Ordinary away? Go for the DRAW

[NUFAN]

I completely get where you are coming from. I personally would hate it if my team ever did it, and probably would not like watching it, but I would no doubt be intrigued (at least temporarily) if a team ever did it.

At worst its an interesting discussion to have on here.

Yeah I would be livid if my team ever did it! So I can imagine Migara would be angry with me nominating SL all the time, but yeah I've just been thinking about this tactic during the SL series and decided to post about it.

Bangladesh could possibly try this tactic at home when the conditions are generally good for spin and it wouldn't even be a negative tactic at all, considering they lose every match, this would actually increase there chances of not losing a match, which is great.

Obv Gazi would be the specialist bowler, play a quick if you must too, then 8 bats and the captain/keeper and they are set.

 

[NasserFan207]

Would be good to get Migara's thoughts on this thread, since he's the one poster we have who actually knows about SL domestic scene

Bangladesh at home is better of playing on slow low turners like India of old.

 

[Jono]

Yeah I would be livid if my team ever did it! So I can imagine Migara would be angry with me nominating SL all the time, but yeah I've just been thinking about this tactic during the SL series and decided to post about it.

Bangladesh could possibly try this tactic at home when the conditions are generally good for spin and it wouldn't even be a negative tactic at all, considering they lose every match, this would actually increase there chances of not losing a match, which is great.

Obv Gazi would be the specialist bowler, play a quick if you must too, then 8 bats and the captain/keeper and they are set.

Hmm, he's generally a cool-headed bloke, wouldn't think he'd be upset with anyone about SL cricket.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

This is pretty much what NZ does whenever we play 3 seamers and Vettori, and look how many draws we get. No point stacking the batting if the batsmen suck anyway, which would be the case if you were desperate enough to try this.

 

[uvelocity]

yeah but the little sri lankans have ticker

 

[Jono]

yeah but the little sri lankans have ticker

Haha, NZ fans must finally be happy. Instead of people describing their team as one who always gives their best and punches above their weight, they are now being described as an out and out crap team with no ticker for the fight.

 

[NUFAN]

This is pretty much what NZ does whenever we play 3 seamers and Vettori, and look how many draws we get. No point stacking the batting if the batsmen suck anyway, which would be the case if you were desperate enough to try this.

That's not a good example. NZ would play Vettori and say Boult and fill positions 8 and 9 with two hacks who bat, but can't bat properly to follow my example.

NZ aren't the best option as you'd probably have to say that the bowling is more likely to win them a test compared to the batting.

 

[NasserFan207]

Haha, NZ fans must finally be happy. Instead of people describing their team as one who always gives their best and punches above their weight, they are now being described as an out and out crap team with no ticker for the fight.

Nah, I'd just say they can't bat. Period.

 

[NUFAN]

Also with back to back Tests occurring frequently these days, picking a ****load of bats AND drawing the game could help the teams chances considerably in the second Test where you could potentially let lose that young quick to somehow conjure a miracle against a tired attack.

 

[NickDB]

I'd say South Africa already does this. They try for the win, but when they don't think they'll get it they play for the draw.

How is any team going to get a lineup of Smith, Peterson, Amla, Kallis, AB, Faf (and hopefully soon) Duminy out if they're playing defensively? Robbie, Philander and Steyn can all stick around a bit, and Morkel isn't a complete mug with the bat.

Just look at the number of draws SA has had over the last few years? One of the major reason's they're number 1 at the moment is they haven't lost much.

 

[Daemon]

That's not because they've intentionally sacrificed bowling strength for batting though, it's just a product of their best possible XI and common sense captaincy.

 

[NickDB]

True, but it still works for them. If they have a bad few first sessions, and feel the game has slipped away from them they can just shut up shop and bat the game out.

Of course with their current bowling attack even if they have a few bad sessions with the bat they might not be out of the game.

 

[benchmark00]

That's just the mentality. Settling for a draw shouldn't be applauded. Although that un-South African declaration they made a few years back vs Australia was a step in the right direction.

 

[Arachnodouche]

It took India their best ever batting line up at the peak of their powers to draw games abroad, and even then they lost a fair few. You'll lose on testing pitches with eleven batsmen if they're not in the absolute upper echelon around. Besides, defensive tactics rarely work over five days. Saving a game on the final day is different.

 

[Himannv]

I would agree with Sri Lanka doing this if we actually had plenty of batsmen who perform consistently on overseas tours. I really don't think that one or two extra batsmen would be able to change the course of the game, particularly if we have to rely on our batsmen bowling extra overs. I reckon we have a couple of young spinners around who might do something more worthwhile with the opportunity.

I'm not completely against the idea as it may work on a more batting friendly pitch or something, but on the whole I would be very disappointed if we attempted this.

 

[weldone]

Ojha to bowl till his arms drop off

Haha genuinely lol'd at this..

 

[Howe_zat]

Is there an example of a Test team "playing for a draw" in both their selection and tactics, and it working?

 

[Jono]

Not even close to this extent spoken of in this thread, but perhaps England at The Oval 2005?

 

[NUFAN]

Is there an example of a Test team "playing for a draw" in both their selection and tactics, and it working?

England last Test match, slightly.

Bringing in Root on debut who has a tight technique over Morgan or Patel and selecting the bowler with the most batting talent, Bresnan meant that they were playing for a draw or at least were extremely happy to draw.

No example as extreme as what I'm suggesting.

 

[Daemon]

India played just two bowlers in the recent 3rd Test vs England. Didn't succeed in drawing though.