Gary Ballance showed best in game against Pakistan
Gary Ballance was slotted in at 3 in the England line up in the practice game against Pakistan and he made a case for himself. He scored only a half century, but, he was more assured at the crease than a James Taylor.
Taylor would still be preferred by the team management though for the Australia game which is on 14th.
It’s not about runs all the time in Cricket. It’s the player’s presence at the crease as well which matters.
With Taylor present out there, you are not so much worried as opposition. You never think that he would take the game away from you. But, if Ballance stays for a considerable length of time, you would be worrisome and that would make you make mistakes.
It’s more mental than physical in Cricket. If a batsman does not threaten you that much, you bowl well to him because you are confident. But, if somebody scares you as a batsman with his stature and quality, then, it’s probable that you would bowl some poor deliveries to him because you are under pressure.
Without being disrespectful to James Taylor, one will have to say that his stature just does not leave any impact on the bowler.
He is not the only vertically challenged player to have ever played the game. There have been a lot of others, but, for a short guy to achieve success in the game, he must have breathtaking potential in him and that is absent in Taylor. He is a bit short in terms of potential as well. He doesn’t have too many shots.
In a low scoring game, Taylor might get you out of the jail, but, on a proper pitch against a proper attack where some quick run scoring has to be done, England would go nowhere with him.
Tags: cricket, Gary Ballance