Re: First Test: New Zealand v England. 22-26 March.
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 11:53 am
Alviro Patterson wrote:Adi wrote:
The second point you made about not enough chance to bat long : Last year similar voices were raised by Pakistani domestic players. Many pak international current and ex players also felt they do not have long term batsman for 400 ball innings is that the Quaid -E-Azam (will refer to QEA henceforth because its long). There the groundsmen get only 2 days to prepare a wicket. But naturally wickets were falling very easily last year in QEA. Batsmen started raising voices. The Pak management said they had to cram the domestic trophy for various reasons. Actually the current Pak administrator are the best which they had in previous tenures. Najam Sethi is much better than Taquir Zia, nasim Ashraf, Shahryar Khan , Ijaz Butt and Zaka Ashraf.
But say if Pak and England domestic format have roads will it start to produce Cook, Amla, Clarke, Rahul, Sachin, Chet, Virat etc. How will they fare on other wickets then which help even little bit of swing. Will they then start producing bad bowlers because bowlers will not get help. So how true is the thought that lack of flat wickets is not helping to develop marathon innings batsmen. I wonder.
9 of the 14 County Championship matches are going to be played in April/Early May and September. Pitches in April are greener and softer, whilst the weather is unsettled making it difficult for top 4 batsmen to build an innings of any sort as the ball zips round. Pitches in September are more slow and worn, but no bad thing with the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.
There are only 3 County Championship matches in July and August where the weather is at it's finest. Batsmen need a block of matches where they know they can bat at length, also pace bowlers need to be tested for their endurance in bowling 20 over days under summer weather rather than take cheap early season 5-fers.
Cook also played in the same county system.
Has the county system conditions changed after it produced batters like Cook, KP, Bell, Trott.