Ordinary away? Go for the DRAW

[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]

Originally Posted by Daemon

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]

Originally Posted by Howe_zat

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.

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by Howe_zat

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

5th Test: West Indies v England at Port of Spain, Mar 6-10, 2009 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

Ryan Hinds had played earlier in the series as a #6 batsman who bowled a couple of overs here and there; I think he was "dropped" from that role essentially but he played anyway as a #7/8 batsman and bowled over after over of defensive left arm spin at the pads of the English batsmen from over the wicket. He batted #4 in the second innings because Gayle was injured but his selection was definitely one of "going for the draw" IMO.

[doesitmatter]

Novel idea by OP..but the point is when your five best batsmen cannot prevent the team from losing how it would matter if your next not so good 5 would help in preventing the loss...i think it will not work..bad team would still end up losing 3-0..

[NUFAN]

Originally Posted by doesitmatter

Novel idea by OP..but the point is when your five best batsmen cannot prevent the team from losing how it would matter if your next not so good 5 would help in preventing the loss...i think it will not work..bad team would still end up losing 3-0..

There are reasons why it could work. The Batting order will become important, but just because selectors pick the 5 or 6 regular batsman in the team, it doesn't mean they are actually the 5 or 6 best batsman.

If 9 or so are picked it enables:
a) the batsman who are in the top 5 or 6 who are under pressure to really knuckle down knowing that if they fail they aren't going to be in the top 6 when the team reverts to traditional form.
b) it gives the bats at 7 to 9 or 10 an opportunity to perform well and be in the best regular XI
c) it gives the other bats experience (while losing out on bowling experience which is a negative).
d) it IMO will improve some batters techniques as they realize that hitting the ball along the ground actually helps, you see a fair few soft shots these days, hopefully this mindset would lessen the soft dismissals.

Also, not a brilliant reason to do this move, but it is likely that fielding standards will improve which saves SOME runs.

Honestly though, if the team with minimal bowlers bowl negatively, have a third man, a ring field etc, the batting team will need to bat well to score runs and it could at times create some soft dismissals which a Herath or Ashwin (if India did this) could take advantage of.

BTW, just out of interest, if you think 300 or 350 is a safe lead to declare ahead with the fourth innings to come, how much would that increase if you played 9 or 10 bats?

[watson]

Your suggestion NUFAN is the soccer equivalent of QPR playing 5 defenders deep in their own half, 4 mid-fielders just in front of them, and a lonely striker on the half-way line just in case a long ball balloons his way. And all for a solitary point against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

It's a cowardly tactic, boring to watch, and I gives me no respect for the team. I'd rather my team lose 4 nil but at least 'ava-a-go'.

[NUFAN]

Yeah Watson, I used the football analogy earlier and believe that this would be a genuine tactic if we did end up having a Test Championship.

I would rather my team ava-a-go too, but I think it would be brilliant to watch and less predictable compared to some current Tests at the moment.

I want to see another nation who is struggling with the ball to try it. BTW, there still is a chance that they can win this tactic. If the chase isn't that huge it is possible that this team can pull off a high fourth innings run chase, I mean if anyone is going to do it, its a team with 9/10 batsman.