Bowlers : The new Batsmen
It seems everyone nowadays wants to be an all-rounder. Either that or specialist batsmen are gradually getting edged out of the game. No sooner had Jason Gillespie scored an incredible test double hundred against Bangladesh, and New Zealand’s James Franklin has done a similar thing. It’s not a double ton, but when you consider that his opposition are South Africa, a much more competent team than the Bangladeshi’s, it makes the two innings comparable. He did a top job of supporting captain Stephen Fleming, who chipped in with a modest 262.
The game has since become dull as dishwater as it ambles to its inevitable close (the crazy frog couldn’t even put some life into it) but it neatly illustrates the change in the modern game. Gone are the days where your strike bowlers are rabbits when it comes to batting. Ye olde crickete teame used to be made up of: Top 5 batsman, a number 6 (”slogger”), the wicket-keeper and then 4 bowlers. When you had 6 wickets down, you’d generally consider yourself to be “in the tail” (no sexual innuendo) and that polishing off the final few wickets ought to be a formality for your bowlers. Not so anymore*. Australia’s position as number 1 in the world for the last billion years is largely due to their consistent ability to bat to number 11. Glenn McGrath is not the mug he used to be, having had a few hints from former Aussie great Steve Waugh.
Freddie Flintoff and Adam Gilchrist are genuine all-rounders - players equally adept at bowling/batting/keeping wicket. But the trend of new players, these “bowlers who can bat” are interesting. And it’s not just about scoring runs. I’ve always thought that Jason Gillespie played an invaluable roll by simply “staying-in” and giving some support to other batsmen. Matthew Hoggard has a similar ability in the England side. And lets not forget Alex Tudor, who hit 99* against New Zealand in just his second test.
Will we see the role of specialist batsmen gradually eroded?
* England still have that ability of the oft-lamented batting collapse. A law unto itself.
Tags: bowler, commentary, domestic-cricket, England, Test CricketRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Cricket
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