SA Footy

whufc wrote:Would it have been the mid nineties where we started to see tailenders really put a price on their wicket with the likes of Shaun pollock batting at 8.

As cricket became more professional, players could spend more time on other skills ie. Bowlers being able to practice and improve batting. Pre wsc, a lot of players worked for a living.

Pollock could bat anyway. Was in his genes.

The Sleeping Giant wrote:

whufc wrote:Would it have been the mid nineties where we started to see tailenders really put a price on their wicket with the likes of Shaun pollock batting at 8.

As cricket became more professional, players could spend more time on other skills ie. Bowlers being able to practice and improve batting. Pre wsc, a lot of players worked for a living.

Pollock could bat anyway. Was in his genes.

Bowling would have been more so, wouldn't it? His father took 116 Test wickets. Uncle Graeme was a fine bat though.

Yes, hence the gene comment.

Except he was adopted ...

The Sleeping Giant wrote:Yes, hence the gene comment.

Well played, sir.

dedja wrote:Except he was adopted ...

He couldn't have been..... Who would adopted a ranger? Lol

dedja wrote:Except he was adopted ...

Where did the ginger pubes come from??? Uncle Greame or Dad didn't have them....

whufc wrote:@ Mrbeefy

Yeah I understand that but I guess I'm saying I didn't see to many people in the footage i have seen of blokes throwing their body around. I'm happy to be wrong genuinely asking

My guess would be catching ability would have been just as good if not better then but now there are lot more athletes and this allows more fielding creativity like we see on the boundary these days

nah they didnt much , saving runs was not as important as keeping the whites clean

Not sure when it stopped
24/1/1969 I was allowed onto the Adelaide Oval when Gary Sobers made a 100

On the need for an all rounder, Steve Waugh held his spot for much longer than he should of early in his career because he bowled. Doug Walters in the 70s played the role of the 5th bowler.

There have been periods when the priority for an all rounder (a fifth bowler) has seemed less but it definitely is not a 21st century thing.

Diving in the field? I remember that being a TV stunt in the 80s with playing going feet first into the fence. Dean Jones was one who did it all the time.

There was a period when the Poms seemingly just selected all rounders thinking they'd find the next Botham ... fat lot of good that did them

Hondo wrote:On the need for an all rounder, Steve Waugh held his spot for much longer than he should of early in his career because he bowled. Doug Walters in the 70s played the role of the 5th bowler.

There have been periods when the priority for an all rounder (a fifth bowler) has seemed less but it definitely is not a 21st century thing.

Diving in the field? I remember that being a TV stunt in the 80s with playing going feet first into the fence. Dean Jones was one who did it all the time.

You are right about the all rounder, I think this is clouded a little by our bowling attacks in the last 20 years, who have been up there with the best in history. No need for an all rounder when you are rolling teams, and even if you aren't, having warne to bowl means you don't really need one as he isn't getting smashed around almost ever

I was once asked by a team-mate
Why do I jump out the way when bowlers bounce me and slash though the offside ?[Like Bradman in Bodyline Tests]
Why don't I get behind the ball, or play hooks and pulls with balls aimed at my body?
Why do I look scared?

I told my team-mate
I pay to play [ball fees]
If I was paid thousands like the International cricketers then I would be prepared to be hit , or get more in line


HELMETS
I think one BIG enough change in First Class cricket is helmets
Dennis Amiss and Tony Grieg fashioned them around the 1970's period
What does that mean from now till then ?
It means more batsman have the confidence to hook and pull at balls head high
That confidence is because being hit on the helmet is being better than being hit on the skull
That, in my opinion, gives the batsman of today a bit of an advantage over the players of the 1960/1970s

And yes no need for today's batsman to bat like Don Bradman[bodyline] and myself[all of my career] to bouncers

May I add
There's a few posters like the author of this thread , that are excellent cricket posters
It is a pleasure to read when they post and at times get an education on the game of cricket

Excellent thread

Agree helmets have been one of the most influential changes in the history of cricket.

whufc wrote:Agree helmets have been one of the most influential changes in the history of cricket.

Definately.
Covered pitches are probably the most influencial change but the use of helmets right up there

8/353 india v New Zealand
Juts happened
54 needed
Boult bowls a thunderbolt at Dhoni
Dhoni gets hid in the helmet , without playing a shot
Would have been a possible retired hurt, ambulance job, concussion etc in the 1960-1970s
Today it was oouch, face the next ball
And 4 leg byes
FFS

whufc wrote:Agree helmets have been one of the most influential changes in the history of cricket.

and bats !!!

whufc wrote:

GWW wrote:

whufc wrote:
I love watching the old triangular series on fox.

Just before the sub continent World Cup where Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana decided to go the bash straight up.

I reckon Kris Srikkanth from India was probably about the first opening batsman to go straight into attacking mode.

Greenidge and Haynes too, to some extent, although that was probably their natural batting style anyway.

Yeah I think with G&H they were naturally agressive and just batted each ball on its merits

The Sri Lankans had a clear and agressive plan to attempt to smash everything.

I'd agree with that. There was another Sri Lankan I used to love watching, I'll have to look up his name though. Was a big bloke with a beard, Started with G... He used to go the tonk from ball one and was great to watch.

Could it have been Asanka Gurusinha

Iirc he also played for Elizabeth Districts in grade cricket before Carl Hooper did