**Official** World XI v Asia XI

[Smudge]

No, that's just the point I was trying to make.
Cairns (and Gilchrist - at times) is perfectly capable of batting like a batsman, rather than like a slogger. It's no coincidence, either, that he tends to score most runs when he bats properly, rather than simply slogs.
But there's no denying that there are times when he loses his head and just starts swinging as hard as he can at the ball, in any direction.

So I guess you would describe his innings at Lord's as an anomaly?

 

[Richard]

if your talking about cairns your wrong

No, I'm not - there have been times when Cairns has been batting really well (and sometimes when he's just come in) when he's simply resorted to swinging as hard as he can, and usually gotten out.
Not that that's exactly a crime, of course - there are plenty who've done the same thing. And if you're expecting universal sense in every innings you're expecting the unrealistic.

 

[Richard]

So I guess you would describe his innings at Lord's as an anomaly?

The innings at Lord's was an exception to many rules.
Had he gone on much longer he'd have broken one of Test-cricket's most resonant records - fastest Test-century.
It was a shorter version of Astle's 222 - quite astonishing.
Really was surprised it didn't get the credit it deserved, it was quite a once-in-a-lifetime event.

 

[Smudge]

The innings at Lord's was an exception to many rules.
Had he gone on much longer he'd have broken one of Test-cricket's most resonant records - fastest Test-century.
It was a shorter version of Astle's 222 - quite astonishing.
Really was surprised it didn't get the credit it deserved, it was quite a once-in-a-lifetime event.

So what did you think of the Astle innings? There were plenty of slogs in that...

 

[marc71178]

No, I'm not

Because you know so much more about him than a Kiwi does.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Richard - what did you think of the batting styles of Tillekaratne, Tavare, Brearley and Boycott?

 

[Richard]

So what did you think of the Astle innings? There were plenty of slogs in that...

Hmm... a few, of course, but mostly it was simply clean cricket-shots with a bit of improvisation (often coming down the wicket).
Even if it had been a simple slogfest it'd still have been far, far greater than any innings I've ever seen.

 

[Richard]

Because you know so much more about him than a Kiwi does.

And because someone's from their home country it automatically means they've followed the career more accurately, doesn't it?

 

[Richard]

Richard - what did you think of the batting styles of Tillekaratne, Tavare, Brearley and Boycott?

I've never seen a single stroke of Taváre's career so I haven't a clue.
Tillikeratne I only ever saw him in a Test-match two or three times - wasn't the worst-looking player, but not the best either by a long-chalk.
As for Brearley and Boycott, Boycott wasn't bad (not fantastic either) and Brearley... well, he rarely stayed at the crease long enough to show any of his undoubted talent.

 

[bryce]

And because someone's from their home country it automatically means they've followed the career more accurately, doesn't it?

don't worry i have, you should really go and watch those highlights again

 

[LongHopCassidy]

I've never seen a single stroke of Taváre's career so I haven't a clue.
Tillikeratne I only ever saw him in a Test-match two or three times - wasn't the worst-looking player, but not the best either by a long-chalk.
As for Brearley and Boycott, Boycott wasn't bad (not fantastic either) and Brearley... well, he rarely stayed at the crease long enough to show any of his undoubted talent.

Would you rather see a stonewall or a slogfest?

 

[Richard]

don't worry i have, you should really go and watch those highlights again

I don't need to watch them again, I've watched them plenty of times.
And I've seen the same thing every time - Chris Cairns backing so far away that he's not got the slightest chance of reaching the ball, swinging wildly, and being bowled by Collingwood who at the time he was smashing all over the place by orthodox cricket-shots.

 

[Richard]

Would you rather see a stonewall or a slogfest?

What the hell you mean by a stonewall I'm not sure.
But most things are preferable to a slogfest.

 

[Smudge]

I don't need to watch them again, I've watched them plenty of times.
And I've seen the same thing every time - Chris Cairns backing so far away that he's not got the slightest chance of reaching the ball, swinging wildly, and being bowled by Collingwood who at the time he was smashing all over the place by orthodox cricket-shots.

I seem to recall there was a fair bit of that at Lord's.

EDIT: Backing away at least, of course he still managed to hit it.

 

[Richard]

Well he didn't get himself bowled, if he played-and-missed a couple of times forgive me, I wasn't watching the innings live.
It doesn't detract from a sensational innings - he did well enough to avoid dismissal.
Having seen your edit I'll add one of my own - the "far enough to miss it" bit is the only important bit - there's nothing wrong with giving yourself a bit of room - but to go so far outside leg you can't reach straight balls is just the sort of rush-of-blood Cairns can be guilty of at times.

 

[Pratters]

Good opening over for Zaheer Khan..

 

[mavric41]

Good opening over for Zaheer Khan..

Indeed - a beauty.

Ponting is now away with a four.

 

[Pratters]

Must say blue and green look dull together for such a match.

P.S. - can this thread be stickied for a while?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Thread stuck, though it was hardly going to be anywhere but at the top of the unstuck topics. It's a fairly popular game.

 

[Pratters]

Thread stuck, though it was hardly going to be anywhere but at the top of the unstuck topics. It's a fairly popular game.

Thanks Multiple threads were becoming annoying..