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*Official* Fifth Test at The Oval

Spikey

Spikey

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Australia Cricket Features: First drop or first dropped? | ESPN Cricinfo

Consider the following, a list of all the batsmen used at No.3 in the Sheffield Shield last summer, nightwatchmen aside: Khawaja, Hughes, Quiney, Ponting, Marsh, Watson, Alex Doolan, Michael Klinger, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Marcus North, Aaron Finch, Joe Burns, Peter Forrest, Cameron White, Nic Maddinson, Tom Cooper, Peter Nevill, Tim Cruickshank, Sam Whiteman, Luke Towers, Dom Michael, John Rogers, Michael Hill, Alex Carey, Steve Cazzulino, Sam Miller, Peter Handscomb, Daniel Hughes, Marcus Stonis and even the bowler Kane Richardson.

That's 31 men who batted at No. 3 last season; a mix of veterans, rookies and journeymen. And for all of that, only four centuries were made from first drop in the summer's 31 Shield matches. Not surprisingly, Khawaja (138 v Tasmania) and Hughes (120 v Victoria) made one each, while the other centurions were Doolan (149 v South Australia) and Hill (144 v Queensland)
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A big fan of my spreadsheet it seems
 
Top_Cat

Top_Cat

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Both innings, though.....

If the logic was for him to just hold up an end while the deck improved, would have been a mild shock when it kept jagging to the very end. One of the more tense games I've seen, made even worse when THE GODDAMN STREAM FELL OVER WITH A WICKET TO GO.
 
Adders

Adders

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And for all of that, only four centuries were made from first drop in the summer's 31 Shield matches. Not surprisingly, Khawaja (138 v Tasmania) and Hughes (120 v Victoria) made one each, while the other centurions were Doolan (149 v South Australia) and Hill (144 v Queensland)
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Didn't Ponting bat 3 for Tasmania regularly last year? Surely he made tons there?
 
Prince EWS

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Maximas said:
what the hell was Kane Richardson doing at no 3?
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As Top_Cat said the deck was ridiculous so they just wanted to protect the middle order a bit. Richardson actually bats in the top three for his club side in Adelaide semi-regularly so I guess they just thought he had the technique to make 20 (50) or something and leave the other players in more natural positions for them. Gave them a way of playing five bowlers too obviously.
 
Prince EWS

Prince EWS

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Top_Cat said:
I know Botha's action is dubious but not counting him as a bowler is harsh.
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Haha, I couldn't remember the lineup. So they actually played six bowlers? Geez. They just straight up must've thought he had a better technique to deal with the conditions than any of their other options for the day, which is.. damning.
 
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D

Dan

Hall of Fame Member
It made no sense at the time and makes no sense now. It honestly defies belief that they found a way to justify playing Kane Richardson as a specialist batsman. How can SA's batting stocks be that low?

Should've opened with Botha - want it done right, do it yourself etc. etc.
 
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