***Official*** Australia in England 2018

[Jack1]

I have two choices, continue following this series or start following the Shooting Fish In a Barrel World Championships

This has bee a dire series so far

237-1 off 28.1. England might post 450+

 

[Jack1]

McGrath was fairly quick for the most part of his career. His accuracy didn't just allow him to bowl consistently outside off-stump at a length but anywhere he wanted to and he accurately bowled in a batsman's weak areas. Plus he could outwit batsmen.

Exactly. He wouldn't get smashed now, certainly not on a regular basis. He was too skilled and accurate.

 

[Jack1]

Why isn't every bowler like the most accurate bowler the world has seen so they can do something about ****** mishits going for sixes

The bowling has been atrocious in this game. If you think this is good bowling that's your problem! The batting has been very good too.

If the player is powerful enough with a fast swing speed they will hit sixes even if they don't find the middle, you can't prevent that unless you want to stop the average player ever hitting a six.

Boundary isn't that big on this ground by the way.

 

[Jack1]

Batting records | One-Day Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo

Bairstow has the best opener stats ever on ODIs...by a distance....and it's improving every game and getting stronger too

If anyone is going to make a bowling attack look silly and the bat look too dominant over ball...it's Bairstow.

If Australia don't get Bairstow out then 450 minimum and close to 500. England might stagnate though if Bairstow gets out

 

[Cow]

The Golden State Warriors of cricket. Changing the game.

 

[YorksLanka]

Come on England,would love to see the Aussies get spanked for 500!!

 

[trundler]

Australia have been horrid this series, of course. They don't have their proper pace attack. The batting has been good but not brilliant. Bairstow is just nudging everything and it's going for six over the tiny boundary over extra cover.

He's played less than 50 ODIs in conditions I wouldn't describe as testing so give it time

 

[NotMcKenzie]

Edges have always gone for six, does happen more now because the edges are thicker on a lot of bats. But these players swing harder and faster than ever too.

Having watched a large amount of old footage, I don't believe your claim about edged sixes; I'd say they used to go to, or just over the top of the keeper/slips most of the time. Maybe happened a couple of times on smaller grounds.

Furthermore, I'm not entirely sure that players swing all that much harder these days either, certainly not for a four along the ground. If you watch old footage, the bat is swung hard enough that it would often finish well over the head of the batsmen, whilst modern straight or cover drives, the bat finishes somewhere about eye-level, or just above the level of the head, and the the player more 'pushes' at the ball instead of really swinging through it.

(Not that these styles belong exclusively to each era; I recall watching video of Border playing drives with a restrained motion)

I'm undecided on the bats being better apart from their edges due to personal experience in the past 20 years with several bats

If it's based entirely on your own batting experience, there could easily be other factors at work there.

 

[trundler]

250+ in 20 overs has been achieved thrice in T20s. Hmm.

 

[fredfertang]

This is what I expected to see happen in the Scotland game

 

[Daemon]

Don't worry guys Paine will chase this

 

[NotMcKenzie]

If by 'this', you mean the ball, then yes

 

[Jack1]

England need 209 off 106 for 500.

 

[trundler]

Get that double ton, Bairstow

 

[Starfighter]

Cricket is definitely professional now and they train the batsman more for power. They understand training more now. Even Rugby hasn't caught on to strength done optimally for that long. It's clear the players are stronger with faster bat speeds now.

If bat speeds have increased so much why haven't extreme (120 metre plus) hits become very common? Because players don't actually use all of their strength. With modern bats they just need to time the ball well enough and it will go. You don't often see the full behind the back follow through for lofted shots down the ground anymore. It just isn't needed.

Edges have always gone for six, does happen more now because the edges are thicker on a lot of bats. But these players swing harder and faster than ever too.

Edges going for six used to be very rare. Mis-hooks used to be caught on the ring, or a distance just outside it.

Not the bats, bat type, field restrictions etc though

These are all problems though

I think the boundary size is also ok.

No. The MCC was criticised in the fifties for limiting to 75 yards, nowadays you rarely see more than that. Taking 5 metres off a 70 metre boundary reduces the distance c.7% but the field area c.13% - all that being area which could be used to effect a catch. That's a big change.

I'm undecided on the bats being better apart from their edges due to personal experience in the past 20 years with several bats

It's scientific fact mate.

If the player is powerful enough with a fast swing speed they will hit sixes even if they don't find the middle, you can't prevent that unless you want to stop the average player ever hitting a six.

Incorrect. The sweet spot on century old bats is just as good as on modern bats. All the average player would need to do to get six would be properly centre it. If you go back to the old designs you'll find that the edges won't transfer energy as well. So you could still hit sixes off the middle, but you'd find that if you edged or toed a shot the energy would go into twisting the bat in your hands or into your arm rather than the ball. You'd get caught of non-centred shots, and pure strength players like Lynn might even develop problems like tennis elbow more readily due to the energy going into their arm.

 

[Cow]

Right decision. Dont really need Root to bat in this game.

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah fingers crossed Root doesn't get to bat.

Should canter to 450 really.

 

[harsh.ag]

Gun by England. Unstoppable force.

 

[Daemon]

It feels like Agar has been bowling economically and well but he's 0/22 (3).

Turns out it was extremely economical

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Aussies pulling this back