Field Theory by Hadyn Green

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Field Theory: Cricket isn't Rock

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  • LegBreak,

    But you still have to be good to slog in a T20 and carry your bat. And he can do that.

    Agree in principle with your leaving out the lesser games (esp. The Scotland one) but I don’t think his back to back centuries for Otago last year can be ignored.

    If only for the fact he paced them so well is a rebuttal to those people who say he can’t bat for more than 20 overs.



    But I seem to be the Lone Ranger all over the place on this. Just waiting for him to bat through tomorrow...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I should have added Davesparks' point about having plenty of good people to finish things off, assuming we don't end up in the tail (has Vettori's batting gone downhill the past year or so after he was in top form a couple of years ago?

    Guptill, Taylor, N. McCullum, Oram, Broom, Mills, Southee. Sure not logging people who can put the ball to and over the boundary. Do we have any finesse players left these days?

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    logging = lacking.

    Honest.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    Do we have any finesse players left these days?

    Really good question. Not going to see the answer in 20/20 of course.

    Ross Taylor is a good candidate. When not asked to slog he really is a nice batsman to watch, all about timing and placement rather than power (of which he has plenty).

    Daniel Flynn looks promising.

    As weird as this sounds I think Oram is a much better finesse player than a slogger.

    I haven't seen Justin Marshall lately but he used to be mostly about placement.

    Part of the problem with finesse is that all to often you are viewed as not appropriate for ODIs (or 20/20s) and if you don't get selected for those then you don't make any money as a cricketer :(.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I haven't seen Justin Marshall lately but he used to be mostly about placement.

    Albeit in a different sport.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    I haven't seen Justin Marshall lately

    Likewise. Thankfully. :)

    Now that Flem has gone, the NZ batsman with the most finesse is Prince Brendan.



    By a mile.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    Justin ---> James doh!

    with the most finesse is Prince Brendan

    roflnui

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    I’m serious Bart.

    He’s got one of the better late cuts around. And that’s a good indicator of finesse.

    And how about those sweep shots over the left shoulder?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    Ok definition of finesse is different.

    For me finesse players get ones and twos because they place the ball in gaps with just the right weight so that the ball doesn't get to the fielder too fast.

    Finesse players are adept at taking pace off the ball, letting bowler do the work.

    Yes, a good late cut is a mark of a finesse player, but so is a one to deep mid on or a two to the sweeper on the cover boundary.

    Glenn Turner or Jeremy Coney were finesse players.

    I have never seen BM take pace off the ball to get the run :).

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    Prince B can do the nudge into gap and run very well, although I'll admit the chips into the gap for 2 aren't a particular forte.


    He's also got a superb cover drive.

    So has Roos Taylor but we don't get to see that too often.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • davesparks,

    In his debut century I thought Guptill played in the V with a very straight bat, drove well and placed it nicely in pacing his innings early on. After his innings in Aus there seems to be more talk about his pull, but I had him pegged for finesse?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    Yeah I like Guptill too. I just haven't seen enough of him to know.

    He does move well in the field. And he does seem to be able to alter his batting depending on the situation. It will be interesting to see how he copes with the Ausies the second time he faces them (they have an ability to work batsmen out).

    All in all signs of finesse

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

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