So in which match condition is a slow strike rate warranted?

[Abdul]

England 49/0 (35.0 ov).

Alastair Cook right now: 31 from 104 balls.
Haseeb Hameed: 18 from 106 balls.

Recently we saw Azhar Ali bat in the similar fashion against New Zealand but seems like both of English openers are following our footsteps also.

Something we can be proud of?

 

[street cricketer]

Yeah but they are battling to save a match while Pakistan were in a position from which they could've dictated terms in the 2nd innings but they let the momentum slip away.

 

[shariqnoor]

England are saving a Test Match in the 4th innings. We were setting up the game in the 3rd innings. Vast difference. Slow strike rate in the 4th innings to save a test is very much acceptable, not so in the 3rd innings when you're setting up a game.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Any match where you are chasing more than 400 against india on indian soil.

 

[Sidilicious]

England 49/0 (35.0 ov).

Alastair Cook right now: 31 from 104 balls.
Haseeb Hameed: 18 from 106 balls.

Recently we saw Azhar Ali bat in the similar fashion against New Zealand but seems like both of English openers are following our footsteps also.

Something we can be proud of?

Huge difference man!

England have a chance if drawing the game. we are into the later part of the day 4 and draw is certainly a possibility.

Azhar on the other hand was doing this on day 2, when the chance of a drawn test was next to 0. The only reason to play like they way he did, was if rain was expected and they just had to bat out the 2nd day. A little more positive cricket from Pakistan would have meant setting a target of around 200 for NZ. Then the Pakistani bowlers stood a chance.

The problem with Pakistani batsmen is that it's not a one off. They have done it time and time again. I am not sure why they don't learn from it. It's not like Azhar is not a skilled bat. He has it in him to be one of Pakistan's greatest bat. He seems to have the mental fortitude for test cricket but just doesn't adapt properly.

On the other hand, you have talents like Umar Akmal who are on the other end of the spectrum.

India got Sehwag to open in tests. Wonder if Umar Akmal should try that in tests too. That could resolve the problem for Pakistan. A quick start at the top of the order would mean Players lower down the order would not have the pressure to score. Additionally, it might give a new lease of life for Umar.

Sehwag was nothing special technically. So Umar doesn't need to technically a genius either. Sehwag was all hand eye coordination, attitude, self belief and a full array of shots.

Umar seems to have all of that, except the attitude. Probably a bit too much self belief. None the less, would love to see him open for Pak in tests.

 

[Yatoo]

Any match wherein draw is more of a possibility than winning

 

[jeetu]

400 on this pitch was definitely gettable. Earlier SA tried similar tactic but still lost the match.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Pakistan messed up their batting twice.

 

[Saj]

England are batting to save the match.
Pakistan were batting to lose the match.

That's the difference.

 

[leg-side-flick]

If your options are only losing or drawing then you bat like that

 

[Buffet]

In unplayable conditions or trying to save a test match.

 

[aloo paratha]

They are going for a draw, we were batting on the 3rd(effectively 2nd) day. We had to set a target, they need to chase.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

I get the ideology behind PAK's slow rate, they wanted to kill some time and make the ball lose shine hoping that it would flatten out. This looked successful till they were only 2 down, once the middle order collapsed this ploy looked stupid, can't blame the openers. As they went for only 1.5 RPO for such a long time, they are low on confidence and don't believe they can score in these conditions, which should be worked for next match I am sure which will be another green strip.

 

[Xoib]

Block-A-Thon

Does it ever work?

Apart from that test match that faf Du Plessis saved South Africa on his debut I have never seen this tactic work.

All that happens is a bowlers settles in to his rhythm and eventually once a wicket falls you end up loosing heaps together.

 

[Hawkeye]

So, what's a blockathon?

Test cricket is about mental strength, concentration, temperament. What do you want people to do, hit every ball for a four? Or play at 80+ strike rate?

Doesn't work like that. Some teams try do that, e.g. Aus, which is dumb.

Tests are mostly played session by session. In some sessions, you're required to score fast and some bats can go at above 70 strike rate in that.

Apart from that, you display your defense skills, ability to grind up the bowlers/fielders and score at 40-55 strike rate. Specially when the ball is doing a bit.

Not sure what you mean by blockathon - because you surely do block in Tests. Not block-athons are T20s.

 

[jeetu]

Block-a-thon is a risky strategy even over a day is left to safe the match.

 

[Bilal7]

It works if you have the players for it. England, India, Australia and New Zealand don't have the players for it, Pakistan and South Africa do.

 

[Xoib]

So, what's a blockathon?

Test cricket is about mental strength, concentration, temperament. What do you want people to do, hit every ball for a four? Or play at 80+ strike rate?

Doesn't work like that. Some teams try do that, e.g. Aus, which is dumb.

Tests are mostly played session by session. In some sessions, you're required to score fast and some bats can go at above 70 strike rate in that.

Apart from that, you display your defense skills, ability to grind up the bowlers/fielders and score at 40-55 strike rate. Specially when the ball is doing a bit.

Not sure what you mean by blockathon - because you surely do block in Tests. Not block-athons are T20s.

Well why take it to other extreme, batting at 2-5-3.2 RPO is perfectly fine

Block A Thon is what England and Pakistan did in there recent games and look at the familiarity of their score cards its very important to keep on rotating the strike you do not want the bowlers to settle on one batsmen and get in a rthym because once a wickets falls the bowler is already settled in his groove and the new batsmen becomes an easy prey.

 

[OS_89]

Block-a-thons have worked loads of times, especially recently. The "natural game" thing is a total myth created by dumb commentators. When you have no chance of winning, blocking everything solidly just increases your chances of survival. Simple, basic logic which people are only now figuring out.

-Faf and AB did it at Adelaide

-SA (mainly Amla) did it on a 5th day track vs Herath in Galle in 2014 to seal the series and regain the number 1 ranking.

-England came within 2 balls of doing it vs SL in 2014 home series. 5 years ago, the tail would have played "normally" and the test would have ended 40 overs before it actually did.

If you have players with solid defences, it can and will work.

 

[Xoib]

It works if you have the players for it. England, India, Australia and New Zealand don't have the players for it, Pakistan and South Africa do.

Like our Block a thon effort in last test?

you need to be a Dravid, Cook, Chanderpaul to successfully carry out a block a thon the worst part of a block a thon is the batting side looses all momentum and it makes the job of new batter much tougher when wicket falls

 

[kingusama92]

AB De Villiers put on a show in that Adelaide test. 33 off 240 balls.

It does work.

But, you should be rotating the strike. A complete "hunker down" approach is often going to lead to failure.

Other Rare Examples:

Yashpal Sharma (13 off 157) against Australia
Hanif Mohammad (20 off 223) against England

 

[Xoib]

Block-a-thons have worked loads of times, especially recently. The "natural game" thing is a total myth created by dumb commentators. When you have no chance of winning, blocking everything solidly just increases your chances of survival. Simple, basic logic which people are only now figuring out.

-Faf and AB did it at Adelaide

-SA (mainly Amla) did it on a 5th day track vs Herath in Galle in 2014 to seal the series and regain the number 1 ranking.

-England came within 2 balls of doing it vs SL in 2014 home series. 5 years ago, the tail would have played "normally" and the test would have ended 40 overs before it actually did.

If you have players with solid defences, it can and will work.

I dont mind dull defensive batting an RPO of 2.5 while saving a test match is fine for me most sides suffer when they take it to other extreme and score at 1-1.5

 

[Sin Nombre]

England needed to chase down either a record 4th innings score or survive a record number of overs in the 4th innings in India.

India tried to play somewhat aggressively in the first session yesterday and got run over. Not a pitch where you can attack.

Defending was/is their best option.


Pakistan, on the other hand, were playing the 3rd innings of a low scoring match. tuk-tuking wasn't the best choice at all.

 

[OS_89]

I dont mind dull defensive batting an RPO of 2.5 while saving a test match is fine for me most sides suffer when they take it to other extreme and score at 1-1.5

If they don't have the temperament, yes. SA's batsmen have the temperament to not throw their wickets away chasing an imaginary, unachievable target. A low runrate is not real pressur ein an unchaseable 4th inning. It's entirely in the minds of the batsmen. SA can handle it. Most batsmen cannot.

 

[soso_killer]

SA v Australia, SA v India, SA v Lanka.

Those are from recent memory. It's not as rare as the OP suggests.
England used to be good at it as well before adapting the ultra aggressive approach.

 

[Smbhayi]

So, what's a blockathon?

Test cricket is about mental strength, concentration, temperament. What do you want people to do, hit every ball for a four? Or play at 80+ strike rate?

Doesn't work like that. Some teams try do that, e.g. Aus, which is dumb.

Tests are mostly played session by session. In some sessions, you're required to score fast and some bats can go at above 70 strike rate in that.

Apart from that, you display your defense skills, ability to grind up the bowlers/fielders and score at 40-55 strike rate. Specially when the ball is doing a bit.

Not sure what you mean by blockathon - because you surely do block in Tests. Not block-athons are T20s.

in block-a-thon it doesn't happen. If that happens it'll put pressure on opposition. They never show intend to score runs.

 

[Xoib]

If they don't have the temperament, yes. SA's batsmen have the temperament to not throw their wickets away chasing an imaginary, unachievable target. A low runrate is not real pressur ein an unchaseable 4th inning. It's entirely in the minds of the batsmen. SA can handle it. Most batsmen cannot.

These is an intangible in cricket called momentum which crease a huge difference sure at times its overrated by fans and commentators but it does have its value. 9/10 the big scores in test cricket will be scored in inings where the batsmen kept a decent momentum going most modern day batsman need to keep the score board ticking to feel confident about the flow of their innings.

 

[Bilal7]

Like our Block a thon effort in last test?

you need to be a Dravid, Cook, Chanderpaul to successfully carry out a block a thon the worst part of a block a thon is the batting side looses all momentum and it makes the job of new batter much tougher when wicket falls

That was just negative batting. We weren't trying to save the game in the fourth innings, our batsmen were being overly defensive and trying to settle forgetting that you are never settled on a green lawn unless you are an Amla or Kallis.

Someone mentioned successful block-a-thons above and there are even more examples.

 

[Xoib]

in block-a-thon it doesn't happen. If that happens it'll put pressure on opposition. They never show intend to score runs.

haha..yeah battting at a SR 40-55 is not block a thon thats regular test batting it is what Azhar Ali and Cook did in last test match where they just bring the innings to a grinding halt.

 

[Bilal7]

These is an intangible in cricket called momentum which crease a huge difference sure at times its overrated by fans and commentators but it does have its value. 9/10 the big scores in test cricket will be scored in inings where the batsmen kept a decent momentum going most modern day batsman need to keep the score board ticking to feel confident about the flow of their innings.

If you successfully block out 10 overs from the opposition's best bowling pair, you sap them of momentum and get some behind you. Should have watched Cook and Hameed bat yesterday.

 

[OS_89]

SA v Australia, SA v India, SA v Lanka.

Those are from recent memory. It's not as rare as the OP suggests.
England used to be good at it as well before adapting the ultra aggressive approach.

Add England did it against SA twice in 2009/10 series where they drew two matches by batting at approx 2 rpo in 4th innings.

Also, England did it vs NZ in 2013 with rpo of 2.3 in the 3rd test.

Fact: It works if the batsmen have the requisite temperament, and defensive technique.Without that mental strength, it will not work.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Xoib has a point but dude...you have to see the pitch too.

Some pitches are easier to survive but harder to score.

In such pitches, blockathon increases your odds.

 

[OS_89]

If you successfully block out 10 overs from the opposition's best bowling pair, you sap them of momentum and get some behind you. Should have watched Cook and Hameed bat yesterday.

Exactly, Blocking out a lot of overs can be very demoralising and mentally draining to the fielding side.

 

[Pantani]

It almost never works. The best way to get a draw is put a little bit of pressure on the fielding side, scoring at at least 2 an over. Enough to make the captain pull out one close catcher and for the team as a whole to fall back a little. You've got to make it look like you're an outside chance of getting the runs. Blocking is making you a sitting duck.

The best way to get a draw is to force the bowling side to not be able to go into all out attack, put them ever so slightly on the defensive and you improve your chances immeasurably.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Yeah but they are battling to save a match while Pakistan were in a position from which they could've dictated terms in the 2nd innings but they let the momentum slip away.

They were always more likely to win than draw. There was 0% chance of 170 overs of defence working out for them.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

If they don't have the temperament, yes. SA's batsmen have the temperament to not throw their wickets away chasing an imaginary, unachievable target. A low runrate is not real pressur ein an unchaseable 4th inning. It's entirely in the minds of the batsmen. SA can handle it. Most batsmen cannot.

It's far more unrealistic to survive so long on an Indian wicket against Ash and Jadeja than it is to score runs.

 

[OS_89]

It's far more unrealistic to survive so long on an Indian wicket against Ash and Jadeja than it is to score runs.

Chasing 300+ in the fourth innings in India has literally never happened. But teams have blocked out tons of voers before and will continue to do so.

 

[OS_89]

They were always more likely to win than draw. There was 0% chance of 170 overs of defence working out for them.

What? There was ZERO chance of them winning. Sorry, a 400+ chase in ASIAN conditions, against Ashwin and jadeja on the fifth day is simply not happening.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Chasing 300+ in the fourth innings in India has literally never happened. But teams have blocked out tons of voers before and will continue to do so.

Show me some scorecards of teams surviving 170+ overs in similar conditions? (Don't give me 650 plays 550 type matches).

 

[CricketAnalyst]

What? There was ZERO chance of them winning. Sorry, a 400+ chase in ASIAN conditions, against Ashwin and jadeja on the fifth day is simply not happening.

Even less is 170 overs of blocking happening.

 

[Hawkeye]

Xoib has a point but dude...you have to see the pitch too.

Some pitches are easier to survive but harder to score.

In such pitches, blockathon increases your odds.

This.

Not sure how the T20 generation thinks.

 

[MMHS]

England are batting to save the match.
Pakistan were batting to lose the match.

That's the difference.

Perfectly summed up. England had no choice but to bat out 150 overs, at least try for it. PAK made a lead of 67 like a follo-on. Defensive batting in 3rd innings never helps, unless there is a time constraint. Teams can play defensive only if there is not enough overs/time to recover gap & put enough to force a result.

 

[The_Odd_One]

This approach usually does not work. The best way to draw a test is to score at least 2-3 runs an overs and put some pressure on the opposition team.

 

[cricketInsight]

What Azhar and Sami did as openers in the 3rd inning was fine. They played out the overcast conditions and the ball also got older. It was swinging much less after these two had batted out the overs.

The problem is, neither of the openers or any following batsmen could take advantage of this. Babar Azam who is not a blocker generally rotates the strike at 3 but he too got out. So you cant blame the approach just because it didnt work in this case.