An Interesting New Tactic In Test Match Cricket

Today's Musical Selection: My Space by Chicks On Speed
From the Chicks On Speed Myspace site

Now despite Sir Spell Cheque being in his twenties, he cannot help but feel decidedly old fashioned. He remembers a time not long ago when in test match cricket, players tended to be selected on the basis of talent, skills and a general impression that they knew what the fuck to do on a cricket field.

In recent times though a new fashion has emerged. Spurred on by one day cricket, a new idea of what was required of one representing their country came to the fore. The all rounder was prized above all, with all of he major teams trying to develop players that could bat and bowl while only taking up one position in the team lineup. Many cricketing purists gave little concern to the goings on of a game derided as 'hit and giggle'. However even the test arena was soon to be invaded by the all rounder.

At the beginning it seemed to work well with the introduction of wicketkeepers who could bat. But soon enough the fashion extended to players who could bat and bowl a few overs (and even keep most deliveries on the pitch) and then bowlers who could bat a bit (although usually not much more than 20 runs at a time, and often around 19 runs less).

The fashion reached its zenith however when for the 2nd test of the current Ashes series Ashley Giles was selected despite all evidence of incompetence displayed in the 1st test of the series. Unsurprisingly, Giles then proceeded to show how much the desire for all rounders had gotten out of hand by displaying all round inability to bowl (1/103 & 1/46), bat (27* & 0) or indeed field (dropping Ponting when he was in the 40s: Ponting's final score 142 = around 100 runs dropped).

Fortunately people started to rail against this manifest stupidity. And finally after all the evidence that he was the only Englishman who could bowl spin, Monty Panesar was selected for the 3rd test. And guess what. At tea on day one, Australia were 6/184 with Panesar on 3/69. Those three wickets already put Panesar equal with Giles on wickets, with a shirtload less runs conceded to boot. The reasons for Giles are likely to remain a mystery for eons to come.

Although far less baffling than the mystery of how Andrew Symonds gets selected for the Australian test team.

UPDATE: Panesar now 4/78 from 18 overs. Better than Giles (who played two tests) in less than a day.

UPDATE 2: Australia 1st innings all out for 244. Panesar 5/92 off 24 overs. According to the boys in the Channel 9 commentary team the 3rd best figures by an English bowler at the WACA. Says it all really.