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When is the Game in the Balance?

Goughy

Goughy

Hall of Fame Member
I often think about this? (hey, Im pretty boring sometimes!)

Apart from the very beginning of the 1st innings of a test match, when is the latest you think it can be said that the game is in the balance?

No matter what the track is like or the opponents, what score is an even position which either team could convert into a success?

My choice

120 for 2

A team could still collapse for 180-250 all out or have a few good partnerships and post 450-500+
 
Beleg

Beleg

International Regular
270-6.

This is a score, which, at the end of a day, most teams would be reasonably satisfied with. Specially in the first innings.
 
DanielFullard

DanielFullard

U19 Vice-Captain
Odd thread...any score reall as a century could come at any time and change the came

But to stay in the spirit of the thread Ill say

225-5
100-2
 
Goughy

Goughy

Hall of Fame Member
DanielFullard said:
Odd thread...any score reall as a century could come at any time and change the came
Click to expand...

A century can happen at anytime but the thread is about when in a game can both teams be happy with the situation but also aware it could go really well or badly depending on the short term future.

For example, at 93-7 the bowling team is obviously happier and even if a ton is scored they are confident they will not be facing a huge score.
In the same way, if a team is 567-5 and lose 5 quick wickets or score another 200 runs it does not dramatically alter the state of the game
 
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sirjeremy11

sirjeremy11

State Vice-Captain
Completely depends on the track...

I think one of the craziest matches (in terms of hardest to tell what was going to happen) was NZ Eng in Chch 2002.

England made 228 only thanks to Hussain gritting out a very very fine hundred (they were 0/2 after the first over).

NZ are 50/1 in reply, with Vettori as night watchman at the wicket), then collapse to 147 all out.

England come in and are in trouble again at 106/5, and then the pitch flattens out, Thorpe and Flintoff (good batting it was though), score 281, and they set NZ 550 to win.

NZ make 451 thanks to a freak of an innings to Astle (yes, the 222), the pitch really changed in the course of an hour part way through the first day.

Think it was the first portable pitch used for a test match in NZ.

Why the anecdote?

It is just too hard to give a definitive score where the game is in the balance IMO.

I did used to go by the rule though that if a team was betting first and they were 123/5 they were in trouble.
 
Jono

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
LOL @ Andy and Voltman :lol:

The game is in the balance at 9/300 with Hussey batting with the number 11, as anything could happen. You could get a wicket and be happy, or they could put on 100+ and you'd be pretty damn unhappy.
 
cpr

cpr

International Coach
Hmm, for me 200/4 looks quite comfortable, hoping to build a big score.
200/5 looks a bit dodgy, mebbie hoping the tail hold out

so aroud the 200-230 mark, if 4 or 5 wickets are down, that innings can swing both ways, especially if its an innings that can be vital to the outcome (chasing down a total, lookign to post a good lead going into the 4th innings etc)
 
sirjeremy11

sirjeremy11

State Vice-Captain
When is the game in the balance? Bracewell is sitting there, the night before the game, pen and paper in had, ready to make his "selections"...
 
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honestbharani

honestbharani

Whatever it takes!!!
350-5 for the 90s INdia or the current Windies. 380 all out is a distinct possibility, and there is always the chance of a miracle of the tailenders playing well.
 
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