Instances of No.3/Middle Order batsmen successfully converting to Test Openers

[SteveNZ]

Confirmation that TJB is Brad Haddin.

Hey whoa, let's not say awful **** that we can't take back. Brad Haddin is a ****wit. And made **** up in his book about NZ players ringing the Australian guys to see if they needed anything organised while they were in NZ for the 2015 World Cup.

TJB is a wonderful man who might get jumpy and look for battles on here at times, but he's too respectful to carry on to ornaments of the game like Vettori, Taylor, Elliott and co like Haddin did.

He (TJB) might be sailing a bit close to the wind taking on an icon like me of late, however.

 

[SteveNZ]

What about instances of disastrously elevating 30+ middle order batsmen to open.

I recall a mId 1990s series between England and Windies where 1 team turned Robin Smith into an opener and the other tried to transform Carl Hooper.

IIRC.

Not Tests, but Jimmy Neesham before the 2015 World Cup. Mind you, if he'd stayed in the middle order, there's a chance he might've unseated Grant Elliott...although given Hesson and Baz weren't huge Jimmy fans - and might've done it as a sacrificial lamb ploy - probably not, on reflection.

 

[TheJediBrah]

He (TJB) might be sailing a bit close to the wind taking on an icon like me of late, however.

That's what makes it a challenge

Fighting the usual idiots gets you nowhere. I'm after a big scalp

 

[Prince EWS]

Fighting the usual idiots gets you nowhere

That's probably why Steve isn't taking your bait.

 

[Prince EWS]

Not Tests, but Jimmy Neesham before the 2015 World Cup. Mind you, if he'd stayed in the middle order, there's a chance he might've unseated Grant Elliott...although given Hesson and Baz weren't huge Jimmy fans - and might've done it as a sacrificial lamb ploy - probably not, on reflection.

That divided CW quite a bit at the time. Noone thought he should be opening but I think >50% of the forum thought he should have been playing ahead of Elliott in the middle order.

I was proudly team GE though, and vindicated. He was perfect for #5 in that era of ODIs.

 

[Coronis]

Azhar Ali was good when pushed up to open. I actually think they should have done that more.

He started his FC career as a leggie tailender.

Sounds familiar.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Not Tests, but Jimmy Neesham before the 2015 World Cup. Mind you, if he'd stayed in the middle order, there's a chance he might've unseated Grant Elliott...although given Hesson and Baz weren't huge Jimmy fans - and might've done it as a sacrificial lamb ploy - probably not, on reflection.

That divided CW quite a bit at the time. Noone thought he should be opening but I think >50% of the forum thought he should have been playing ahead of Elliott in the middle order.

I was proudly team GE though, and vindicated. He was perfect for #5 in that era of ODIs.

Funnily enough if Ryder had stayed on track and in the team he would've opened in that WC (and been the 6th bowling option) with BMac at 5 and BOTH Elliott and Neesham missing out.