What is harder? Opening or batting in the Middle Order

[Dare]

So what do you guys think is harder? Being and opener and facing the new ball or coming in 3-4-5-6 down the order?

 

[TumTum]

Opening the batting was harder a few decades ago because the ball seamed early on, but these days the pitches are so well made that there is hardly any difference.

You could even try a different way of looking at it:

- The openers would get the most runs on flat pitches, middle order batsmen won't get as much opportunity to bat.
- Everyone would get a chance to bat on any other type of pitch.

So you could say that opening is easier in a way.

But IMO I would say it is even.

 

[Chewie]

Yea you should probably add an option to the poll that says they're similar difficulty

 

[Dare]

Yea you should probably add an option to the poll that says they're similar difficulty

Aight can on of the mods add this option.

 

[Cricketman]

Opening, for sure. Fairly obvious. Much tougher facing guys like McGrath, Wasim, Donald and more recently the likes of Johnson, Steyn, and Anderson when the ball is new, the bowlers are well rested, the pitch is fresh, and more than likely in the morning session when the ball is seaming around.

Plus you have the added pressure of setting up a platform for the team - getting runs in the most challenging conditions. The openers job is to wear out both the ball and the fielding side for the middle order players.

Anyone can bat after Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman, Ganguly etc but for them, and in essence the entire team, to do well, we need Viru and GG to fire. If they are gone early we are in deep ████. That is the case for every team.

 

[pcfan123]

Opening:

New ball, most chance of movement in the air

Fast bowlers who are completely rested

Pressure of a good start, or at least not getting out in the 1st 20 overs.

Much more aggressive fields than the middle of the match

 

[-D-S-B-]

Opening:

New ball, most chance of movement in the air

Fast bowlers who are completely rested

Pressure of a good start, or at least not getting out in the 1st 20 overs.

Much more aggressive fields than the middle of the match

Spot on. Couldn't agree more

 

[Chewie]

That's why no one in New Zealand wants to open

 

[TumTum]

Just to offer a different perspective, if one would say that for openers there is the Pressure to Survive and get the team off to a good start, the middle order batsmen would have the Pressure to score and get the team to a good total.

Example North, after Australia got to so many good starts, he had nothing to gain and everything to lose getting out there to bat. He can't settle into his own rhythm (which the openers can) and had to score quickly in order that the team can declare. All he managed to is throw his wicket away.

 

[pcfan123]

If I understand that correctly you are saying the pressure on a late middle order batsman who comes in on a good platform is more than on an opener when there are 0 runs on the board?

I disagree

 

[OKP]

That's why no one in New Zealand wants to open

No one in NZ can open :o

 

[pcfan123]

Has everyone lost faith in Jesse Ryder?

 

[TumTum]

If I understand that correctly you are saying the pressure on a late middle order batsman who comes in on a good platform is more than on an opener when there are 0 runs on the board?

I disagree

Not really saying that, just throwing it out there. Some people think that middle order batsmen are having the time of their lives out there, which is not true.

What I was more referring to is the Pressure of scoring quickly while trying to not throw your wicket away.

 

[-D-S-B-]

Test cricket they're talking about Mark.

 

[pcfan123]

Yea so? I think he would make a fine Test opener in a few years, (assuming he does not fatter/injured). Its not as if he has had a consistent run to be judged as a Test batsman

BTW I only think in terms of Test cricket