Fintoff on Stokes and more

Stokes is a better player than Flintoff for me. Far better batsman, not as devastating with the ball yet, but there's time for him to get to Fred's level with the ball too. Great fielder too.

 

The opposition were usually bowled out quickly so they never got tired and as Ian Botham said the dressing room resembled a casualty ward . India lost a Test Match to West Indies with at least 3 batsmen retired hurt.

 

I've a challenge for you.

Go and find a bowler or machine that can generate a pace of 96-98 miles per hour. Go and get an old cricket bat. One that had a middle and true edges and wasn't modified like todays bats, tennis rackets and gold clubs to be a 100% sweet spot. One where it would jar your hand and vibrate if you didn't time it to perfection.

Then take guard. Maybe on some cracked concrete. Something hard and unforgiving but with cracks in that could make the bounce awkward and inconsistent.

Then, make sure the pads are pretty flimsy. Wear an old shin pad on your fore arm, don't forget your gloves, not that they matter a great deal as a 96 mile an hour ball on any finger is pretty much guaranteed to break it.

Don't bother with a helmet, they didn't used to wear them.

Then let the bowler bowl a couple of balls at you.

Til you do that, you will never understand fear, or why modern batsmen have lost respect for the dangers of cricket and as a result, learn how to play properly.

And the reason those things happened, they didn't respect the ball. They didn't have fear. Hence the bad technique and the tragic consequences.

 

Coinsidently, I caught the end of a Sky "Masterclass" thing that they were doing before start of play today. It looked like they were on about fast bowlers and bouncers and stated how the change of helmet and the mounds of protection available today has changed the way players can play them.

 

I never wore a helmet as an opening bat, granted I played at lower levels, but never got hit once, even playing as a 14 year old against grown men.

I was coached at school with cricket balls being thrown at my head and using agility to evade them and ensuring my eyes never stopped looking at the ball. You learn the angles and what you can play safely and what has physical danger to it. I think that's the biggest difference now, players don't watch the ball like they used to and they play shots that could hurt them if they miss it. And I do feel that's because they feel safe.

 

Good i isnt he? A fecking workshy , layabout telling me i dont know what integrity is !! Fecking amazing !!!