How would the other teams have done?

[FaaipDeOiad]

being out of form for 1.5 years is not an excuse. It cannot be coincidence that his slump began during and after the ashes of 2005. IMO his poor form was merely a consequence of not being able to play the round the wicket ploy.

And how do you reconcile that theory with the fact that Gilchrist's probably faced more round the wicket bowling than any other batsman in the world? Take a look at the 2001 Ashes for instance, Gilchrist's first series against England. As soon as he came to the crease, every bowler immediately went around the wicket to him. Bowlers have been doing it for his entire career because it's always been obvious that he can struggle to play his off-side shots with the ball angling into him, and that if you cramp him for room you can get him out early in his innings. It was a theory developed when he was new on the scene in ODIs in the 90s, not in 2005.

The odd bowler has really troubled him with that line, like Vaas and Flintoff (though Vaas was over the wicket, obviously), but last summer he was in terrible form as well and got out to a number of fairly average bowlers in that fashion. Obviously the plan was successful, as it pretty much always has been to varying degrees against Gilchrist, but he's overcome it plenty of times in the past and did so again this summer.

You can pretty much draw a line with Gilchrist's form when he was rested for two matches during the VB series last year. He came back with 30 odd and a century, and since then he's averaged 40 in ODIs and 36 in tests, which is at least a significant improvement from what he was managing beforehand. He also made a big song and dance in the media about working on the around the wicket line in the buildup to the Ashes this year, and evidently he handled himself a fair bit better this time around, aided by the fact that the ball was doing a lot less in Australian conditions.

 

[McKanga]

And how do you reconcile that ......

You poor devil. You not only got into an argument with tooextracool but actually invited him to reply.

 

[tooextracool]

And how do you reconcile that theory with the fact that Gilchrist's probably faced more round the wicket bowling than any other batsman in the world? Take a look at the 2001 Ashes for instance, Gilchrist's first series against England. As soon as he came to the crease, every bowler immediately went around the wicket to him. Bowlers have been doing it for his entire career because it's always been obvious that he can struggle to play his off-side shots with the ball angling into him, and that if you cramp him for room you can get him out early in his innings. It was a theory developed when he was new on the scene in ODIs in the 90s, not in 2005.

The odd bowler has really troubled him with that line, like Vaas and Flintoff (though Vaas was over the wicket, obviously), but last summer he was in terrible form as well and got out to a number of fairly average bowlers in that fashion. Obviously the plan was successful, as it pretty much always has been to varying degrees against Gilchrist, but he's overcome it plenty of times in the past and did so again this summer.

You can pretty much draw a line with Gilchrist's form when he was rested for two matches during the VB series last year. He came back with 30 odd and a century, and since then he's averaged 40 in ODIs and 36 in tests, which is at least a significant improvement from what he was managing beforehand. He also made a big song and dance in the media about working on the around the wicket line in the buildup to the Ashes this year, and evidently he handled himself a fair bit better this time around, aided by the fact that the ball was doing a lot less in Australian conditions.

Most bowlers havent tried it extensively. Hell even in this Ashes series, Freddie would do it for a few overs when he first came in and then go over the wicket again despite clearly unsettling him. I dont know why bowlers dont just bowl around the wicket to him for the entire innings or at least for most of the innings but the fact is that it just doesnt happen. further its also about line and length. Theres no point just going around the wicket for the heck of it and then bowling full or bowling too wide because its clear that you need to bowl exactly the right kind of line and length and you need to bowl at a decent pace as well. Clearly someone like Irfan Pathan isnt going to cause as much of a problem as someone like Nel or Flintoff. Its not just a case of any random so and so going around the wicket and causing him problems, its about being able to do it by bowling fast and accurately while also getting the ball to go away from his body.

 

[Salamuddin]

I feel Pakistan would have challenged Australia alot more strongly would have if we had Aktar, Asif, Gul, Shabbir at our disposal.