Damn...PJ has great energy. If someone argued with me, I'd just post this - 0000
(04-04-2021, 01:34 AM)pj57 Wrote: I have watched the game of cricket for more than 50 years, that was when shorter formats was not even thought about. You need discipline and commitment to watch so much test cricket for so long. So don't try to teach me about discipline to follow the game.
What hasty decisions? Mendis has played 91 innings in test cricket for 6 years. His average in his first year (Oct 2015-Oc 2016) was 36.2, now it has come down to 34.73 when it should be going up, not down. Batting at the important position of #3, his contribution to the team has been not up to expected standard.
No one is saying he should be dropped for ever but he has to get runs against good opposition if he is to cement his place in the side.
(04-04-2021, 02:06 AM)pj57 Wrote: By talking of just the 4th innings average, aren't you highlighting numbers in your favor to support your argument Forget statistics of each innings, his overall average against top teams is a poor 29.48. That is well below where a good #3 batsman with nearly 100 test innings should be.
As followers of cricket, we know the first innings of a team is the most important innings, that is where the match is set up for the ultimate result on most occasions. Scoring runs in the 2nd innings is not as important or less important if the team has set up a good first innings total. Has any of Mendis 4th innings led us to winning a match, except for the unbeaten 84 against SA. He has to average at least above 35 at #3 in the first innings to be classified as making a useful contribution to the team....that's the minimum.