Interesting article about Kallis

[Scaly piscine]

Why is that? On a deteriorating 4th or 5th day pitch, against a good attack, 50-100 runs is a lot easier said than done. If all the batsmen just tried to slog the bowling Afridi style, and it didnt pay off, the team would be put in a very bad position. The South Africans finished their innings 6 down with Pollock and Kallis at the crease. What if Kallis had got out thrid ball trying to put MacGill over the rope? Its not like they still had 4 or 5 wasted recognised batsmen left in the sheds at the end of their innings - they had Botha, Nel and Langeveldt.



Kallis is the best "grafter" though, as his average suggests, so he should be allowed that role. I dont see Warne bowling from the less-spin friendly end and leaving MacGill to use the footmarks "because hes their best bowler and should be able to adapt." As for "playing one way", Kallis can increase the scoring rate - just not to astronomical proportions against good attacks on 5th days pitches.



You do take the risk - you just dont make every single batsman in the side do so.

What you mean a 5th day pitch which Australia cruised past their target of 287 on? This "50-100 is a lot easier said than done" is such a ridiculous argument I'm amazed anyone else actually think it's remotely valid. How many times do teams lose 50-7 in the last 10 overs of an ODI when they're setting a target (apart from the fact that you'd have still scored mostly what you wanted anyway in the Aus-SA game)? Hardly ever, certainly not enough to warrant wasting an extra 5 overs which will have a much bigger effect on your chances to win the game. Next you'll be telling me Australia shouldn't play attacking strokes because they might get all out for 70. It's just utterly ludicrous, these are percentage risks that are well in your favour - you take a different lower percentage risk by playing differently.