I think a massive part of the problem with the Aussie batting right now is tactical/strategic and I blame Justin Langer.
The Aussie have clearly been told not to pull and hook short balls, all the way at least back to the series here against NZ. As a result, when the ball gets a little older, teams can bounce us with impunity. THere is no way of putting the pressure back on the bowling team.
This is the same country that gave us Ian Chappell, Dougie, Early S Waugh and Ricky POnting. Hooking and pulling is a very important weapon for a batsman and taking it away significantly impacts the balance of power.
Ive never rated Langer as a coach
In two games we have probably won about an hour and a half of cricket
We thought India would rollover once Shami was injured and Kohli went home ......if I was the Indian coach I would have used the no Kohli and Shami as motivation to win ...win without our best batsmen and best bowler (arguably )
Pathetic ......couldn't score over 200 in either innings
I'm sorry but ***our infatuation to create an all rounder that can bat 6 is getting to the madness stage*** ...let it happen ...don't force it .....the 6 spot in my opinion is one of the most important roles in a batting line up .....If you get a good start they are probably going end up facing the 2nd new ball and if you get off to a stinker he needs to be able to hold the innings together and bat smart with the tail
Id be with you in the recent past, but I think Green is the one they have been looking for. Could be our Ben Stokes. Over 2m tall, bowls well at high 130's and scored 1st class hundreds. Looked good so far.
But Cam Green does back my complaint. Evidently (commentators opinion, I havent seen enough of him) Green was pulling and hooking prodigiously in Shield and Aus games (Scored a century in Aus A game) and int he Test we have the ridiculous sight of a 2m tall batsman, bending down to get hit. Stand up and HIT IT!
I can't imagine ANY coach trying to tell a batsmen not to play their natural game .....many of our current Test 11 are not noted hookers ...well not in the Ponting level ...many batsmen in their early test career put the hook in their travel bag early on
If thats true (im not sure it is) then it is a blight on coaching at 1st grade levels.
These young guys are brought up on the best, fastest and bounciest pitches in the world (and synthetic as kids). Australian batsmens should be the best hookers and pullers in the worlds and opposition teams should be too scared to bounce them.
Your shooting the messenger ......none of the blokes in our current side would make our hundred best hookers list ...doesn't mean they can't bat ...just not natural hookers ...and many of best hookers I've seen are under 6 foot ..well under 6 foot ...probably because it is easier to get into position and longer limbs can get tigtened up too easily ...