according to andy zaltzman Kevin Pietersen hit 28 sixes in his first 14 Tests. He has cle

ared the advertising-cladded ropes only 16 times in the following 29 matches. If his rate of maximum-thwacking continues to decline at this rate, he will hit only four sixes in his next 44 Tests. And none thereafter. By his mid-thirties, he will be the dullest batsman in world cricket.

I also liked this montystatfact:

As a batsman, Monty Panesar has passed 1 only once in his last eight Tests, obviously burdened down by the stratospheric expectations generated when, in the space of six heady months in 2006, he swept Muralitharan for six and on-drove Stuart Clark for four (the latter a shot of such unimprovable left-handed magnificence that it seemed that England had at last, after 75 years of vain searching, unearthed its new Frank Woolley ? only this 21-century version was a more dangerous bowler, as well as a batsman of bewitching grace).
In all, Panesar has passed 10 only four times in his Test career ? but in those matches, he has taken 23 wickets at an average of 24, with three five-wicket innings. In the 29 Tests when he has not excelled with the bat, Panesar?s bowling average balloons to nearly 34. Clearly, he is England?s most important wicket. India?s bowlers should be targeting Panesar more than any other batsman.

England, for their part, should be giving Monty round-the-clock batting coaching. It must be worth the ECB?s effort and funding ? let it not be forgotten that Panesar had a better batting average after his first 12 Tests than Don Bradman, Len Hutton or Viv Richards had after their first 1. (Or Graham Gooch after 2.) (Or Mike Gatting after 3.) (Or Martin Crowe after 4.) (Or Jacques Kallis after 5.) (Or Bill Edrich or Wasim Akram after 8.) (Or Marvan Atapattu after 9.) (Or Kenny Rutherford after 12.) (The list goes on.) (Probably.) (Until: Or Courtney Walsh after 132.) (Where it ends.)

Posted By: Tombs on December 11th 2008 at 09:49:14

Message Thread

England 163 for 1 in Chennai (n/m) (NCFC) - Tombs, Dec 11, 08:37:59
- COME ON ENGLANDWOCI (n/m) (NCFC) - Jim Nasium, Dec 11, 09:22:14
  - wa-hay!!! morning James (n/m) (NCFC) - Tombs, Dec 11, 09:23:01
    - And a very good morning to you Thomas. (n/m) (NCFC) - Jim Nasium, Dec 11, 09:27:08
- Solid start, makes a nice change (n/m) (NCFC) - shoddy, Dec 11, 08:57:26
  - "Awaits inevitable batting collapse which follows an England cricket score post" (n/m) (NCFC) - DiscoDaleGordon, Dec 11, 09:05:47
    - 170-2 (NCFC) - Tombs, Dec 11, 09:15:13
      - Kiss of death time (NCFC) - Tombs, Dec 11, 09:22:24
        
        strauss tongol (n/m) (NCFC) - Tombs, Dec 11, 09:32:54
        
        Don't like his new facial growth. (NCFC) - Jim Nasium, Dec 11, 09:35:49
        
        jeepers! he looks a bit raffish (NCFC) - Tombs, Dec 11, 09:39:57
        
        Excellent. Cricket Collapso a go-go! (n/m) (NCFC) - Jim Nasium, Dec 11, 09:43:25
        
        according to andy zaltzman Kevin Pietersen hit 28 sixes in his first 14 Tests. He has cle (NCFC) - Tombs, Dec 11, 09:49:14
        
        That sweep Monty hit for six is one of the finest moments in test history. (n/m) (NCFC) - Arizona Bay, Dec 11, 09:58:08
        
        love monty and his enthusiasm (NCFC) - Tombs, Dec 11, 10:00:50
        
        Stat-mungus! (n/m) (NCFC) - Jim Nasium, Dec 11, 09:53:14

Reply to Message

In order to add a post to the WotB Message Board you must be a registered WotB user.

If you are not yet registered then please visit the registration page. You should ensure that their browser is setup to accept cookies.