[Frankie]

Originally Posted by Fork Handles

Half way through the 2nd innings of the 5 th match, and we're about to reach 3000 runs for the series. Like so many cricket records, its more a curiosity than anything significant.
But are the wickets more placid than they should be, or has T20 taught the batsmen that no shot is impossible? Especially with these Jumbo bats.

I've enjoyed the Aussie T20 series this year. The huge run chases in the 50/50 have seemed quite clinical by comparison. Only five games now, when we used to have 18 or 20.

Still, its better than wanker fucking tennis.

Don’t think it’s solely down to the wickets but more to do with younger players being brought up on T/20 cricket and carrying that mentality over into Test Matches. Plus those massive bats they now use, but you still have to hit the ball. Years ago in limited 50 overs cricket a side chasing would consider 4 runs an over as par and 6 runs per over as practically impossible. On a decent wicket 6 runs an over is usually par now.

A good example is Joe Root. When he bats in a Test Match if the first ball he faces is slightly overpitched or widish he is straight on to it and, on occasion, puts it away for 4. The traditional method of test batting would be wait until you’ve got your eye in before attacking the ball, but that doesn’t seem to apply anymore. Until a batsman uppishly square cuts the first ball faced and is caught at cover point and, on commentary, it’s over to Geoffrey Boycott for his “opinion”.