Think I'm ready for my next big sook...the application, or lack thereof, of our lower order. And seemingly, the acceptance of that fact in our environment.
We have an 8-11 (Wagner sometimes excepted) who refuse to bat to the match situation. And I include Bracewell in that after the 3rd Test. Throughout this series, we have seen some ****ing ghastly shots from our tail, in situations where they had a senior batsman at the other end, or the match situation would have been much better suited to playing proper cricket shots.
Ajaz at Lord's, a horrendous swipe across the line with a lead building. Henry first ball at Nottingham, with Mitchell nearing 200. Bracewell with another horrible swipe in the 2nd dig there, with Mitchell again set. Bracewell again at Leeds, even worse swipe with Blundell set. Then the one I reckon got me the most, Boult in the 2nd dig at Leeds with Blundell on 88, tries to hoe one off middle stump.
Yeah we're whingers, we're cynical etc. But this stuff absolutely ****s me off, and has for years. If there's Baz Ball, this is Southee Ball. Where no matter what the situation, who's at the other end, you hack as hard as you can because 'that's the way you play'. He does it, Henry does it, Bracewell did it, Jamieson does it, and Boult does it. Every single one of those guys is better than that, or could be. If I was Blundell the other day, or Mitchell through the series, I'd tear ****ing strips off these guys. I work hard out here for hours, and you get to be all care and no responsibility because 'it's the way you play'? **** that. Cricket is your job. Take it seriously, be the best you can be.
Even in a Brendon McCullum side, you won't see that. You won't see Jack Leach, or Jimmy Anderson, or Matthew Potts, bat that way. They'll bat for the situation. And none of those guys have the ability of our guys. Leach won a Test for his country opening the batting. He became a hero in an Ashes Test alongside Ben Stokes. If that was a NZ top order player, Stokes would never have had the chance (Wagner possibly excepted). Ugh. I hate it.
We have an 8-11 (Wagner sometimes excepted) who refuse to bat to the match situation. And I include Bracewell in that after the 3rd Test. Throughout this series, we have seen some ****ing ghastly shots from our tail, in situations where they had a senior batsman at the other end, or the match situation would have been much better suited to playing proper cricket shots.
Ajaz at Lord's, a horrendous swipe across the line with a lead building. Henry first ball at Nottingham, with Mitchell nearing 200. Bracewell with another horrible swipe in the 2nd dig there, with Mitchell again set. Bracewell again at Leeds, even worse swipe with Blundell set. Then the one I reckon got me the most, Boult in the 2nd dig at Leeds with Blundell on 88, tries to hoe one off middle stump.
Yeah we're whingers, we're cynical etc. But this stuff absolutely ****s me off, and has for years. If there's Baz Ball, this is Southee Ball. Where no matter what the situation, who's at the other end, you hack as hard as you can because 'that's the way you play'. He does it, Henry does it, Bracewell did it, Jamieson does it, and Boult does it. Every single one of those guys is better than that, or could be. If I was Blundell the other day, or Mitchell through the series, I'd tear ****ing strips off these guys. I work hard out here for hours, and you get to be all care and no responsibility because 'it's the way you play'? **** that. Cricket is your job. Take it seriously, be the best you can be.
Even in a Brendon McCullum side, you won't see that. You won't see Jack Leach, or Jimmy Anderson, or Matthew Potts, bat that way. They'll bat for the situation. And none of those guys have the ability of our guys. Leach won a Test for his country opening the batting. He became a hero in an Ashes Test alongside Ben Stokes. If that was a NZ top order player, Stokes would never have had the chance (Wagner possibly excepted). Ugh. I hate it.
