Which modern batsmen would be successful against Bodyline?

[Chakdephatte]

No one. From any era.

[vvvslaxman]

32 minutes ago, Chakdephatte said:

To think someone who can play short ball well can face bodyline is wrong. Even the best will fear hostile bowling. 

 

True bodyline bowling was used only in the 30s.  Having multiple fielders behind the wicket. With no helmet, playing shots or keeping the ball down was virtually impossible for batsmen.  As the game evolved rules changed. With current rules in place it is easier to negotiate. There was no limit on bouncers back then.  One reason bouncers used to be more threatening in the 70s/80s was because more uneven bounce on the pitches. You can't predict at what height ball will come. You don't have to be super quick. Remember how Dravid was floored by Shodat Hossain's 127 kph bouncer. It just did not get up. Hit him on the helmet flush. Here is a case where Marshall's bouncers bounce at varying heights. You can't duck, you can't weave, you can't take on because you don't know how much it will bounce

 

 

 

[Number]

Steve Smith. 

One of the most courageous batsmen I have seen. 

[Gollum]

Need to tick 3 boxes:

 

1. Guts, guts and more guts

2. Shed one's ego, be prepared to bat ugly for extended period of time, not score a single run for 30 consecutive deliveries, avoid pull/hook in a difficult passage of play with 6 catching positions on the leg side ready to pounce on one moment of weakness

3. Scoring shots...pull, hook, backfoot leg glance along the ground whatever....

 

Steve Waugh, Pujara, Cook, Elgar, Chanders, Azhar Ali type batsmen tick first two boxes but fall well short when it comes to run scoring opportunities.

 

Root, Kohli, Warner, Ponting, Hayden, Gilly, Lara, KP, Aravinda, Dilshan, Clarke, Hussey, Pant type batsmen tick 1 and 3, fall behind in 2.

 

Likes of Sehwag, Mahela, YK, Ganguly barely had scoring shots against those kind of deliveries. Also no proper leaving technique, seen Viru get hit on back of helmet so many times, scary!!!! These folks were exceptional run machines but often got tangled up against that line/length/angle. Even Inzi to a great extent, don't fall for Imran's bakwas....his pull/hook was limited to 130 kph buffet bowling. 

 

Players who tick all boxes are few, to varying levels of proficiency... ABDV, Kallis, Amla, G Smith, Langer, Sachin, Dravid, VVS, Sanga, Steve Smith, KW, Faf etc. Obviously Faf, KW tick all boxes but only just!!!!

 

I must give the edge to the Saffers, even Sachin and Steve Smith have at times looked rattled against that kind of bowling especially when sustained. ABDV a clear first, G Smith/Kallis a distant second, after that order doesn't matter, you can lump them maybe in two more categories. 

Edited September 18, 2022 by Gollum

[Gollum]

Kallis, Dravid were overall slow batsmen but had exceptional pull/hook shots, against this kind of bowling SRs would read a different story, both these tortoises would have more scoring shots than a maverick like Viru. 

[Swag]

Ponting and Rohit comes to mind, best pullers/hookers of recent times.

[vayuu1]

On 9/18/2022 at 11:43 AM, ravishingravi said:

Ricky pointing. He was born for bodyline bowling. 

 

Lately I must say Sharma is the best puller / hooker I have seen. 

Nobody does it better 

[Majestic]

15 hours ago, Gollum said:

Need to tick 3 boxes:

 

1. Guts, guts and more guts

2. Shed one's ego, be prepared to bat ugly for extended period of time, not score a single run for 30 consecutive deliveries, avoid pull/hook in a difficult passage of play with 6 catching positions on the leg side ready to pounce on one moment of weakness

3. Scoring shots...pull, hook, backfoot leg glance along the ground whatever....

 

Steve Waugh, Pujara, Cook, Elgar, Chanders, Azhar Ali type batsmen tick first two boxes but fall well short when it comes to run scoring opportunities.

 

Root, Kohli, Warner, Ponting, Hayden, Gilly, Lara, KP, Aravinda, Dilshan, Clarke, Hussey, Pant type batsmen tick 1 and 3, fall behind in 2.

 

Likes of Sehwag, Mahela, YK, Ganguly barely had scoring shots against those kind of deliveries. Also no proper leaving technique, seen Viru get hit on back of helmet so many times, scary!!!! These folks were exceptional run machines but often got tangled up against that line/length/angle. Even Inzi to a great extent, don't fall for Imran's bakwas....his pull/hook was limited to 130 kph buffet bowling. 

 

Players who tick all boxes are few, to varying levels of proficiency... ABDV, Kallis, Amla, G Smith, Langer, Sachin, Dravid, VVS, Sanga, Steve Smith, KW, Faf etc. Obviously Faf, KW tick all boxes but only just!!!!

 

I must give the edge to the Saffers, even Sachin and Steve Smith have at times looked rattled against that kind of bowling especially when sustained. ABDV a clear first, G Smith/Kallis a distant second, after that order doesn't matter, you can lump them maybe in two more categories. 

Mohinder Amarnath ticks all three. 

 

[Adamant]

If Bradman couldn't do it no one can

[putrevus]

None, to face bowlers of caliber of 1980s WI bowlers on a bouncy wicket is almost impossible.

 

Steve Smith who is a great test batsman found Archer hard to handle  , imagine Archer times four aming at you head all the time. There is no chance for any batsman.

[Lord]

8 hours ago, Adamant said:

If Bradman couldn't do it no one can

 

Bradman did quite well actually, averaged 57 or so.

 

Just not good by his standards

[Lord]

Someone innovative like ABDV can try to throw bowlers off their lengths

 

However no one can face persistent bouncer barrage