Placing our bets on "Test Cricket's Young Fab Four"

[Furball]

I think it's stupid that we're talking about blots in country records so early into their careers. I mean, even most ATGs have a couple of places they did really poorly in. Lara never did well against India, Kallis always sucked balls in England, Dravid was terrible in SA, etc. and we're applying these criteria to players who've barely toured every country once? Seems really silly to me.

Imo, the only one with a real blot on his resume in terms of batting in different conditions is Kohli, because in addition to simply not getting runs ( which can happen to even the greatest players even when they're not actually playing badly), he just looked utterly inept and had no idea how to handle the conditions. It's a genuine flaw in his game which was well and truly exposed, and not just a box which he failed to tick.

Was there not some weird anomaly with India in Lara's career where he only played them 3 times or something?

 

[Furball]

Well this series against SL is his first Test series in Asia since he became good. He toured India in 2013 and made a 92 IIRC but wasn't quite the same player at that stage.

not sure if UAE counts as Asia but I guess he played the 2 tests there in 2014?

It's not the subcontinent but I'm not sure why it wouldn't count as Asia.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Was there not some weird anomaly with India in Lara's career where he only played them 3 times or something?

He only played 3 in India but played multiple series in West indies. Never quite got the sort of runs you'd expect from him.

 

[GIMH]

Cry me a river.

Oh look, it's you. Wanker

 

[hendrix]

Root was also not helped in that series by them screwing around with him non stop. Been a different player ever since.

wasn't good enough to bat in the top order

 

[Burgey]

Oh look, it's you. Wanker

I heard Root left Tranmere Rovers to play for Leeds United. Is that true?

 

[GIMH]

wasn't good enough to bat in the top order

Not the point. They shunted him here and there.

I mean since then he's gradually moved from 5 to 3 and it's fine, but at the time he was constantly having to redefine himself

I'm not saying it as an excuse btw and saying he'd have scored 900 @ 134.61 otherwise - but the management of him at that time was very poor

 

[GIMH]

I heard Root left Tranmere Rovers to play for Leeds United. Is that true?

No

 

[Burgey]

Root once again failing when needed. Downhill skier of the highest order.

 

[Daemon]

I remember a time when Burgey used to be funny

 

[morgieb]

I remember a time when Burgey used to be funny

1850?

 

[Burgey]

I remember a time when Burgey used to be funny

The same cannot be said for you.

 

[Jono]

Root and Smith are losers, Kohli is a winner #neverlostaseries

 

[hendrix]

Has Root captained a lost series?

 

[Jono]

Nope, I don't think Kane has either right?

So basically, Smith stinks.

 

[hendrix]

Nope, I don't think Kane has either right?

So basically, Smith stinks.

but Root isn't captain???

 

[Jono]

You're taking me way too seriously.

 

[Burgey]

You'd think Hendrix would know better. He's been around here long enough.

 

[morgieb]

Root and Smith are losers, Kohli is a winner #neverlostaseries

Kohli captained two Tests of that Australia series

 

[Burgey]

People also need to realise TPC (the real one, not this month's player du jour, Herath) averages 138 in NZ against what was reliably touted on here last Summer as an ATG pace attack and a team containing what was argued as an unbeatable batting line up too. The pressure in those circumstances was immense and cannot be downplayed. I spoke with Kiwiviktor about this, and he confirms it's the equivalent of average 14,000 anywhere else in the world.