Bits and pieces players

[Rasimione]

I think Australia doesn't historically play bits and pieces cricketers in tests for a few reasons. We have pitches that lens themselves to specialists. That is, being quick is almost a prerequisite for being successful as a fast bowler. Taking up a top six batting spot is usually reserved for genuine batsmen.

Which is why Mitch Marsh cops so much crap in the media. Australians don't really like seeing guys in our top 6 with a batting average that starts with a "3".

I had to come back to this thread seeing how Wiaan Mulder's struggles with the bat have basically ****ed up our team balance . In my opinion you are either a batting allrounder because you bat in the top six and average over 40 with hundred making ability and your bowling is almost a bonus or your a bowler who justifies his inclusion in the side for bowling. That you can bat should not really be a deciding factor for your inclusion. Mulder is currently batting at 7 and averages 15 with the bat but around 23 with the ball even though he's a batting allrounder. Would it be justified to call him a bits and pieces player?

Perhaps the Australian way of picking 6 batsmen a keeper and the best 4 bowlers is the way to go in test cricket. If a player has another string to his bow then good on him.

 

[Stefan9]

On current performances that isn't an unfair assessment. Cameron Green is having a similar issue, not to the extent of Mulder but similar.

Can.pnly hope they find their batting form. As they are the biggest hopes for batting allrounders in the world game.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Yeah Watson was the most 'proper' all rounder in the world after Kallis retired.

Shakib was

 

[TheJediBrah]

People have too high expectations for all-rounders. Averaging 40 with the bat and sub-30 with the ball almost never happens. People are calling Ben Stokes an ATG with career averages of 36/32, because that's pretty impressive.

Jadeja probably the best recently IMO, his bowling has started being more effective overseas and also been one of India's best bats when I've seen them play. Would take him ahead of Shakib in a heartbeat

 

[Fuller Pilch]

People have too high expectations for all-rounders. Averaging 40 with the bat and sub-30 with the ball almost never happens. People are calling Ben Stokes an ATG with career averages of 36/32, because that's pretty impressive.

Jadeja probably the best recently IMO, his bowling has started being more effective overseas and also been one of India's best bats when I've seen them play. Would take him ahead of Shakib in a heartbeat

Well Shakib is obviously a much better batsman, but Jadeja is a better bowler so it depends on team balance. Ben Stokes has career averages which are about the same as Oram and CDG.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Well Shakib is obviously a much better batsman, but Jadeja is a better bowler so it depends on team balance. Ben Stokes has career averages which are about the same as Oram and CDG.

I'm not convinced Shakib is that much better a batsman anymore

 

[ankitj]

Hardik Pandya is the latest bits and pieces player. What bugs me about them is that they have no well defined role but still block a spot in the XI.

Knew I would have posted something against Pandya/Jadeja in this thread. lol

 

[andruid]

I'm not convinced Shakib is that much better a batsman anymore

He certainly seems to have a greater responsibility to deliver runs to the Bangladesh team, than Ashwin has with the India team.

 

[andruid]

While I am here can we discuss how and why the project 'make Piyush Chawla a mighty Indian allrounder' never got off the ground?

 

[Flem274*]

I'm not convinced Shakib is that much better a batsman anymore

shakib is light years ahead with the bat, but since the prick wants to pick and choose his series and be a twit in general, i have no real interest in defending him.

 

[TheJediBrah]

shakib is light years ahead with the bat, but since the prick wants to pick and choose his series and be a twit in general, i have no real interest in defending him.

good thing he's not playing. Be embarassing for the World Test Champions to lose to Bangladesh at home

 

[_00_deathscar]

Yet another…HEY WAIT A SECOND!

 

[Aritro]

shakib is light years ahead with the bat, but since the prick wants to pick and choose his series and be a twit in general, i have no real interest in defending him.

Yeah, Shakib easily a tier or two above even this much improved version of Jadeja IMO, and yes, he's alienated the **** out of me. I'm basically convinced he's just trying to preserve his stats and leave a legacy.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Lendl Simmons can bat, bowl, and keep.
Bits and pieces, yeah.

 

[_00_deathscar]

Yeah, Shakib easily a tier or two above even this much improved version of Jadeja IMO

Hope you mean batting only?

 

[Blenkinsop]

Shardul Thakur strikes me as the archetypal bits and pieces cricketer. He definitely isn't either the fourth best pace bowler or the seventh best bat available to the Indian selectors.

 

[Flem274*]

Shardul Thakur strikes me as the archetypal bits and pieces cricketer. He definitely isn't either the fourth best pace bowler or the seventh best bat available to the Indian selectors.

this doesn;t make you a bits and pieces cricketer though, this just makes you someone who leaps up the preferred selections because you're the best or your type (pace bowler who can bat competently).

he's shown enough with his primary skill to be test standard.

stuart binny comes to mind for india as someone neither test class with bat or ball.

 

[honestbharani]

this doesn;t make you a bits and pieces cricketer though, this just makes you someone who leaps up the preferred selections because you're the best or your type (pace bowler who can bat competently).

he's shown enough with his primary skill to be test standard.

stuart binny comes to mind for india as someone neither test class with bat or ball.

Stuart Binny only played that series coz Irfan Pathan could not get his fitness worked out. It was one tour (2014 England) where MSD was ready to take up batting at 6 to help out the team. Really do think if we had even the 2012 version of Irfan Pathan we could have gone better than we did in that series.

 

[_00_deathscar]

Shardul Thakur strikes me as the archetypal bits and pieces cricketer. He definitely isn't either the fourth best pace bowler or the seventh best bat available to the Indian selectors.

Remains to be seen of course once he has more tests under way, but he doesn't pass the eye test as of yet. But cricket has shown you don't need to - you just need to get the actual results, which he does...he gets plenty. Even in the last test he wasn't great, but he got a massive, massive wicket. And it's not like he's just fluking it with one discipline - he's doing it in both so far. Bizarre player.

 

[Teja.]

Shardul might not make the insanely stacked Indian pace attack as a pure bowler but he is test class as a bowler. The batting just gives him an edge over better bowlers in selection.

That is not what bits and pieces means.