn't mind the moving ball, and he's putrid against turn of any kind.

Making runs as an opener isn't much different from making runs at 3, either you can bat or you can't, wickets are the same size, pitch hasn't changed, ball still has shine, cracks me up when people blame batting position especially when a batsman is moving down the order.

 

[frankrizzo]

who actually thinks that? nobody I've ever met (online or otherwise)

Mostly pushed by media and former players, the threads here had a decent amount of support for four day games as well.

Just a quick Google search shows articles from Warne and Mark Taylor where they say it's the future for the sport.

Mark Taylor, four-day Tests, Australian summer of cricket, pink ball, ICC | FOX SPORTS

FORMER Australian captain Mark Taylor has called on the ICC to mandate four-day Tests as the longest format seeks to remain relevant.

coupler.foxsports.com.au

Shane Warne No Spin: how to save Test cricket, four-day matches, over limits

 

[Gethelred]

Needs to bat another 15 overs minimum

It'd be nice, but I'll settle for him having made it to stumps for now.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Set up nicely for what could be a good test match providing rain doesn't rob us of too many more overs.

English weather is a lottery who knows.
Last test we were meant to lose heaps of play and it didn’t rain at all

 

[LukeParkerno1]

It'd be nice, but I'll settle for him having made it to stumps for now.

It’s an old style innings now people will say...oh he has only made 5...but he is seeing off the new ball that’s his number 1 job

 

[Gethelred]

Making runs as an opener isn't much different from making runs at 3, either you can bat or you can't, wickets are the same size, pitch hasn't changed, ball still has shine, cracks me up when people blame batting position especially when a batsman is moving down the order.

And yet, some people flourish batting at 3 where they don't as opener and vice versa. They aren't the same, nor do you pick someone for the positions with the same attributes in mind.

And it's kind of indicative that the way you term it is 'making runs as an opener'. Openers have 2 jobs; to blunt the attack and see off the new ball, and then to plunder the bowling after it gets easier. 3 down still need to be able to defend, but they're more fluent shot makers.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

It’s the same thing- half an hour early. Middle session was extended

Well isn't that just wonderful, what if we lost another 10 overs to bad light? Bad luck? Even though conditions were ideal at 10am? Surely it's time for a bit of leeway, especially in that campaigner part of the world.

 

[Seedsfan]

I discounted it because it seems to be a pretty clear outlier. His record is still awful over that period if you include it.

Australian form from 18 months ago is irrelevant to an Ashes series in England. Harris struggled in a really poor side, but was close to our best batsman against India.

When you are constantly getting out early after making 20 it doesn’t really matter if Smith is in at 4 when you are an opener. It’s not like Harris was batting 6 and running out of partners.

Warner plays until we actually have someone putting their hand up. The fact Bangers is also struggling and seen as the next best option just shows the depth isn’t great at the moment

 

[Seedsfan]

Khawaja, and I've heard.

Khawaja has looked good at 3 in two of his three digs I wouldn’t be moving him to bring someone in for Warner

 

[Seedsfan]

Because they refuse to start early.

Yeah should start 10am local time

 

[Frank Gallagher]

And yet, some people flourish batting at 3 where they don't as opener and vice versa. They aren't the same, nor do you pick someone for the positions with the same attributes in mind.

And it's kind of indicative that the way you term it is 'making runs as an opener'. Openers have 2 jobs; to blunt the attack and see off the new ball, and then to plunder the bowling after it gets easier. 3 down still need to be able to defend, but they're more fluent shot makers.

This isn't the 70s mate, opening bats at our national level need to able to score.

 

[Kapow!!!]

It’s an old style innings now people will say...oh he has only made 5...but he is seeing off the new ball that’s his number 1 job

He hasn't exactly had too many decent deliveries bowled at him though. They've either been too wide, short or straight. Looks all at sea to anything on or just outside off. Archer in particular was guilty of that.

Good on him for surviving until stumps but that's still a pretty low bar to set for him.

 

[Seedsfan]

Making runs as an opener isn't much different from making runs at 3, either you can bat or you can't, wickets are the same size, pitch hasn't changed, ball still has shine, cracks me up when people blame batting position especially when a batsman is moving down the order.

Yet batsmen feel comfortable doing different things. He is starting to look like he is working his way into form let’s not upset the apple cart

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Well isn't that just wonderful, what if we lost another 10 overs to bad light? Bad luck? Even though conditions were ideal at 10am? Surely it's time for a bit of leeway, especially in that campaigner part of the world.

Or teams can be punished more. Suspend captains. They will get the message quick

 

[Gethelred]

This isn't the 70s mate, opening bats at our national level need to able to score.

Which is not what I said.

Alastair Cook made how many test runs again? Chris Rogers? Was Rahul Dravid a thing?

Jesus Christ. I'm not suggesting Geoffrey Boycott, I'm suggesting a player whose record opening the batting is superior to their record at 3. I'd have thought that'd be logical.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

He hasn't exactly had too many decent deliveries bowled at him though. They've either been too wide, short or straight. Looks all at sea to anything on or just outside off. Archer in particular was guilty of that.

Good on him for surviving until stumps but that's still a pretty low bar to set for him.

It’s the number 1 job as an opener- keep getting the shine off the ball it will be easier for others to bat.

 

[Seedsfan]

This isn't the 70s mate, opening bats at our national level need to able to score.

Still room for a dour opening batsmen

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Which is not what I said.

Alastair Cook made how many test runs again? Chris Rogers? Was Rahul Dravid a thing?

Mark Taylor too, Grahame Smith in recent times

 

[Seedsfan]

Look we are in a strong position here, disappointing Warner wasn’t able to make it to stumps but still 1-30 is solid we didn’t collapse and that’s the main thing.

Don’t think this pitch is offering much to the bowlers. England’s score is about 100 below par for mine, when the ball gets older tomorrow it should be a good wicket to bat on.

 

[Kapow!!!]

It’s the number 1 job as an opener- keep getting the shine off the ball it will be easier for others to bat.

A job made easier when the bowlers do that for you I guess.