Pinch hitters

[ankitj]

What happened to the idea of pinch hitters in limited over games?
When was the last time a pinch hitter was used in an ODI?
What is your favorite pinch hitter memory?

 

[ankitj]

I recall Shane Warne played a vital role as pinch hitter in 96 world cup quarter final.

Full Scorecard of New Zealand vs Australia 4th QF 1995/96 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com

Complete Scorecard of New Zealand vs Australia 4th QF 1995/96, Wills World Cup only on ESPNcricinfo.com. Find the complete scorecard of New Zealand vs Australia 4th QF Online

www.espncricinfo.com

 

[Bijed]

"Pinch Hitter" isn't really the correct term for this one, but when England played the West Indies in the World cup 2019, injuries to Roy and Morgan whilst fielding meant we batted Woakes at 3, rather than shunt the middle order up by 2 spaces each:

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-indies-19th-match-icc-cricket-world-cup-2019

 

[honestbharani]

Dats funny coz 20 years earlier England also invented the Pinch blocker with Nasser Hussain at 3

 

[Lillian Thomson]

These days you just have skilled batsman who do a better job.

 

[vcs]

Pathan also did a decent job once or twice, batted like a proper all-rounder which eventually led to his career going down the drain.

 

[wpdavid]

Dats funny coz 20 years earlier England also invented the Pinch blocker with Nasser Hussain at 3

Harsh but fairish.

On a related note, I remember discussing a couple of years ago whether England's test team should play a pinch blocker or two at the top of the order to protect our more talented middle order from the new ball. Maybe the selectors took note when we saw Denly eating up lots of overs when batting at 3 and then Sibley doing the same at the top of the order.

 

[wpdavid]

These days you just have skilled batsman who do a better job.

Agreed. Even back in the 1990s and early 2000s, the more successful move was promoting the likes of Gilchrist, Mark Waugh and Tendulkar to open rather than some lower order slogger. I remember all the fuss about SL's approach in the 1996 WC, but Kalu barely made a run in the matches that counted; they easily won their semi and final due to the middle order.

 

[Starfighter]

Sunil Narine and Rakheem Cornwall in the CPL.

 

[Nintendo]

Just in odis? Finch used starc as a pinch hitter in a game vs India earlier this year, unsure if it's happened since then.

 

[weeman27bob]

Having a fluid batting order to incorporate things like pinch hitters (or just people who are better suited at specific points games) is one of the things I think there's a disappointing lack of in cricket in general.

It's like cricket got to the concept of the night watchman and then decided to stop there the vast majority of the time.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Mujeeb came in at #3 for the Tallawahs just a few days ago

 

[Howe_zat]

"Pinch Hitter" isn't really the correct term for this one, but when England played the West Indies in the World cup 2019, injuries to Roy and Morgan whilst fielding meant we batted Woakes at 3, rather than shunt the middle order up by 2 spaces each:

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-indies-19th-match-icc-cricket-world-cup-2019

the cakewatchman!

I loved it

 

[Bolo.]

Narine opening in the IPL and averaging something like 14 @ 150 is the only very recent example of an oldschool pinch hitter I can think of.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Stoinis batted 3 (and scored 43 off 34) in the 1st England-Australia ODI 2 days ago.

Lance Cairns was probably the best of the pinch hitters. An odi strike rate of 105 in the 70s and 80s is absolutely insane.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Stoinis opens or bats 3 in domestic white-ball cricket all the time. He's basically a specialist top-order batsman who bowls a bit.

GOAT pinch hitter was Nicky Boje. Made 2 tons at no. 3 in a single series (or very close together) IIRC

 

[mr_mister]

Boje the best and most random example. you'd think after the 2nd ton they'd have considered making him a long term number 3 as 2 proves it wasnt a fluke

 

[honestbharani]

Symcox was a good example IMO coz he was usually wasted down at 9 or 10 but letting him have a go at 3 worked wonders for South Africa in the late 90s.

 

[ankitj]

Yeah Symcox is a good example. He actually achieved more with the bat than with ball. This was one of his first successful pinch hitting efforts I remember:

Full Scorecard of South Africa vs India Final 1995/96 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com

Complete Scorecard of South Africa vs India Final 1995/96, Pepsi Sharjah Cup only on ESPNcricinfo.com. Find the complete scorecard of South Africa vs India Final Online

www.espncricinfo.com

SA struggling at 20-2 and Symcox scores 61 off 49!

 

[trundler]

Stoinis batted 3 (and scored 43 off 34) in the 1st England-Australia ODI 2 days ago.

Lance Cairns was probably the best of the pinch hitters. An odi strike rate of 105 in the 70s and 80s is absolutely insane.

Cairns and the Legend of the Excalibur