(12-16-2024, 08:39 PM)samtheman Wrote:(12-16-2024, 12:31 AM)mugatiya Wrote: Ok so they need to hang around longer?
SA v SL - Balls faced by the tail.
We have 3 in the top 5 for the "tail"
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As I said before, from what I have seen with our bowlers, they all look like they can hold a bat and defend pretty well. Techniques are okay for what they need to be.
I don't disagree that the tail scoring runs is very important in an era when batting for the top order is very hard with the new Kookabura etc but it seems to be deflecting a lot of responsibility away from the top order who are meant to do bulk of the scoring imo.
Also top order batters should know how to farm the strike with the tail and not expose them unduly as well.
I appreciate you backing your posts with statistics. However no way our bowlers can defend very well, I would not back Lahiru, Asitha or even Prabath to defend one over to survive for a draw. I have more faith in Rajitha's batting, who is actually trying a little bit to improve. Agree that last batter reamaning should learn to farm the strike with the tail, however people can Alex Carey can do this easily as he has no pressure to pass the strike to Cummins or Starc, in contrast our batsmen are obliged to go for it at the end, when they see the ability of our tail. Also we used to have Diluruwan Perera and Rangana Herath (we didn't appreciate his batting those days, remember that partership with Matthews, if Rangana was not there you guys would have said it was another poor performance in england as Matthews would have folded ), who could hold the bat, now we are actually missing that batting at the tail. We do not realise this when playing at home in our paddy fields, however this becomes a huge issue when we play overseas.
![[Image: 2024-12-16-11-27-09.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/Wb9v9zty/2024-12-16-11-27-09.png)
I agree with all your comments but I’m just not understanding what your expectations are
You say you would not back then to defend and one of the big issues you and Regista pointed out was that the tail didn’t do what they needed
First it was stated that they didn’t score enough runs.
Later it was stated it’s not the runs but hanging around
Looking at the data for this tour. It looks like our guys hung around as much as the Saffer tail.
Prabath comes out as a night watchman also and can definitely hold a bat
So your issue really is with the top opening bowlers not being able to hang around in a situation where we may need to draw the game or hang around long enough for top order to score more? Have I understood you correctly?
