Comments on: The Jos Buttler formula and the Ben Stokes toolkit – how ‘trust your defence’ and ‘play your natural game’ aren’t competing philosophies

By: Ged Ladd

Ged Ladd — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 20:10:47 +0000

In reply to King Cricket. #oksoiampredictable

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 21:35:54 +0000

In reply to King Cricket. I read that typo, started thinking of a witty comeback, thought Ged has probably beaten me to it, scrolled down and found I was right. The internet in microcosm.

By: Ged Ladd

Ged Ladd — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 08:35:26 +0000

In reply to King Cricket. Perhaps AB Dr Villiers can give Jos Buttler the right prescription.

By: Deep Cower

Deep Cower — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 06:22:44 +0000

In reply to King Cricket. After innumerable tests, I am still average. These things happen.

By: King Cricket

King Cricket — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 17:48:37 +0000

In reply to King Cricket. After 41 Tests Imran Khan averaged 26.

By: King Cricket

King Cricket — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 17:05:25 +0000

In reply to Gareth. It can take a while to learn the art, precisely because it's so difficult. There have been other slow starters. After 38 Tests Graham Gooch averaged 33, for example. AB Dr Villiers averaged 36 after the same number.

By: Gareth

Gareth — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 14:01:30 +0000

The thing is (and I really want him to succeed), whatever is going on in his head, he just doesn’t look the part in Tests, nor that he’s ever going to. Contrast this with how naturally he plays incredibly well in the limited overs sides. He’s always looked the business in those teams. Never so in tests. Ollie Pope already looks far more at home in the test team. I just don’t think Buttler has got “it”. This article talks about different ways of approaching batting and merging them appropriately. It all boils down to the fact that kind of method (allowing for individual/situational variations) is just “how to bat well in a Test”. Block/miss/get hit when it’s hard as nails, hang on in there, make hay when the tide turns. Test batting is just the hardest kind of batting! I don’t think Jos is ever going to crack it. He’s had 41 tests. When exactly is he ever going to crack it? It’s a shame. But I think they should play Ben Foakes, bad form notwithstanding. Anyway. That’s that. Ta!

By: Ged Ladd

Ged Ladd — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 13:48:47 +0000

In reply to Bert. Crickey, I misunderstood that point. Well spotted, Bert. I'm going to start a "gobisaurus is innocent" campaign immediately.

By: Bert

Bert — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 11:55:02 +0000

One of our interruptions is currently asking us to hang rubber dinosaurs off the coffee table with her, so we’re going to go and do that for a bit.

Wow, she’s harsh. What were they convicted of?

By: Uday

Uday — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 10:36:17 +0000

For some reason, this public debate tends to focus around wicketkeepers more than others. Rishab Pant’s going through something similar in India.

I blame Adam Gilchrist.