*Official* Second Test at Lord's

[Cabinet96]

Ironically, two of the people more renowned for "soft runs", have successfully taken that approach recently when batting for the draw. I personally think people take batting for the draw the wrong way. In Auckland Ian Bell batted ages for his 70, then Prior went in blazed a century and took all the plaudits. Not only did he not bat for as long, but he also could've been out several times and really rode his luck. It's a terrible approach in those situations IMO.

 

[Maximas]

How does putting away the bad ball enhance your chances though? I get how it's not always easy to just stay in forever blocking it, but surely it's harder to stay in forever playing your shots?

Bowlers always feel pressure after they get hit for four, if you can knock them off their length they won't bowl as many good deliveries and hence they will be less likely to get you out. Batsmen alwasy gain confidence after hitting a four, which improves footwork and general batting ability. Best way to go IMO

 

[Spark]

hmm yeah I wouldn't really encourage that kind of play from anyone. I mean sure it saved the game, but it would have totally killed off any interest in it too.

Well no, it didn't save the game as he got out about an hour before lunch. It certainly was a big help, but it wasn't a match-saving innings in the purest sense (as opposed to Faf's knock, which was)

 

[Spikey]

So Khawaja's getting bogged down a little now. Nothing wrong with that in this particular situation but it will be interesting to see how he copes with being stifled for a while.

doesn't really apply here. there's no pressure to actually score runs. it's not like a normal innings

 

[Spark]

Cheeky bastard

 

[Cabinet96]

Bowlers always feel pressure after they get hit for four, if you can knock them off their length they won't bowl as many good deliveries and hence they will be less likely to get you out. Batsmen alwasy gain confidence after hitting a four, which improves footwork and general batting ability. Best way to go IMO

Doesn't really matter when you've got 600 to play for and there's no chance of the batting side getting the runs though, does it?

 

[Maximas]

doesn't really apply here. there's no pressure to actually score runs. it's not like a normal innings

just because the match situation doesn't demand runs doesn't mean the batsmen's psyche also doesn't

 

[Uppercut]

Yeah I think it's hard to play that defensively without taking on bad habits. Which is where the "have to be positive" rhetoric comes from.

You do see some batsmen do it very well though. There's some truth in the "stay positive" rhetoric but there's a lot of confirmation bias as well- when a batsman stonewalls and gets out the comms always seem to think he got out because he stonewalled.

I don't think it'd be right to do it here though. England can't disregard the target altogether if they keep playing the way they are now.

 

[Spark]

Doesn't really matter when you've got 600 to play for and there's no chance of the batting side getting the runs though, does it?

It does. It's muted, but it still matters that you put away tripe, if only to irritate the bowler temporarily.

Better then letting him have it all his own way.

 

[Maximas]

Doesn't really matter when you've got 600 to play for and there's no chance of the batting side getting the runs though, does it?

I'm talking about how the basics of batting and bowling confidence/performance work, not about match situations, it never changes IMO

 

[GIMH]

Root to run through them here

 

[Spikey]

just because the match situation doesn't demand runs doesn't mean the batsmen's psyche also doesn't

I'm reasonably confident in Usman being smart enough to control it

 

[NUFAN]

Very nice 50 from Khawaja, pleased for the guy.

 

[Spark]

Good knock. Keep going.

 

[Cabinet96]

Well no, it didn't save the game as he got out about an hour before lunch. It certainly was a big help, but it wasn't a match-saving innings in the purest sense (as opposed to Faf's knock, which was)

Wasn't it more like an hour after lunch?

And I don't really know what Ruckus is talking about with regards to kiling off interest in the game. Who cares? That's not the point of what they're trying to achieve. And that Adelaide game was certainly exciting on the final day.

 

[Maximas]

I remember once I scored 26 off 40 overs, but I wasn't stonewalling, I was trying to score, which led to positive footwork and a good frame of mind batting wise, it's why I stayed in so long (eventually got out slogging cos I ran out of partners).

 

[Maximas]

Wasn't it more like an hour after lunch?

And I don't really know what Ruckus is talking about with regards to kiling off interest in the game. Who cares? That's not the point of what they're trying to achieve. And that Adelaide game was certainly exciting on the final day.

Ruckus clearly didn't watch the game, don't mind him, incredibly exciting and tense.

 

[Tangles]

Nice 50 for Uzi. Double it lad.

 

[Spark]

Wasn't it more like an hour after lunch?

And I don't really know what Ruckus is talking about with regards to kiling off interest in the game. Who cares? That's not the point of what they're trying to achieve. And that Adelaide game was certainly exciting on the final day.

No it was definitely in the morning session. Can definitely understand it all blurring into one though - very, very dull day of cricket until the last hour or so. I mean, the situation was interesting and intriguing, but the actual cricket wasn't actually really worth watching as opposed to score updates.

 

[Cabinet96]

I remember once I scored 26 off 40 overs, but I wasn't stonewalling, I was trying to score, which led to positive footwork and a good frame of mind batting wise, it's why I stayed in so long (eventually got out slogging cos I ran out of partners).

I remember I once scored 4 off 21 overs to successfully save a game batting at 10 when everyone above me had batted terribly. I didn't once intend to score, but I constantly internaly told myself to keep positive footwork against the spinners and just watch the ball. It's really not that hard.