The night watchman is a bad idea in consumerist times - Opinion
The Test match of the modern age is normally about batting and bowling the opposition out of the game. It is also about tactical game play, where a defensive approach almost becomes mandatory, when teams look to save games from precarious situations. The
concept of the night watchman in such a context is debatable. The luxury for a proper batsman who wishes to not bat upon his own discretion, which jeopardizes the team, is almost always on the cards. For captains however, the concept has backfired on more
occasions than not.
One can think of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Marinus-Lazenby-c74454 off and look forward to the next day. A bruise on the shoulder or a blow that can haunt one forever is
bound to affect the outcome of the game, where bowlers are expected to have an integral role. One can think of the Headingley Test of 2008, where Jimmy Anderson’s night watchman role acted as a catalyst for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DW-Steyn-c1409 to unleash a ferocious barrage of discomforting
deliveries. The end result was a blow to the head for Anderson which severely affected his ability to bowl well for his side.
A bowler grappling with injuries however is just one side of the coin. A night watchman almost always deprives the team of a wicket, which inevitably helps in shortening the tail and depriving the side batting of some valuable runs at the end of the innings.
Rabbits are normally not expected to score many runs, but contrary to popular belief, a tail-ender feels more at home when he comes at his accustomed position rather than as a night watchman. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758
were cases in point, where their only half centuries came when they batted down the order. Their no holds barred approach yielded dividends for them in the end.
For a tail-ender with a good defensive technique, batting at the top of the order is a completely different cup of tea. It does not always boil down to technique. Experience, perseverance and diligence are qualities which ensure that one can avert distinct
possibilities of faltering under pressure. That’s why erudite commentators such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ian-Emlyn-Bishop-c63832 have asserted, that a specialist number three or four in a team’s batting lineup is essential if the openers fall early.
The concept of the night watchman can also be considered in light of the amount of dismissals which players have had whilst serving that role. You would not expect night watchmen to score massive runs, given that only six players in the history of the game
went on to score a century. The most noted example which can be quoted is http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, where he notched up a double hundred against a feeble bowling attack on a placid pitch at Chittagong.
The truth is that making runs when there are toe piercing Yorkers and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GP-Swann-c1501 music being deployed at you is a completely different experience. For teams who wish to be at their best, their best player needs to bat well, regardless of whether the sun sets or
not.
Disclaimer: Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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