Test Pakistan v England (3 Test Matches)

[NYRB]

The BazBall mentality of playing with smiles on faces, enjoyment & expressing themselves with little responsibility only works long term if they're winning.

If England lose in Pakistan, they have some tough Test series ahead. The BazBall bubble could burst quickly.

 

[PhatBoy]

The BazBall mentality of playing with smiles on faces, enjoyment & expressing themselves with little responsibility only works long term if they're winning.

If England lose in Pakistan, they have some tough Test series ahead. The BazBall bubble could burst quickly.

Again though like at certain stages in India they - to me anyway - have gone about this completely the wrong way.

When they’ve attacked successfully it’s been with calculated and smart - to some degree anyway - batting.

Ie. if you are going to face spinners on turning pitches when your players are poor players of spin generally, which they pretty much are aside from Root, then I wholeheartedly believe your best option is to attack. You won’t survive with how mediocre they are.

But use your feet for God’s sake

 

[NYRB]

England need to regroup on Day 3 and maybe take a leaf out of Saud Shakeels innings.

 

[sabso]

Bazball tolerates indiscipline far too much.

 

[BStaff17]

Bazball tolerates indiscipline far too much.

It's how he played so it's the only way he knows

 

[dumb]

they could maybe play the percentages a bit bitter. a few less horizontal shots on an up and down wicket.

 

[PhatBoy]

they could maybe play the percentages a bit bitter. a few less horizontal shots on an up and down wicket.

Exactly.

Attack but do it the way that best suits what’s going on around you

Smith literally showed them exactly how to do it on day one:

He clobbered them down the ground by using his feet, and he used the depth of the crease to balls that were short but not on the stumps or turning down leg side to hit square off the back foot

 

[hawkman]

they could maybe play the percentages a bit bitter. a few less horizontal shots on an up and down wicket.

Wasn't really an issue in the 2nd innings. Both Duckett and Crawley missed when defending straight balls

 

[Borisdog]

Again though like at certain stages in India they - to me anyway - have gone about this completely the wrong way.

When they’ve attacked successfully it’s been with calculated and smart - to some degree anyway - batting.

Ie. if you are going to face spinners on turning pitches when your players are poor players of spin generally, which they pretty much are aside from Root, then I wholeheartedly believe your best option is to attack. You won’t survive with how mediocre they are.

But use your feet for God’s sake

Yes.

I touched on this in another thread with someone, but largely they're all "eye" players. And what's more they're stand and deliver eye players. Not a shred of technique amongst them bar Root. It's the bazookas they all use for bats now that save most of them, and this is true across most test playing nations. There's precious little in the way of technique over eye now.

When you can clunk something off the toe/edge for six who needs technique?

This is the first time I've really seen/paid attention to Smith and he certainly looks to have a technique.

 

[Borisdog]

Exactly.

Attack but do it the way that best suits what’s going on around you

Smith literally showed them exactly how to do it on day one:

He clobbered them down the ground by using his feet, and he used the depth of the crease to balls that were short but not on the stumps or turning down leg side to hit square off the back foot

Who would've thought that the same sensible stuff that's worked for years still can be successful.

Bit like bowling full and straight to the tail, instead of 16 overs of half track garbage.

 

[hawkman]

Who would've thought that the same sensible stuff that's worked for years still can be successful.

Bit like bowling full and straight to the tail, instead of 16 overs of half track garbage.

What? 16 overs of intimidation costing 60 runs is clearly better than a full straight one targeting the stumps

 

[Borisdog]

What? 16 overs of intimidation costing 60 runs is clearly better than a full straight one targeting the stumps

My wife and dog run outside after about 4 balls of it. They know what's coming.

In fact so do the neighbours. There's a fair bit of "Tourette's" goes on.