In this analysis, let us look at a couple of recent comments made by former England cricketers. One by David Lloyd. The other by none other than the magnificent commentator, Sir Geoffrey Boycott which is about Bairstow opening and Boycott accusation.
Bairstow’s numbers
Johnny Bairstow has been playing for England for about 8 years though he is not part of the test squad any longer. During his career, Bairstow has played 71 test matches, 83 ODIs and about 40 T20s for England. Eight long years is a good period to form an opinion about the effectiveness or the lack of it of any player. In the case of Bairstow, sadly, his performance does not guarantee a place for him in the England test side. In limited overs format, Bairstow is among the top 3 names that England will want in their side but tests are something that is completely different.
He played as a wicket keeper who can bat. For a period between 2016 and 2017, Bairstow had a purple patch. He scored 4 of his 5 hundreds and most of the fifties during this period. It was a time when Bairstow could do no wrong. His wicket keeping was also safe if never spectacular. He seems to have found a spot for himself in the England batting lineup. Unfortunately, the advent of Jos Buttler into the test team, seems to have affected Bairstow rather adversely. Not only was the wicket keeping gloves taken away from him but he lost his favourite number 7 position in the batting order. All of this just to accommodate Buttler. It was rather known that Bairstow never favoured to bat higher than number 7. He probably understood the limitation of his batting.
Bairstow’s confidence severely affected
It is obvious that Bairstow’s confidence was severely affected. He was now seen as a batting wicket keeper partly because he played at number 5 and also because of the form that he showed previously. His decline as a batsman started from early 2018 and has resulted in him being dropped from the test team altogether. The England team management must share the blame for converting a decent enough wicket keeper who can also bat into a specialist batsman.
David Lloyd’s suggestion about Johnny Bairstow opening in Tests
Now, David Lloyd, the respected English commentator, wants Johnny Bairstow to be tried as an opener. He wants Burns & Sibley to be dropped to accommodate Bairstow. He also wants Zak Crawley to open with Bairstow.
“Both Burns and Sibley have quirky techniques and I doubt that they batted like that when they were 16 or 18 years old. There just seems to be so much that can go wrong.”
“If you’re just plodding along at 2.4 an over, you’re getting back to England in the 1960s and 70s! Look all around the world, in the modern game after 80 overs when you get the second new ball, you need to be about 270 or 280 and then you’ve a chance of getting 350 plus. If you’re just 210 then you’ve every chance of being all out for 280 and you’re not in the game.
“You’ve got to be able to push the score along, if the opposition can control the game at 2.4 an over then they will do and they’ll be very happy. They can keep all the slips in and attack for the world. If you’re going at 3.5 then they’ve got to push a couple back and look after the score.”
Run scoring must be left to the stroke makers in the middle order
All well and good. Yes, both Sibley and Burns are pretty slow. They take their own time to get going. They do not attack and as a result of that, the opposition is always in the game. However, it has to be admitted that a decent part of England’s success in South Africa and in their home season was mainly because of the time Sibley and Burns took. They ensure that the top opposition bowlers are extremely tired for the likes of Stokes, Root & Buttler. Infact, Root credited the English openers for their success in South Africa.
A couple of years ago, India went onto win the first ever series in Australia because of the time and the quantum of runs scored by Pujara. Sibley & Burns belongs to the traditional mould of test batting. It is upto the middle order and the lower middle order to ensure that tired bowlers are taken for runs. The only drawback on the part of Sibley & Burns is that they do not go on and score a big hundred despite the time spent at the crease. If they cannot correct that, they will be an asset for the England test team. Hence, I do not agree with David Llyod’s view about opening with Bairstow and Crawley instead of Sibley & Burns.
Geoffrey Boycott’s criticism of The BBC
Geoffrey Boycott, certainly one of the greatest commentator over the last 35 years, has been left out of the Test Match Special commentary team. It is not clear whether he was left out because of his health complications or because of something else. Now, Boycott has criticised the BBC that they have favoured equality over quality.
“They have sacrificed quality for equality. It is now all about political correctness, about gender and race. When you work for them you are wary and frightened of saying anything.
“It is a minefield out there and that is sad.”
It is well known that once the Black Lives Matter movement started, a lot of companies, sporting associations etc have started to look at the racial balance in their organisation. Let me be clear. It is not a mistake to give preference to an individual because of his race provided the competing candidates are of equal quality.
However, if a job or a position is given to any particular individual just because he or she is a black or white or coloured is not the correct method. All things being equal, the best person for the job must be chosen. I do not find anything wrong in what Boycott is criticised if the BBC had chosen equality over quality. In the cricketing field, the spectators may not be get the correct information if the wrong person is commentating. The youngsters who are watching the game, may probably be deceived by the commentary though involuntarily.
What do you think of Lloyd’s suggestion and Boycott’s criticism? Leave your comments.
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