What should we do with Mitchell Johnson?

[Pigeon]

Refresh my memory?

At the time the commentators were saying that the last time two batsmen retired hurt in one innings was in the thirties or something.

Upset at the badge of world's best opener being conferred on Smith.

 

[Top_Cat]

He broke Smith's hand because of uneven pitches and the fact that Smith was most unfortunate that a blow hit in exactly the wrong place. Batsmen only ever get hit on the hand on uneven decks and most hits on the hand merely result in a bit of pain and some bruising, not a break.

You can't bowl to break a batsman's hand.

Haha, nah. Seriously. If you're quick (135Km/h+) you've got more control over where you hit a batsman with the intent of injuring him than clean bowling him.

I'll grant you the Perth ball was a nasty one to get but the other break was just Midge hitting the seam (for once).

 

[stephen]

Upset at the badge of world's best opener being conferred on Smith.

But Smith is the world's best opener at present, averages notwithstanding.

Opening the batting in India is a damn sight easier than opening the batting in South Africa.

EDIT: According to the ICC rankings Gambhir is ranked 1, Smith 9 and Sehwag 19. Of those three I rate Smith the highest, but Gambhir could be said to be the most in form.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Put him in the scuppers with a head tie on him.
Put him in the scuppers with a head tie on him.
Put him in the scuppers with a head tie on him.
Earl-eye in the morning.

Thought of the same thing when I saw the title.

 

[Richard]

But to do what Johnson did to Smith you have to be an accurate, fast and dangerous bowler

... and have an uneven pitch, and have a hell of a lot conspire against the batsman. The fact that all of this happened proves absolutely nothing about Johnson's ability.

 

[Richard]

Haha, nah. Seriously. If you're quick (135Km/h+) you've got more control over where you hit a batsman with the intent of injuring him than clean bowling him.

I'll grant you the Perth ball was a nasty one to get but the other break was just Midge hitting the seam (for once).

It takes either a) gross error on the batsman's part (ie, playing consistently too low with the hands) or b) one hell of a lot of luck with uneven decks.

If the pitch is even and the batsman plays sensibly, there's no way a bowler, however quick or accurate, can cause injury. Short of bowling Beamers, which is obviously unacceptable.

 

[Pigeon]

But Smith is the world's best opener at present, averages notwithstanding.

Opening the batting in India is a damn sight easier than opening the batting in South Africa.

EDIT: According to the ICC rankings Gambhir is ranked 1, Smith 9 and Sehwag 19. Of those three I rate Smith the highest, but Gambhir could be said to be the most in form.

Sehwag averages the same in India as he averages outside India. Gambhir has shown he is capable by showing in NZ where traditionally Indian batsmen have faltered.

 

[TT Boy]

Sehwag averages the same in India as he averages outside India. Gambhir has shown he is capable by showing in NZ where traditionally Indian batsmen have faltered[/B].

But on wickets which were road like. Those wickets were not your typical imagery of a NZ slow green seamer.

 

[Pigeon]

But on wickets which were road like. Those wickets were not your typical imagery of a NZ slow green seamer.

Aha. The curse of the subcontinental batsmen. If they do, they are labelled flat track bullies, if they don't then they are home bullies.

By that logic, Micheal Clarke or Hussey are not even near world class, as they have prospered mightily only on flat tracks in their backyards.

A test is a test in my opinion. Considering it was his first major away tour from the subcontinent, Gambhir really prospered.

 

[zaremba]

Personally not really surprised that Gambhir is so highly ranked. What a brilliant find he has been for India. Terrific player.

 

[Richard]

Aha. The curse of the subcontinental batsmen. If they do, they are labelled flat track bullies, if they don't then they are home bullies.

By that logic, Micheal Clarke or Hussey are not even near world class, as they have prospered mightily only on flat tracks in their backyards.

A test is a test in my opinion. Considering it was his first major away tour from the subcontinent, Gambhir really prospered.

You can't just say "Gambhir proved himself in New Zealand where traditionally Indian batsmen have faltered" when he didn't face the main reason why Indian batsmen have faltered there.

The biggest test for a subcontinental batsman, historically, has always been the green seamer (traditionally found in England, New Zealand and South Africa - obviously much less so at the current time). Gambhir has done all that could be asked of him of late, but he's yet to face that particular test.

Clarke has indeed had a fair few comments aimed his way that most of his success since coming back in 2006/07 has been at home. Hussey too has prospered mainly on flat decks.

 

[Burgey]

Sehwag averages the same in India as he averages outside India. Gambhir has shown he is capable by showing in NZ where traditionally Indian batsmen have faltered.

Bounce FTW.

 

[Richard]

Bounce and seam FTW TBH.

 

[Uppercut]

Gambhir does look to me like he can handle it, from what I've seen of him in ODIs. But he certainly hasn't yet proven that he can.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Aye, would of been itstl to see him bat v Australia in Aus, too bad Jaffer was the other opener then.

 

[JimmyGS]

If the pitch is even and the batsman plays sensibly, there's no way a bowler, however quick or accurate, can cause injury. Short of bowling Beamers, which is obviously unacceptable.

Not true, again. I've been pinged in the head by quick bowlers on even decks, hit in the ribs, on the hand, you name it, and I'm sure it'll happen many more times. Sometimes you just get a delivery in an awkward area or you simply misjudge the height of it. Doesn't have to be an uneven deck.

 

[Richard]

Are you a top-class batsman? I've tended to have the impression you were a bowler.

Obviously lesser batsmen are going to make misjudgements even against deliveries which behave as they should.

 

[Prince EWS]

Are you a top-class batsman? I've tended to have the impression you were a bowler.

Obviously lesser batsmen are going to make misjudgements even against deliveries which behave as they should.

Bowler-who-cat-bat-***-batting-allrounder apparently.

 

[Richard]

What's one of those then?

 

[Prince EWS]

What's one of those then?

Someone who starts off as a bowler you can bat a bit, then develops his batting to a point where he becomes a batting allrounder.

Like err.. Scott Styris. But younger, and without losing so much of the bowling.