Most overrated match performances

[GoodAreasShane]

Darren Gough, Boxing Day Test 1998.

People remember him carrying on after dismissing those noted batting superstars Stuart McGill and Glenn McGrath, but in reality it was Dean Headley who English fans should really be thanking for that victory, it was his bowling that actually made the difference

 

[TheJediBrah]

Stokes ODI WC final obv. Dug himself into a hole (while Buttler took all the responsibility to score at a decent clip), holed out to Boult as soon as he tried to lift the tempo (awarded 6 runs). Takes a risky two in the last over (awarded 6 runs). Completely bottles it the last 2 balls when needing 3 off 2. This is considered a clutch innings btw.

The Stokes effect - has on the feeble-minded to give the impression of "great innings" when he's really just been lucky and ****

 

[Spark]

Dhoni in the 2011 WC final. Significant innings of course but Gambhir was the one who really set up that win, but the popular narrative is that Dhoni single-handedly rescued India from oblivion in that game. In reality by the time he got to the crease Gambhir and Kohli had already done all the stabilisation work and the early movement had been seen off.

 

[Victor Ian]

He wasn't good enough to score wanker runs.

Mate...He just wasn't a wanker. That's the whole point.

 

[Burgey]

Darren Gough, Boxing Day Test 1998.

People remember him carrying on after dismissing those noted batting superstars Stuart McGill and Glenn McGrath, but in reality it was Dean Headley who English fans should really be thanking for that victory, it was his bowling that actually made the difference

I was there on day one of the Sydney test in that series and it's still the best day's play I've seen live, in no small part due to Gough ending it with a hat trick.

Didn't Headley get MOTM in Melbourne? Bowled really well iirc.

 

[subshakerz]

Dhoni in the 2011 WC final. Significant innings of course but Gambhir was the one who really set up that win, but the popular narrative is that Dhoni single-handedly rescued India from oblivion in that game. In reality by the time he got to the crease Gambhir and Kohli had already done all the stabilisation work and the early movement had been seen off.

It wasn't a great innings but the drama of Dhoni not scoring well the whole WC before promoting himself up the order and then taking them home was legit.

 

[Molehill]

I was there on day one of the Sydney test in that series and it's still the best day's play I've seen live, in no small part due to Gough ending it with a hat trick.

Didn't Headley get MOTM in Melbourne? Bowled really well iirc.

Just reminded myself of those scorecards. From 130-3 to 162 all out chasing 175 to win, Headley took 5 on the bounce to turn the tide. And Day 1 at Sydney certainly looked like an entertaining one, something for everyone in that day!!

AUS vs ENG Cricket Scorecard, 4th Test at Melbourne, December 26 - 29, 1998

Get cricket scorecard of 4th Test, AUS vs ENG, England tour of Australia 1998/99 at Melbourne Cricket Ground dated December 26 - 29, 1998.

www.espncricinfo.com

AUS vs ENG Cricket Scorecard, 5th Test at Sydney, January 02 - 05, 1999

Get cricket scorecard of 5th Test, AUS vs ENG, England tour of Australia 1998/99 at Sydney Cricket Ground dated January 02 - 05, 1999.

www.espncricinfo.com

 

[Burgey]

Yeah it was just about a perfect day's play. 300+ runs, a century, a 90, 10 wickets and a hat trick to finish the day in front of a full house.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah it was just about a perfect day's play. 300+ runs, a century, a 90, 10 wickets and a hat trick to finish the day in front of a full house.

Why the **** did Ramps bowl so much in the first dig?

 

[Starfighter]

Darren Gough, Boxing Day Test 1998.

People remember him carrying on after dismissing those noted batting superstars Stuart McGill and Glenn McGrath, but in reality it was Dean Headley who English fans should really be thanking for that victory, it was his bowling that actually made the difference

Do people really remember Gough's being Gough more? I thought it was always remembered more or less as Headley's match.

 

[Molehill]

Why the **** did Ramps bowl so much in the first dig?

Spotted that too, maybe because Tudor was expensive?

Ramps, Hick, Crawley, has there ever been a softer middle order? And also one with the biggest difference between FC form and Test?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Why the **** did Ramps bowl so much in the first dig?

Can't remember for sure, but looking at the line ups (with Funky presumably sharing the new nut with McGrath) I think it's a reasonable inference that it was (or at least expected to become) a proper old school SCG bunsen like what mamma used to make.

Plus, you know, New Year's Day test and all; bet it was hot AF. He presumably held up an end to stop the quicks blowing out their arses.

Not sure why he was preferred to Hick though.

Spotted that too, maybe because Tudor was expensive?

Ramps, Hick, Crawley, has there ever been a softer middle order?

Whatever else Ramps was as a player, soft isn't the adjective that comes to my mind.

If anything he almost cared too much, to the denigration of his natural game as he was so determined not to give it away.

 

[Burgey]

Why the **** did Ramps bowl so much in the first dig?

I dunno man, I just remember the Waugh brothers making merry in the second session before all hell broke loose at the end of the day. Was brilliant.

 

[Molehill]

Whatever else Ramps was as a player, soft isn't the adjective that comes to my mind.

If anything he almost cared too much, to the denigration of his natural game as he was so determined not to give it away.

I added the bit about FC form to Test after which is probably a fairer way to sum up that middle order. Ramps and Hick both averaged well over 50 in FC and obviously both got over a hundred tons, that they averaged 27 and 31 in Tests shows something went wrong. Crawley was 34 Test to 46 FC.

A mate of mine played Lancashire League against Crawley and said he was the most naturally talented batsmen he ever played against, the timing was sensational....but again, couldn't quite hack it at Test level.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Why the **** did Ramps bowl so much in the first dig?

#SCGsospinny

 

[Spark]

Whatever else Ramps was as a player, soft isn't the adjective that comes to my mind.

If anything he almost cared too much, to the denigration of his natural game as he was so determined not to give it away.

I don't really like the word "soft" as it applies to top level sportsmen but if it means anything, it definitely applies to someone who is so wound up and so worried about failure that it makes them play unnaturally. In fact it's probably the most common cause of not being able to handle the pressure of top level sport.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I don't really like the word "soft" as it applies to top level sportsmen but if it means anything, it definitely applies to someone who is so wound up and so worried about failure that it makes them play unnaturally. In fact it's probably the most common cause of not being able to handle the pressure of top level sport.

Think this is going to have to be one of those "agree to disagree" things as my take on "softness" in a player is so far from yours.

To my thinking "soft" is a batsman who doesn't fancy it when the seamers are turning up the knots or a quick shirking because they have a twinge.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Think this is going to have to be one of those "agree to disagree" things as my take on "softness" in a player is so far from yours.

To my thinking "soft" is a batsman who doesn't fancy it when the seamers are turning up the knots or a quick shirking because they have a twinge.

Being mentally feeble/unable to adapt to high pressure is a type of softness, as is what you're talking about, just giving up easily or not trying

 

[Molehill]

Both Hick and Ramps were clearly more talented batsmen than Nasser. They both averaged significantly higher than him in FC Cricket, but significantly less at Test level. That highlights to me the grittiness and stronger mentality of one over the other two.

 

[ashley bach]

Soft can also mean weak gutted the moment any serious pressure is applied. Unable to stand up to the situation.
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