Sth Africa V England

[hujsh]

Re: Sth Africa V England

I don't dispute that the pitches are being prepared flatter but I think there is a heap of other contributing factors. Pitches might be 50% plus of the reason for the climbing batting averages but the draw, the familiarity of the sub-continent, lack of a dominate team, bowlers prematurely retiring from test cricket to preserve their bodies for bigger pay days and other bowlers being over worked all must be part of the reason for the spread of the batting averages.

What I can tell you though is if today's batsman were facing the likes of Garner, Hadlee, Marshall, Ambrose, Akram, Dev and co on any track there would be a lot less guys with inflated batting averages.

Aside from the last year and bit Australia were near unstoppable. Two teams set a record for most wins in a row which indicates dominance to me.

[chef]

Re: Sth Africa V England

We will never know as None of them bowl on the roads they prep today.
My examples pitches are. I always looked forward to the Waca test cos of it's bounce, gabba usually provided early life for the bowlers, mcg's bounce was unpredictable but tests there were usually good, scg spun while Adelaide was batting heaven. With the except of Adelaide all these have changed.

How many of these places have drop in pitches?

IMO these pitches are now prepared(flatter and easier to bat on) so that the test lasts the five days and increase profits for CA.(don't know what happened with the SCG) Which makes for boring cricket, the SCG test was the most exciting test I have seen in a while(thanks to the green top).

[chef]

Re: Sth Africa V England

Aside from the last year and bit Australia were near unstoppable. Two teams set a record for most wins in a row which indicates dominance to me.

You could argue that Australia of the mid 90's to mid 00's were a more dominate side than the Windies of the 80' to 90's.

[Sedat]

Re: Sth Africa V England

You could argue that Australia of the mid 90's to mid 00's were a more dominate side than the Windies of the 80' to 90's.

The Windies did not lose a single test series for over 15 years, so for mine they have the Aussies covered. I don't think that record will ever come close to being beaten.

[chef]

Re: Sth Africa V England

The Windies did not lose a single test series for over 15 years, so for mine they have the Aussies covered. I don't think that record will ever come close to being beaten.

Thinking about it I should have said as dominate, not more dominate. The real only difference i can think of is that Australia struggled to beat India at home, while the Windies could do this playing four quicks. It would be quite a match if they could play each other.

[Sedat]

Re: Sth Africa V England

Thinking about it I should have said as dominate, not more dominate. The real only difference i can think of is that Australia struggled to beat India at home, while the Windies could do this playing four quicks. It would be quite a match if they could play each other.

Australia were probably better at crushing teams into the dirt but they did come unstuck on occasions when seriously challenged. By contrast the Windies were quite content to put the cue in the rack once the series was decided. Like you said, they did it almost exclusively with 4 quicks (and Larry Gomes or Roger Harper bowling the last over before tea). Malcolm Marshall's ability, in particular, to extract some life out of Indian and Pakistani pitches was the stuff of legend - there has never been a fast bowler before or since who has been the equal of Marshall and his ability to give those dead pitches some life.

[ledge]

Re: Sth Africa V England

England has done a Ponting, won the toss and batted on a green pitch, 2-8.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Sth Africa V England

England has done a Ponting, won the toss and batted on a green pitch, 2-8.

4/39 Strauss went first ball of the test.

List of batsmen dismissed first ball of a test

[Remi Moses]

Re: Sth Africa V England

Blimey Boycott as obnoxious as ever.Talk about swinging in the breezeone moment he is cocky the next downcast and biting in his comments!

[hujsh]

Re: Sth Africa V England

England trail by 195 runs with 7 wickets remaining in their second innings at stumps on day 3. Baring another England miracle SA saved the series.

[GVGjr]

Re: Sth Africa V England

The series is now tied at one all. Morne Morkel had a good day with the ball.