Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle order 
batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been? Stackpole is 
one who comes to mind.

On Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:27:28 GMT, "Cicero" 
tapped the keyboard and brought forth:

>Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle order 
>batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been? Stackpole is 
>one who comes to mind. 

Virender Sehwag.

Marcus Trescothick.

Cheers,

Mike
--

On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:27:28 +1000, Cicero  wrote:

> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle  
> order batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been?  
> Stackpole is one who comes to mind.

Many at ODO level, but at Test level it's virtually unheard of and a  
ridiculous idea.

-- 

cheers,
calvin

"Mike Holmans"  wrote in message 
news:pvsp64hb0kfed5hc0usvb6nm66765q5qkj@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:27:28 GMT, "Cicero" 
> tapped the keyboard and brought forth:
>
>>Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle 
>>order
>>batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been? Stackpole is
>>one who comes to mind.
>
> Virender Sehwag.
>
> Marcus Trescothick.

Trescothick spent his first three seasons opening before moving to the 
middle order.

Andrew

On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:08:35 +1000, Calvin  tapped
the keyboard and brought forth:

>On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:27:28 +1000, Cicero  wrote:
>
>> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle  
>> order batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been?  
>> Stackpole is one who comes to mind.
>
>Many at ODO level, but at Test level it's virtually unheard of and a  
>ridiculous idea.

And David Boon would no doubt be the first to agree with you.

Cheers,

Mike
--

On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:49:12 +1000, Mike Holmans  
 wrote:

> On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:08:35 +1000, Calvin  tapped
> the keyboard and brought forth:
>
>> On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:27:28 +1000, Cicero   
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle
>>> order batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been?
>>> Stackpole is one who comes to mind.
>>
>> Many at ODO level, but at Test level it's virtually unheard of and a
>> ridiculous idea.
>
> And David Boon would no doubt be the first to agree with you.

Why must you be so difficult?  There are certainly plenty of examples of  
players moving from #3 to opener, but that's hardly what the OP was  
getting at.

-- 

cheers,
calvin

"Calvin"  wrote in message 
news:op.udqk4lt1yr33d7@1ls2-2c084.staff.ad.bond.edu.au...
> On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:27:28 +1000, Cicero  
> wrote:
>
>> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle 
>> order batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been? 
>> Stackpole is one who comes to mind.
>
> Many at ODO level, but at Test level it's virtually unheard of and a 
> ridiculous idea.
>
> -- 
>
> cheers,
> calvin

I would imagine most who do would have had some background (successful) at 
state level. In the sheffield shield Watson has been less than convicing as 
an opener.

"Calvin"  wrote in message 
news:op.udqssw0tyr33d7@1ls2-2c084.staff.ad.bond.edu.au...
> On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:49:12 +1000, Mike Holmans 
>  wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:08:35 +1000, Calvin  tapped
>> the keyboard and brought forth:
>>
>>> On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:27:28 +1000, Cicero  
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle
>>>> order batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been?
>>>> Stackpole is one who comes to mind.
>>>
>>> Many at ODO level, but at Test level it's virtually unheard of and a
>>> ridiculous idea.
>>
>> And David Boon would no doubt be the first to agree with you.
>
> Why must you be so difficult?  There are certainly plenty of examples of 
> players moving from #3 to opener, but that's hardly what the OP was 
> getting at.
>
> -- 
>
> cheers,
> calvin

I was thinking more of middle order than top order. Langer went from a 3 to 
opener from memory. Coming in at 3 you are often a pseudo opener anyway if 
one of the two does go quickly.

On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:14:04 +1000, Cicero  wrote:

> In the sheffield shield Watson has been less than convicing as an opener.

To put it mildly :-)

-- 

cheers,
calvin

"Cicero"  wrote in message 
news:kl5bk.16820$IK1.5006@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle 
> order batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been? 
> Stackpole is one who comes to mind. Im thinking Gilchrist but on on a ODI 
> basis

In article ,
 Calvin  writes:
>On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:27:28 +1000, Cicero  wrote:
>
>> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a
>>middle   order batsman being successfully move to an opener have there
>>been?   Stackpole is one who comes to mind.
>
>Many at ODO level, but at Test level it's virtually unheard of and a
>ridiculous idea.
>

Cowdrey did it successfully for a while, though only under protest,
before reverting to number 3 or 4.
-- 
John Hall      "George the Third
                Ought never to have occurred.
                One can only wonder
                At so grotesque a blunder."     E.C.Bentley (1875-1956)

On Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:27:28 GMT, Cicero wrote:

> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle order 
> batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been? Stackpole is 
> one who comes to mind.

Am too pissed to check atm but istr that Stackpolke was complete crap as a
middle order batter and not all that much better as an opener.


alvey
in Brix, slumped, in the comfy lounge.

"alvey"  wrote in message 
news:1gglm6skcd8hb.1bepkfmznenvo$.dlg@40tude.net...
> On Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:27:28 GMT, Cicero wrote:
>
>> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle 
>> order
>> batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been? Stackpole 
>> is
>> one who comes to mind.
>
> Am too pissed to check atm but istr that Stackpolke was complete crap as a
> middle order batter and not all that much better as an opener.
>
>
> alvey
> in Brix, slumped, in the comfy lounge.

Stackpole averaged 37 in Tests in his career. He was pretty good as an 
opener overall- just glancing at when he opened with Redpath or Lawry- I 
think he would have averaged mid 40's- not bad.

In article <kl5bk.16820$IK1.5006@news-server.bigpond.net.au>,
 Cicero  writes:
>Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle
>order batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been?
>Stackpole is one who comes to mind.

The most remarkable case was probably Wilfred Rhodes, whose Test career
started with him batting at number 11. A decade or so later he was
sharing in what is still the record first wicket partnership for England
against Australia.
-- 
John Hall      "George the Third
                Ought never to have occurred.
                One can only wonder
                At so grotesque a blunder."     E.C.Bentley (1875-1956)

In message <kl5bk.16820$IK1.5006@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, Cicero 
 writes
>Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle 
>order batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been? 
>Stackpole is one who comes to mind.


Try Tom Hayward. RH

-- 
Robert Henderson
Blair Scandal website: http://www.geocities.com/ blairscandal/
Personal website: http://www.anywhere.demon.co.uk

In message , Robert Henderson 
 writes
>In message <kl5bk.16820$IK1.5006@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, Cicero 
> writes
>>Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle 
>>order batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been? 
>>Stackpole is one who comes to mind.
>
>
>Try Tom Hayward. RH
>

A few more :

Noddy Pullar,  Colin Cowdrey, Phil Mead - see the last two Tests of 1921 
- Subba Row, C B Fry,  Bob Wyatt, Bob Barber, George Gunn,....

Boycott started as a middle order batsman in the Yorkshire side. RH

-- 
Robert Henderson
Blair Scandal website: http://www.geocities.com/ blairscandal/
Personal website: http://www.anywhere.demon.co.uk

"Robert Henderson"  wrote in message 
news:oisN9eHvCGcIFwci@anywhere.demon.co.uk...
> In message , Robert Henderson 
>  writes
>>In message <kl5bk.16820$IK1.5006@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, Cicero 
>> writes
>>>Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle 
>>>order batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been? 
>>>Stackpole is one who comes to mind.
>>
>>
>>Try Tom Hayward. RH
>>
>
> A few more :
>
> Noddy Pullar,  Colin Cowdrey, Phil Mead - see the last two Tests of 1921 - 
> Subba Row, C B Fry,  Bob Wyatt, Bob Barber, George Gunn,....
>
> Boycott started as a middle order batsman in the Yorkshire side. RH
Bob Barber- thanks for reminding me. A very pleasing player to watch.

In message <Zc%bk.17544$IK1.5919@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, Cicero 
 writes
>
>"Robert Henderson"  wrote in message 
>news:oisN9eHvCGcIFwci@anywhere.demon.co.uk...
>> In message , Robert Henderson 
>> writes
>>>In message <kl5bk.16820$IK1.5006@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, Cicero 
>>> writes
>>>>Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a 
>>>>middle order batsman being successfully move to an opener have there 
>>>>been? Stackpole is one who comes to mind.
>>>
>>>
>>>Try Tom Hayward. RH
>>>
>>
>> A few more :
>>
>> Noddy Pullar,  Colin Cowdrey, Phil Mead - see the last two Tests of 
>>1921 -  Subba Row, C B Fry,  Bob Wyatt, Bob Barber, George Gunn,....
>>
>> Boycott started as a middle order batsman in the Yorkshire side. RH
>Bob Barber- thanks for reminding me. A very pleasing player to watch.

An amazing change between his batting for Lancs (where he was Mr Stodgy) 
and his attacking batting for Warks. It was the Gillette Cup which 
changed him.

A great shame that he did not like bowling very much because he was a 
very talented leg-spinner, bowling with a high action at a good pace 
with a particularly nasty googly. RH

-- 
Robert Henderson
Blair Scandal website: http://www.geocities.com/ blairscandal/
Personal website: http://www.anywhere.demon.co.uk

"Robert Henderson"  wrote in message 
news:mZC+TlQUyIcIFw$A@anywhere.demon.co.uk...
> In message <Zc%bk.17544$IK1.5919@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, Cicero 
>  writes
>>
>>"Robert Henderson"  wrote in message 
>>news:oisN9eHvCGcIFwci@anywhere.demon.co.uk...
>>> In message , Robert Henderson 
>>>  writes
>>>>In message <kl5bk.16820$IK1.5006@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, Cicero 
>>>> writes
>>>>>Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle 
>>>>>order batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been? 
>>>>>Stackpole is one who comes to mind.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Try Tom Hayward. RH
>>>>
>>>
>>> A few more :
>>>
>>> Noddy Pullar,  Colin Cowdrey, Phil Mead - see the last two Tests of 
>>> 1921 -  Subba Row, C B Fry,  Bob Wyatt, Bob Barber, George Gunn,....
>>>
>>> Boycott started as a middle order batsman in the Yorkshire side. RH
>>Bob Barber- thanks for reminding me. A very pleasing player to watch.
>
> An amazing change between his batting for Lancs (where he was Mr Stodgy) 
> and his attacking batting for Warks. It was the Gillette Cup which changed 
> him.
>
> A great shame that he did not like bowling very much because he was a very 
> talented leg-spinner, bowling with a high action at a good pace with a 
> particularly nasty googly. RH
>
I recall reading about the England tour around 1965 where Barber did some 
leg spin bowling- he seemed handy. I can't even think of the book- it may 
have been by Slasher Mackay (or ghosted with his name).

In article <9p0ck.17558$IK1.16294@news-server.bigpond.net.au>,
 Cicero  writes:
>>
>I recall reading about the England tour around 1965 where Barber did
>some leg spin bowling- he seemed handy. I can't even think of the book-
>it may have been by Slasher Mackay (or ghosted with his name).

He bowled a fair amount on the 1965-6 tour of Australia. In the Tests,
he took 3 for 261, which suggests that he was less than deadly.
-- 
John Hall      "George the Third
                Ought never to have occurred.
                One can only wonder
                At so grotesque a blunder."     E.C.Bentley (1875-1956)

On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:38:29 +1000, alvey  
 wrote:

> On Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:27:28 GMT, Cicero wrote:
>
>> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle  
>> order
>> batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been? Stackpole  
>> is
>> one who comes to mind.
>
> Am too pissed to check atm but istr that Stackpolke was complete crap as  
> a
> middle order batter and not all that much better as an opener.

And far worse as a commentator.

-- 

cheers,
calvin

On Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:05:35 +1000, Robert Henderson  
 wrote:

> In message , Robert Henderson  
>  writes
>> In message <kl5bk.16820$IK1.5006@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, Cicero  
>>  writes
>>> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle  
>>> order batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been?  
>>> Stackpole is one who comes to mind.
>>
>>
>> Try Tom Hayward. RH
>>
>
> A few more :
>
> Noddy Pullar,  Colin Cowdrey, Phil Mead - see the last two Tests of 1921  
> - Subba Row, C B Fry,  Bob Wyatt, Bob Barber, George Gunn,....

I'm not sure how many of these could be classified as "successful".

-- 

cheers,
calvin

On Jul 4, 12:27 am, "Cicero"  wrote:
> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle order
> batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been? Stackpole is
> one who comes to mind.

Watson is a top order batsman who hasn't been able to break in without
injuries to the openers.

Cicero wrote:

> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle order
> batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been? Stackpole is
> one who comes to mind.

Watson would be an awesome opener, though it would be hard to take
over from Gilly.

R. Spanditt wrote:

> On Jul 4, 12:27?am, "Cicero"  wrote:
> > Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle order
> > batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been? Stackpole is
> > one who comes to mind.
>
> Watson is a top order batsman who hasn't been able to break in without
> injuries to the openers.

yeah. but haydos will probably go in a couple years because he is
getting a lot of injuries and getting older. Which could mean the
return of Watson to the Test and/or test team.

On Jul 7, 1:59 pm, cricketanator  wrote:
> R. Spanditt wrote:
> > On Jul 4, 12:27?am, "Cicero"  wrote:
> > > Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle order
> > > batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been? Stackpole is
> > > one who comes to mind.
>
> > Watson is a top order batsman who hasn't been able to break in without
> > injuries to the openers.
>
> yeah. but haydos will probably go in a couple years because he is
> getting a lot of injuries and getting older. Which could mean the
> return of Watson to the Test and/or test team.

just read that again because i think you got it a bit mixed up (test
and the test team)

he's still only 27 so there's plenty of time yet.  not sure what
they'll do, but phil jacques needs to regularly score runs.

In article ,
 Calvin  writes:
>On Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:05:35 +1000, Robert Henderson
> wrote:
>
>> In message , Robert Henderson
>> writes
>>> In message <kl5bk.16820$IK1.5006@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, Cicero
>>> writes
>>>> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a
>>>>middle   order batsman being successfully move to an opener have
>>>>there been?   Stackpole is one who comes to mind.
>>>
>>>
>>> Try Tom Hayward. RH
>>>
>>
>> A few more :
>>
>> Noddy Pullar,  Colin Cowdrey, Phil Mead - see the last two Tests of
>>1921   - Subba Row, C B Fry,  Bob Wyatt, Bob Barber, George Gunn,....
>
>I'm not sure how many of these could be classified as "successful".
>

With the possible exception of Wyatt (I don't know how well he did as an
opener), all of them, I would think.
-- 
John Hall      "George the Third
                Ought never to have occurred.
                One can only wonder
                At so grotesque a blunder."     E.C.Bentley (1875-1956)

In message , Calvin 
 writes
>On Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:05:35 +1000, Robert Henderson 
> wrote:
>
>> In message , Robert Henderson 
>> writes
>>> In message <kl5bk.16820$IK1.5006@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, Cicero 
>>> writes
>>>> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a 
>>>>middle   order batsman being successfully move to an opener have 
>>>>there been?   Stackpole is one who comes to mind.
>>>
>>>
>>> Try Tom Hayward. RH
>>>
>>
>> A few more :
>>
>> Noddy Pullar,  Colin Cowdrey, Phil Mead - see the last two Tests of 
>>1921   - Subba Row, C B Fry,  Bob Wyatt, Bob Barber, George Gunn,....
>
>I'm not sure how many of these could be classified as "successful".
>

All are Test centurions. All but 2 - Wyatt and Barber - averaged over 40 
in Tests. RH

-- 
Robert Henderson
Blair Scandal website: http://www.geocities.com/ blairscandal/
Personal website: http://www.anywhere.demon.co.uk

On 7 Jul, 10:55, John Hall  wrote:
> In article ,
>
>
>
>
>
>  Calvin  writes:
> >On Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:05:35 흍, Robert Henderson
> > wrote:
>
> >> In message , Robert Henderson
> >> writes
> >>> In message <kl5bk.16820$IK1.5...@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, Cicero
> >>> writes
> >>>> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a
> >>>>middle   order batsman being successfully move to an opener have
> >>>>there been?   Stackpole is one who comes to mind.
>
> >>> Try Tom Hayward. RH
>
> >> A few more :
>
> >> Noddy Pullar,  Colin Cowdrey, Phil Mead - see the last two Tests of
> >>1921   - Subba Row, C B Fry,  Bob Wyatt, Bob Barber, George Gunn,..> >I'm not sure how many of these could be classified as "successful".
>
> With the possible exception of Wyatt (I don't know how well he did as an
> opener), all of them, I would think.

*All* were successfully promoted to openers?

Bob Wyatt's promotion could be regarded as successful: he was far from
a great Test batsmen (average 31), but he did slightly better as an
opener (34).

Conversely, Fry's test average as an opener was 24; in the middle
order, 38, so this was hardly a successful move. (Despite Robert's
claim, his overall average was only 32).

George Gunn only opened in one test prior to his recall when aged 50
for the first tour of West Indies (in which - by his earlier standards
- he did poorly).

Cowdrey's promotion wasn't a failure, but his average did drop
slightly.

Incidentally, Phil Mead only opened once in a Test (in 1922), so I
suspect he meant to refer to CAG Russell (though he also opened on his
Test debut).

On Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:35:13 +1000, Robert Henderson  
 wrote:

> In message , Calvin  
>  writes
>> On Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:05:35 +1000, Robert Henderson  
>>  wrote:
>>
>>> In message , Robert Henderson  
>>>  writes
>>>> In message <kl5bk.16820$IK1.5006@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, Cicero  
>>>>  writes
>>>>> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a  
>>>>> middle   order batsman being successfully move to an opener have  
>>>>> there been?   Stackpole is one who comes to mind.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Try Tom Hayward. RH
>>>>
>>>
>>> A few more :
>>>
>>> Noddy Pullar,  Colin Cowdrey, Phil Mead - see the last two Tests of  
>>> 1921   - Subba Row, C B Fry,  Bob Wyatt, Bob Barber, George Gunn,....
>>
>> I'm not sure how many of these could be classified as "successful".
>>
>
> All are Test centurions. All but 2 - Wyatt and Barber - averaged over 40  
> in Tests. RH

I meant successful conversions, as would have been obvious if you bothered  
to read the entire post.

-- 

cheers,
calvin

On Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:47:25 +1000, R. Spanditt   
wrote:

> Watson is a top order batsman

No he isn't.

> who hasn't been able to break in without
> injuries to the openers.

Unlike say Marsh and Ronchi?

-- 

cheers,
calvin

In message , Calvin 
 writes
>>>>Fry,  Bob Wyatt, Bob Barber, George Gunn,....
>>>
>>> I'm not sure how many of these could be classified as "successful".
>>>
>>
>> All are Test centurions. All but 2 - Wyatt and Barber - averaged over 
>>40 in Tests. RH
>
>I meant successful conversions, as would have been obvious if you 
>bothered  to read the entire post.


They were all players who started in the middle order and then opened 
with success. RH
-- 
Robert Henderson
Blair Scandal website: http://www.geocities.com/ blairscandal/
Personal website: http://www.anywhere.demon.co.uk

On Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:54:16 +1000, Robert Henderson  
 wrote:

> In message , Calvin  
>  writes
>>>>> Fry,  Bob Wyatt, Bob Barber, George Gunn,....
>>>>
>>>> I'm not sure how many of these could be classified as "successful".
>>>>
>>>
>>> All are Test centurions. All but 2 - Wyatt and Barber - averaged over  
>>> 40 in Tests. RH
>>
>> I meant successful conversions, as would have been obvious if you  
>> bothered  to read the entire post.
>
>
> They were all players who started in the middle order and then opened  
> with success.

No they weren't, as another post demonstrated.

-- 

cheers,
calvin

The problems with Watson moving up to opener is a) he hasn't performed
as an opener in Domestic and b) he hasn't had too much consistent
experience in the national squad.

On Jul 4, 10:15 am, "Cicero"  wrote:
> "Calvin"  wrote in message
>
> news:op.udqssw0tyr33d7@1ls2-2c084.staff.ad.bond.edu.au...
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:49:12 흍, Mike Holmans
> >  wrote:
>
> >> On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:08:35 흍, Calvin  tapped
> >> the keyboard and brought forth:
>
> >>> On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:27:28 흍, Cicero 
> >>> wrote:
>
> >>>> Neilsen has suggested this at cricinfo. How many incidents of a middle
> >>>> order batsman being successfully move to an opener have there been?
> >>>> Stackpole is one who comes to mind.
>
> >>> Many at ODO level, but at Test level it's virtually unheard of and a
> >>> ridiculous idea.
>
> >> And David Boon would no doubt be the first to agree with you.
>
> > Why must you be so difficult?  There are certainly plenty of examples of
> > players moving from #3 to opener, but that's hardly what the OP was
> > getting at.
>
> I was thinking more of middle order than top order. Langer went from a 3 to
> opener from memory. Coming in at 3 you are often a pseudo opener anyway if
> one of the two does go quickly.- Hide quoted text -

Boon made his test debut at #6 or thereabouts and played in the middle
order in his first couple of series, including first Ashes series
(that really awful one). He came in a few times to join Border in the
middle. Not sure what position he batted in Tasmania's FC prior to
that. I think he went to 3 from opener, not the other way around, but
am too lazy to check :-)

On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:58:05 +1000, Declan Murphy  
 wrote:

> Boon made his test debut at #6 or thereabouts and played in the middle
> order in his first couple of series, including first Ashes series
> (that really awful one). He came in a few times to join Border in the
> middle. Not sure what position he batted in Tasmania's FC prior to
> that. I think he went to 3 from opener, not the other way around, but
> am too lazy to check :-)

He did indeed start in the middle order for Zustralia, then made a career  
for himself at #3, then moved to opener. Again, that's not what the OP was  
talking about, despite Mike's snide post.

-- 

cheers,
calvin

On Sun, 6 Jul 2008 20:57:27 +0100, John Hall
 wrote:

>In article <9p0ck.17558$IK1.16294@news-server.bigpond.net.au>,
> Cicero  writes:
>>>
>>I recall reading about the England tour around 1965 where Barber did
>>some leg spin bowling- he seemed handy. I can't even think of the book-
>>it may have been by Slasher Mackay (or ghosted with his name).
>
>He bowled a fair amount on the 1965-6 tour of Australia. In the Tests,
>he took 3 for 261, which suggests that he was less than deadly.

My take on it is that a high arm action for a leggie is mostly a bad
thing for Australian conditions.

It seems to work against turning the leg break but makes the googly
tougher to pick. 
Unfortunately unless you turn the googly like Mushtaq Ahmed did or get
it to kick like O'Reilly did that makes you unlikely to be overly
effective on most Australian pitches and you get enough bounce with
topspin from the lower arm action.
-- 
"Hope is replaced by fear and dreams by survival, most of us get by."
Stuart Adamson 1958-2001

Mad Hamish
Hamish Laws
newsunspammelaws@iinet.unspamme.net.au

On Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:06:07 +1000, Calvin  wrote:

>On Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:47:25 +1000, R. Spanditt   
>wrote:
>
>> Watson is a top order batsman
>
>No he isn't.

He's not uncommonly batted at #3 in the domestic first class cricket.
The rest of the time he's normally been #4.
Could qualify as top order.
>
>> who hasn't been able to break in without
>> injuries to the openers.
>
>Unlike say Marsh and Ronchi?
-- 
"Hope is replaced by fear and dreams by survival, most of us get by."
Stuart Adamson 1958-2001

Mad Hamish
Hamish Laws
newsunspammelaws@iinet.unspamme.net.au

On Jul 9, 11:01 pm, Calvin  wrote:
> On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:58:05 흍, Declan Murphy  
>
>  wrote:
> > Boon made his test debut at #6 or thereabouts and played in the middle
> > order in his first couple of series, including first Ashes series
> > (that really awful one). He came in a few times to join Border in the
> > middle. Not sure what position he batted in Tasmania's FC prior to
> > that. I think he went to 3 from opener, not the other way around, but
> > am too lazy to check :-)
>
> He did indeed start in the middle order for Zustralia, then made a career  
> for himself at #3, then moved to opener. Again, that's not what the OP was  
> talking about, despite Mike's snide post.
>
My recollection is that he was opening with Marsh against WI in
1988-89 and not doing very well, then dropped to 3 when Taylor arrived
in 1989, so he went the other way.

Mike Gooding
--------------------

On Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:32:02 -0700 (PDT), Michael Gooding wrote:

> On Jul 9, 11:01 pm, Calvin  wrote:
>> On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:58:05 +1000, Declan Murphy  
>>
>>  wrote:
>>> Boon made his test debut at #6 or thereabouts and played in the middle
>>> order in his first couple of series, including first Ashes series
>>> (that really awful one). He came in a few times to join Border in the
>>> middle. Not sure what position he batted in Tasmania's FC prior to
>>> that. I think he went to 3 from opener, not the other way around, but
>>> am too lazy to check :-)
>>
>> He did indeed start in the middle order for Zustralia, then made a career  
>> for himself at #3, then moved to opener. Again, that's not what the OP was  
>> talking about, despite Mike's snide post.
>>
> My recollection is that he was opening with Marsh against WI in
> 1988-89 and not doing very well, then dropped to 3 when Taylor arrived
> in 1989, so he went the other way.

I believe you're rong. Iirc, Boon & Marsh had become a very successful
opening partnership, a partnership that was only broken by the rush to
promote an averagely performing big bummed opener from out of the Blue.



alvey

"alvey"  wrote in message 
news:117wa1qv5hxcf.r3h8r2lamug7.dlg@40tude.net...
> On Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:32:02 -0700 (PDT), Michael Gooding wrote:
>
>> On Jul 9, 11:01 pm, Calvin  wrote:
>>> On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:58:05 +1000, Declan Murphy
>>>
>>>  wrote:
>>>> Boon made his test debut at #6 or thereabouts and played in the middle
>>>> order in his first couple of series, including first Ashes series
>>>> (that really awful one). He came in a few times to join Border in the
>>>> middle. Not sure what position he batted in Tasmania's FC prior to
>>>> that. I think he went to 3 from opener, not the other way around, but
>>>> am too lazy to check :-)
>>>
>>> He did indeed start in the middle order for Zustralia, then made a 
>>> career
>>> for himself at #3, then moved to opener. Again, that's not what the OP 
>>> was
>>> talking about, despite Mike's snide post.
>>>
>> My recollection is that he was opening with Marsh against WI in
>> 1988-89 and not doing very well, then dropped to 3 when Taylor arrived
>> in 1989, so he went the other way.
>
> I believe you're rong. Iirc, Boon & Marsh had become a very successful
> opening partnership, a partnership that was only broken by the rush to
> promote an averagely performing big bummed opener from out of the Blue.

You may have a point. Boon & Marsh averaged 46.77 for the opening 
partnership; Marsh & Taylor averaged 45.
-- 
David North