Nightwatchman theory ...

[Jarquis]

Something unmentioned in the 'nightwatchmen average more at 10/11 than in the top order' is that they're inevitably going to have a greater proportion of not outs when batting in the lower order. I hate the argument that not outs 'inflate' a player's average - that's a fallacious statement - but there's an obvious difference between filling in at 4 where there are multiple opportunities for you to get out and batting at 11 where it's either you or your partner that gets out and on many occasions your partner's risking his wicket to score as many runs as he can before you get out yourself.

I like the idea of a nightwatchman and as Jono said in many circumstances it can work. Steyn did it not long ago against India and got a good 40 odd putting on almost 100 with Kallis the next day. Someone like Jimmy Anderson isn't really capable of that in my eyes and I much preferred it when we chose Bresnan to do it at Lord's earlier in the summer... even if he did basically stonewall.

 

[wiff]

Do you mean this game?

Well found. How weird is that? Both teams in on the act of moving the deck chairs around.

 

[fredfertang]

Well found. How weird is that? Both teams in on the act of moving the deck chairs around.

If you're interested the story of the match is in this feature

 

[wiff]

If you're interested the story of the match is in this feature

Link is not working?

 

[fredfertang]

http://www.cricketweb.net/forum/www.cricketweb.net/blog/features/163.php

I really am not getting on very well with this new computer!

No idea why that won't work either - go to Features on the home page, October 2009 and it's called "From Kensington Oval to Perdition"

 

[uvelocity]

Jono's correct.

sig that mate @jono

 

[GuyFromLancs]

Did anyone read this? Or was I being a bit too hopeful?

 

[zaremba]

Do you mean this game?

Actually I think I may have been thinking about this game. Handy knock by the Australian number 7.

 

[zaremba]

I like the idea of a nightwatchman and as Jono said in many circumstances it can work. Steyn did it not long ago against India and got a good 40 odd putting on almost 100 with Kallis the next day. Someone like Jimmy Anderson isn't really capable of that in my eyes and I much preferred it when we chose Bresnan to do it at Lord's earlier in the summer... even if he did basically stonewall.

I completely agree that if you're going to use a NWM you should pick someone with the ability not only to block but also to cause some mayhem next morning, rather than hand the initiative to the opposition. Which is precisely what Anderson and Hoggard before him have done for many years for England. Just so negative.

 

[Julian87]

I reckon it's a good tactic, you just need the right bloke to put in there. Blokes who show balls when they bat, like Gillespie or Lyon.

 

[FBU]

Anderson was managed to get to stumps 21/23 times

Batting position, overs at crease - batsmen out - balls faced with batsmen in until stumps - and protecting batsmen (runs that batsmen went on to make)

3 - 4.2-19.4 - Strauss - 12 balls with Cook - Vaughan (11)
3 - 0.5-10.3 - Cook - 10 balls with Vaughan - Bell (74)
4 - 22.5-46.4 - Vaughan - 2 balls with Cook - KP (13)
7 - 83.4-110.4 - Strauss - 17 balls with Flintoff - Prior (53)
7 - 71.2-84.0 - Pietersen - 6 balls with Flintoff - Prior (2)
5 - 90.0-93.5 - Strauss - 14 balls with Pietersen - Collingwood (113)
3 - 4.4-19.5 - Strauss - 13 balls with Cook - Shah (14)
4 - 86.0-96.3 - Bopara - 16 balls with Cook - Pietersen (49)
8 - 86.5-102.4 - Flintoff - 13 balls with Prior - Broad (19)
6 - 28.1-32.3 - Collingwood - 7 with Cook - Prior (22)
3 - 1.3-8.1 - Strauss - 15 balls with Cook - Trott (69)
5 - 47.3-62.0 - Pietersen 15 balls with Trott - Collingwood (40)
3 - 0.5-11.1 - Strauss - 12 balls with Cook - Trott (36)
6 - 26.0-30.5 - Trott - 1 ball Collingwood - Bell (16)
5 - 43.3-48.0 - Pietersen - 15 balls with Cook - Collingwood (13)
3 - 19.2-20.0 - Strauss - 5 balls with Cook - Trott (203)
6 - 46.4-48.0 - Pietersen - 3 balls with Bell - Morgan (71)
5 - 117.1-122.5 - Pietersen - 18 balls with Bell - Morgan (1)
8 - 38.1-43.0 - Prior - 18 balls with Strauss - Broad (4)
3 - 1.3-OUT (Roach) - Strauss - 4 balls with Cook - Trott (13)
3 - 13.4-OUT (Ojha) - Compton - 6 balls with Cook - Trott (0)
9 - 84.4-93.3 - Prior - 16 balls with Bresnan - Broad (33)
3 - 3.4-9.4 - Carberry - 10 balls with Cook - Bell (2)

Finn
3 - 84.6-152.4 - Cook - 202 balls with Compton, Trott, Pietersen, Bell - Trott (52)
5 - 48.4-52.1 - Cook - 3 balls with Bell - Root (29)
7 - 55.5-59.5 - Prior - 14 balls with Trott and Bell - Bell (6)

Bresnan
5 - 14.6-61.3 - Pietersen - 15 balls with Root - Bell (74)
3 - 23.5 -OUT (Siddle) - Root - 13 balls with Cook - Trott (5)
7 - 67.6-92.6 - Bairstow - 21 balls with Bell - Prior (0)

 

[Riggins]

The one where he turned down the single then Collingwood (i think) got out was the absolute best.

 

[wiff]

The one where he turned down the single then Collingwood (i think) got out was the absolute best.

Pure gold

 

[Valer]

Did anyone read this? Or was I being a bit too hopeful?

I'd like to see evidence of their claims on things like
"Do teams use nightwatchmen more when pitch conditions are worse? There is no real evidence for this, and unsuccessful team are no more or less likely to use nightwatchmen than successful teams"

 

[Uppercut]

I think Middlesex under Brearley used to do this on occasion.

There's something to this I think- assuming the logic to having a nightwatchman is sound, why is it only applied at the end of the day? If you're expecting a short period of play when batting is a bit of a lottery- not exactly unheard of- you might not want your best batsmen to come to the crease first. A bit like a less extreme version of the reverse-batting-order trick from the days of uncovered wickets.

 

[Jono]

They'd be a lunchwatchman, not a nightwatchman.

 

[GIMH]

They'd be a lunchwatchman, not a nightwatchman.

Well thank **** you're here to point this out. Jesus H Christ.

 

[Furball]

They'd be a lunchwatchman

Reckon Mark Cosgrove would make extensive use of this.

 

[Spikey]

And the whole thing reeks of superstition and metaphysical solutions

well yeah. that's cricket.

 

[91Jmay]

You are downplaying the psychological aspect. A batsmen will not want to come in and face 5 overs, there is no chance to build a score of any real note and all that can happen is he gets out. This weighing on there mind will have an effect.