He might leave if u make him open
You want him where he's got the best chance of contributing. That's not as an opener.
The best red ball openers in the world are in that spot because there's no room elsewhere in their respective teams. There are a few exceptions of course and those guys are generally very attacking.
In test matches Ballance averages about 47 at number 3 from 16 innings. 6 from 2 innings at number 4. About 31 at number 5 from 6 innings. 18 from 1 innings at 6.
Craig Ervine averages 13 from 1 innings opening. About 32 from 6 innings at number 3. 49 from 7 innings at number 4. 23 at 5, about 29 at number 6 and around 30 at number 7.
The numbers seem to suggest that Ballance should be at 3 and Ervine at 4.
Last edited by TapsC2 on Tue Feb 07, 2023 11:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
There's no way Ballance should bat at 5 ever again in tests. He would have scored 150 on this pitch at 3 and will now run out of partners and miss out on all those runs
He might leave if u make him open
You want him where he's got the best chance of contributing. That's not as an opener.
The best red ball openers in the world are in that spot because there's no room elsewhere in their respective teams. There are a few exceptions of course and those guys are generally very attacking.
Theres a bigger issue if top order batsman will leave because hes batting top order.
Thats where we needed the player.
The other side of the coin is then where does Williams and Ervine have the best chance of contributing.
And the third side to the coin is if all players inc. Raza are on deck, and if you have Ballance as a middle, then there is too many batsmen as Ervine/Willo/Ballance/Raza/Wes/Burl/Keeper all want or need the middle. So one of our best is left out to accomodate someone like Makoni.
Cricinfo profile of the 'James Bond' of cricket:
FULL NAME: Angus James Mackay
BORN: 13 June 1967, Harare
KNOWN AS: Gus Mackay
When it comes to the NOCs I would say they can justify giving Burl the go ahead now because Mavuta has done well with the bat as well. I guess the fear was pushing Raza into completely retiring from tests. He is a huge miss. Wes is nowhere near ready
